Parent Assaulted in Locker Room Awarded $38K

The mother of a student-athlete has been awarded $38,000 after a jury found she was assaulted by a teacher who helps out with the high school football team.

Tyra Manning-Grate filed assault and battery charges in 2016 against Michael Brumble, a teacher at Eastern Alamance (N.C.) High who also assists with the football team’s coaching and operations. She later withdrew the suit only to file identical charges against Brumble in 2018. 

According to the Times-News, Manning-Grate’s son, Timothy Grate II, injured his hand in a Nov. 25, 2016, playoff game. He needed medical attention and an X-ray of his hand. Athletic Director John Kirby told Manning-Grate her son should leave his uniform and collect his things from the locker room before leaving.

Things became tense when Manning-Grate went to the locker room to gather her son’s things.

Brumble was there, and he ran over and shouted in her face, “Get out of the locker room! You are not allowed in the locker room! Only players can be in here!”

Manning-Grate claims she told Brumble she had the right to be there to get her son’s things, saying, “Really Brumble? It’s not like you don’t know who I am. Are we really going to do this tonight? We wouldn’t be in here if we didn’t have to leave that uniform and get my son’s belongings.”

The suit claims Brumble then “forcefully grabbed the plaintiff’s arm while pushing her backward on her right shoulder.” 

Manning-Grate’s daughter was there and witnessed the incident, and Brumble abruptly let go of her when Manning-Grate’s husband arrived.

The jury cleared Brumble of assault, but not the less serious allegation of battery.