Mom sues MPS, staff over death of teen who broke his neck doing backflips at school

The mother of a teenager who broke his neck and died after trying to do backflips in his school gymnasium is suing Milwaukee Public Schools and two staff members, saying they were negligent and encouraged the behavior.

Anita Coleman filed the lawsuit initially in Milwaukee County Circuit Court in June, but it was moved last week to U.S. District Court. It seeks an unspecified amount in damages.

Her son, 17-year-old Trenton White, died in January 2016, three months after attempting the backflips after gym class at Barack Obama School of Career and Technical Education on Oct. 6, 2015.  

According to the lawsuit, Obama students, including White, were known to do "gymnastic-style backflips" after gym class. On this day, it says, he slipped and fell on the gym floor, suffering multiple neck fractures and an anoxic brain injury. He never regained consciousness.

In addition to the School Board, the lawsuit names then-Principal Maurice Turner and physical education teacher Calvin Rayford. It alleges the activity was encouraged by school employees, including Turner and Rayford; that they took no action to reduce the risk of injury; and that MPS was negligent in its hiring and training of employees.

MPS did not respond to requests for Turner and Rayford's current employment status. As of 2017, Turner worked at the central office and Rayford was listed as a short-term, districtwide substitute teacher.