Excessive-profile civil rights legal professional, Ben Crump, joins Jacksonville mother’s case towards Publix – Motion Information Jax

Jacksonville, FL. – A nationally recognized civil rights attorney has joined the legal team for a Jacksonville mother suing Publix.

Attorney Ben Crump, who currently also represents George Floyd’s family, was in Jacksonville on Thursday for a press conference with two local law firms, Holland Law, and the law firm Combs Greene.

In June 2020, Action News Jax showed you the body camera video of Tawanda Crowell, who was berated and arrested outside a Publix on the West Side.

The video shows part of what happened on February 4, when an off duty JSO agent, Kevin Munger, confronted Crowell in a Publix parking lot after alleged shoplifting and asked to see her receipt.

“I showed the receipt that I just declined because I didn’t know what was going to happen to the receipt, but I offered to go back in with the receipt. He refused to take me back inside,” she said said.

“One of the things I take pride in about our law firm is making sure marginalized people with constitutional color rights are not trampled on,” said Crump.

Crowell was eventually berated and arrested in front of her goddaughter and nieces.

“The emotional stress it has brought on me and my children doesn’t seem right to me,” said Crowell.

In a 35-page complaint, Publix alleges failing to train employees or off duty officers in appropriate loss prevention techniques and is suing the grocer for more than $ 50,000 in damages.

“We are here to request that Publix Tawanda Crowell offer an apology. If not, we will continue litigation so she can restore her name,” Crump said.

Attorney Jamie Holland said the JSO body camera video is not the only video that exists.

“There are people out there who we think they caught on a cell phone video. If you have this evidence, please get in touch,” said Holland.

Action News Jax asked why the lawsuit only mentions Publix.

“Publix created this system. That official, why should he have loss prevention training for JSO, needed loss prevention training because he worked at Publix, ”said Combs.

Crump believes Crowell’s skin color played a role in this case.

“She was found guilty of shopping while Black,” said Crump.

Publix had already asked the judge in December to rule in his favor and to say in part:

Publix was not Officer Munger’s employer, so Publix cannot be held liable for Officer Munger’s actions on your behalf. In addition, Publix cannot be held liable for alleged defamation if no false information has been given … “

Although the prosecutor dropped the charges against Crowell, she lost her job because of the arrest.

Your legal team has also requested that Publix release its surveillance video of the incident.

Action News Jax reached out to Publix twice on Thursday for comment, but we haven’t heard from their media relations team.