Hannah Cohen, 19, is partially deaf, blind in one eye, partially paralyzed, and prone to confusion, due to aggressive cancer treatment she is undergoing. Damage from radiation treatments and the removal of a brain tumor limit her ability to “speak, walk, stand, see, hear, care for herself, learn and work, think, concentrate, and interact with others,” a lawsuit details.
On June 30, Hannah and her mother Shirley were returning home from Tennessee after she completed a round of treatment at St. Jude Hospital. The woman was unarmed, but for some reason set off the metal detector.
Hannah became frightened, and instead of going with the agents, she attempted to run away. Her mother looked on in horror as she was kept away from her daughter, and watched the agents violently tackle her to the ground.
“She's trying to get away from them but in the next instant, one of them had her down on the ground and hit her head on the floor. There was blood everywhere,” said the mother.
Her family has now filed a lawsuit against the Memphis police, airport police and the TSA.
Following the incident, a spokesperson for the TSA released a statement, blaming Hannah and her family for the violence against her.
“Passengers can call ahead of time to learn more about the screening process for their particular needs or medical situation,” the TSA spokesperson claimed.
The family is now seeking $100,000 in physical and emotional damages.
