Hannah Cohen is 19-years-old, and she is easily confused. She is also partially deaf and blind in one eye. She has a brain tumor on top of other disabling conditions. She was headed home from Memphis to Chattanooga, Tennessee after receiving treatment at St. Jude’s Hospital facility.
When going through security, she set off the metal detector. The TSA agents told Cohen and her mother, Shirley Cohen, that Hannah would need extra screening. Due to her medical issues, Hannah didn’t understand what was going on and was reluctant to go with the agents.
Her mother said:
“They wanted to do further scanning, she was reluctant, she didn’t understand what they were about to do. 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.”
Her mother tried to tell the TSA agents that Hannah is easily confused, but they held mother away from daughter and dragged Hannah away by herself. When Hannah tried to get away, the agents threw her on the ground.
Hannah was arrested and had to spend the night in jail. She should’ve been celebrating the end of her treatment. The authorities threw out the charges. However, her mother is now suing the Memphis police department, the airport police, and the TSA.
The police departments wouldn’t give a comment, but the TSA released a callous statement saying:
“Passengers can call ahead of time to learn more about the screening process for their particular needs or medical situation.”
If the agents had just listened to the girl’s mother, then they would’ve known what Hannah needed. Shirley Cohen was trying to tell the TSA agents what to do, but they obviously didn’t listen.
The lawsuit said Hannah Cohen already had:
“…A physical and mental impairment that substantially limit one or more of her life activities.”
“More particularly. [Hannah] has damage from radiation and removal of a brain tumor that substantially limits her ability to speak, walk, stand, see, hear, care for herself, learn and work, think, concentrate, and interact with others.”
https://youtu.be/hAoIKNMAANM
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