The mother of a student has filed a lawsuit against the Williamsburg County School District alleging gross negligence. Roketha Reid, the mother of a former C.E. Murray High School senior, is represented by Sumter attorney Irma Brooks, filed the lawsuit against the school district, Superintendent Dr. Yvonne Jefferson-Barnes, Assistant Superintendent Dr. Bernice Davis-Cooper, Delaney K. Frierson, Senitta Swinton, Principal Dr. Janice Gamble, former C.E. Murray High School Guidance Counselor Rose Marie Moore, and the Williamsburg County School District Board of Trustees, alleging gross negligence in the recording, maintaining, and changing of student grades, thereby allegedly harming her son in his class ranking and causing him alleged damage.

Allegations of grade tampering by staff members were brought to the Williamsburg County School District Board of Trustees in May after Reid questioned her son's class ranking. Reid also alleged the grades of other students were changed.

In response to Reid's allegations, the district asked for and received a review by the South Carolina Department of Education and an investigation by the Williamsburg County Sheriff's Office. The sheriff's office in turn involved the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division (SLED). In addition, the district composed a team of district employees who were not assigned to the school to conduct a review of the school's records. According to Williamsburg County School District Superintendent Yvonne Jefferson-Barnes, those findings were reported to the parent.

In a letter dated August 27, Williamsburg County Sheriff Michael Johnson confirmed that his office investigated the matter and concluded, based upon the audit no violations had been committed and there was no criminal activity conducted by the staff at C.E. Murray High School. The findings were also mailed to Reid.

On January 8, the defendants named in the lawsuit filed a response to the allegations and requested that the complaint be dismissed.