Opinion ID: 2973933
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Gibbs’s Version

Text: Gibbs had been trying to get Pendergrass to complete her morning assignment, but Pendergrass refused. Because it was Pendergrass’s third warning for inappropriate behavior, Gibbs told her to write her name on the disruptive student list. Instead of writing her name on the list, Pendergrass knocked the list off of the table and refused to pick it up. Gibbs told Pendergrass to leave the classroom and go to the office. Pendergrass replied, “No, make me.” Gibbs walked over, and Pendergrass started hitting her. After trying to block Pendergrass’s blows and asking Pendergrass to stop, Gibbs pushed Pendergrass and held her head against the chalkboard. When Pendergrass stopped swinging, Gibbs let her go. Pendergrass again began hitting Gibbs. Gibbs then tried to grab Pendergrass’s hands, lost her balance, and fell on top of Pendergrass. When Gibbs regained her balance, she sat on Pendergrass, and restrained her by holding her head back from under her chin. Although Gibbs admits that she physically restrained Pendergrass by holding her chin, she denies ever choking Pendergrass.