Erin Cox Update: Family of Mass. girl punished for helping drunken friend has lawyer on the case
(CBS) NORTH ANDOVER, Mass. - The family of Massachusetts high school senior Erin Cox, who was demoted from volleyball team captain and suspended for five games after she offered a ride to a drunken friend, is getting help from a lawyer to reverse the school's decision, according to CBS Boston.
Eleanor Cox, mother of the student, told the station in an interview that her daughter is heartbroken over the punishment she received from her school after doing what she thought was "the right thing."
"She's very fragile and I'm worried about her. Very worried about her. She didn't do anything wrong," said the mother.
Erin, an honor student at North Andover High School, says she got a call two weeks ago from a friend at a party who said she was too drunk to drive.
Cox, who was trying to do the right thing, went to pick up her friend from the party, but moments after she got there, police also arrived and busted several kids for underage possession of alcohol, according to the station.
Police later confirmed that Cox was not drinking.
The school said they had a no tolerance policy against drugs and alcohol and therefore punished Cox.
Attorney Wendy Murphy, who is trying to help the family get the decision reversed, told the station, "If a kid asks for help from a friend, you don't want that kid to say 'I'm sorry I can't help you. I might end up in trouble at school."
The family tried to file a lawsuit in a District Court but a judge reportedly ruled they did not have jurisdiction.
The parents of Erin's teammates have also started a petition to support the teen, according to CBS Boston.
Erin's mother told the station her daughter didn't do anything wrong and she's proud of her for doing what she thought was right.