Mother and Attorney Must Pay Millions for Defamation Campaign
A diverse Texas jury has delivered a landmark ruling, ordering a mother and her lawyer to pay $3.2 million in damages for a deliberate smear campaign against a teenager. The case stems from a controversial sleepover incident in Plano, Texas, back in February 2021, which sparked a national outcry and a substantial online fundraising effort.
The Sleepover Incident and Initial Allegations
In February 2021, SeMarion Humphrey, then an eighth grader at Haggard Middle School, attended a sleepover at the home of classmate Asher Vann. Following the event, Humphrey's mother, Summer Smith, made serious public allegations against Vann and other attendees. She claimed her son was subjected to racial abuse, including being called the N-word, homophobic slurs, and was forced to drink urine. Smith also alleged that some boys shot Humphrey with a BB gun during the gathering.
A cellphone video from the sleepover, showing Humphrey bringing a cup to his mouth while others laughed, was later shared on social media and went viral. This clip intensified the public reaction and media coverage of the case.
The Fundraising Campaign and Social Media Backlash
In response to the incident, Summer Smith and her attorney, Kim Cole, launched a GoFundMe campaign. They stated the funds were needed for Humphrey's therapy and private schooling, raising nearly $120,000 from donors. Concurrently, Smith used her public social media platforms to target Asher Vann, calling for his expulsion from school. This online campaign led to Vann receiving death threats, having his personal address leaked, and experiencing protests at his family home, where bricks were thrown through windows.
"I was getting death threats from thousands of people on social media," Vann, now an 18-year-old college freshman, recounted. "It was scary. These were adults, and I was in middle school at the time."
The Legal Reckoning and Jury's Findings
Asher Vann and his family filed a civil lawsuit against Summer Smith and Kim Cole, alleging invasion of privacy and intentional infliction of emotional distress. The case went to trial in October 2025. During the proceedings, evidence presented to the jury revealed that only a small fraction of the GoFundMe money—approximately $1,000—was used for Humphrey's benefit. The remainder was allegedly spent on personal luxuries, including a designer dog, dining, travel, mobile phones, and car payments.
Testimony from Plano Police Department Officer Patricia McClure and Linda Washington, the Black assistant principal at Haggard Middle School, indicated that the sleepover events involved immature pranks among the boys and that race was not a motivating factor. Vann testified that the BB gun play was consensual while the boys were wearing winter gear, and the urine cup prank was not forced.
The jury found that Smith and Cole had exploited the situation to fuel a fundraising campaign, causing significant harm to Vann. They ruled in Vann's favour, ordering the defendants to jointly pay $3.2 million in damages.
Aftermath and Broader Implications
This case highlights the potent and sometimes destructive power of social media campaigns and online fundraising. While the original sleepover involved behaviour described as "stupid pranks" by authorities, the subsequent public shaming and alleged financial exploitation have resulted in a substantial legal penalty. The ruling underscores the serious consequences of defamation and the misuse of charitable donations for personal gain.
No criminal charges were ever filed against Asher Vann or the other boys involved in the 2021 sleepover. The civil verdict now closes a contentious chapter, emphasising the importance of evidence and due process in the digital age.
