The parents of a baby that was taken from Kendall, Fla.-based Baptist Hospital by Miccosukee Tribe police officers last month filed a lawsuit against the Native American tribe and the hospital's parent company, Miami-based Baptist Health South Florida, April 13, according to Local 10 News.
Ingrid Johnson was born at Baptist Hospital March 16 to Rebecca Sanders and Justin Johnson. Attorneys for the couple said Ingrid was taken from the hospital by Miccosukee tribal police March 18 to be with her maternal grandmother, Betty Osceola, after she persuaded a tribal court judge to grant her temporary custody of the newborn, according to ABC News.
The tribal court granted her custody of the infant citing a domestic violence protection order and a criminal trespass order against Mr. Johnson, Local 10 News reports. The couple claimed Ms. Osceola sought custody of the child because she was displeased the child's father, Mr. Johnson, was white, according to the report.
The case created a public uproar and caught the attention of Florida Republican Sen. Marco Rubio, who tweeted about incident March 22, calling it a kidnapping.
The court reversed its decision March 22, and the newborn was returned to Ms. Sanders and Mr. Johnson.
Attorneys on behalf of the couple held a press conference discussing the lawsuit April 13. According to a news release obtained by Local 10 News, the lawsuit accused Miccosukee Tribe officials of "false imprisonment, conspiracy and defamation," and accused both the tribe and Baptist Health South Florida of "intentional infliction of emotional distress."
"Baptist faces additional allegations of negligence in the discharge of Baby Ingrid, in the release of her medical records and in the failure to mitigate the release of her medical records to the Tribe from the hospital," according to the news release, obtained by Local 10 News.
The infant's grandmother, Ms. Osceola, said she plans to appeal the tribal court's ruling allowing the baby to be returned to her parents, the report states.
To access the Local 10 News report, click here.