Lawsuit Filed after Violent Assault by Circle K Employee Leads to a Miscarriage

Charles Boyk Law Offices has filed a civil lawsuit in the Northern District of Ohio on
behalf of Rev. Deria Francis, an eight-weeks-pregnant Black minister who miscarried
after a violent assault at a Circle K gas station in Bowling Green, Ohio. The lawsuit,
filed against Circle K and employee Shannon Walsh, alleges assault, battery,
negligence, and related claims stemming from the May 23, 2025, incident.

Rev. Francis and her husband, Rev. Dathan Stukes were traveling from South Carolina
to Detroit for a church conference when they stopped at the Circle K at 1602 East
Wooster Street. After Rev. Francis asked cashier Shannon Walsh to cancel her
transaction so she could enter her Circle K rewards number, a routine customer
request, Walsh allegedly became hostile. According to the complaint, Walsh refused
to cancel the transaction, yelled at Rev. Francis to “get the f*** out,” threw a jar
of change at her stomach, and physically assaulted her in front of her two minor
children.

The lawsuit, filed by Rev. Francis and Rev. Stukes, alleges that:
– Walsh, a Circle K employee acting within the scope of her employment, threw a jar of change that
struck Rev. Francis’s stomach while she was eight weeks pregnant.
– When Rev. Francis attempted to leave, Walsh came out from behind the counter, grabbed her by the
hair, slammed her into a drink cooler, and repeatedly struck her with a closed fist.
– During the attack, Walsh shouted racist insults, including calling Rev. Francis “an animal” and
“ghetto.”
– Rev. Francis’s minor children witnessed the assault.
– Circle K failed to maintain safe premises and failed to properly hire, train, or supervise staff,
allowing an environment where violence and discrimination against customers could occur.
– Rev. Francis sustained extensive bruising and suffered a miscarriage the following day.
– Police and EMS responded to the scene. Walsh was later charged with assault and ultimately pled no
contest to negligent assault, resulting in a court order to complete anger-management training.

“This never should have happened. Rev. Francis was a pregnant mother simply trying
to redeem a routine store loyalty reward, something Circle K actively encourages
its customers to do,” said lead attorney Charles E. Boyk. “Instead, she was violently
attacked, subjected to racist slurs, and suffered the unimaginable loss of her unborn child.
No family should ever experience such brutality, especially in a business that claims to s
erve the public.”

The complaint seeks compensatory damages against the corporate and individual defendants,
citing negligent disregard for the safety of Rev. Francis and her family.