I had direct connections to this incident (friend worked at the school), and this is pretty much exactly what happened. The only reason it was an issue in the first place were the zero tolerance policies in place that required action to be taken. Whether the family did it on purpose, no one really knew, but everyone involved certainly was thinking it.

Here's a bbc article about how the lawsuit was dismissed

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-39982239

It includes a picture of his "invention."

Here's an archive link of a Washington times opinion piece after the 3rd attempt at frivolous suits failed.

https://archive.ph/5wiop

Clockboy was a straight up scam