Lawsuit claims student was tied to chair with belt by teacher aide

BUCKHANNON — A civil lawsuit filed in Upshur County Circuit Court claims a teacher’s aide used a belt to tie a special needs child to the back of her chair so that the student could not rest her head on her desk after she complained of pain and discomfort.

After learning about the incident, administrators notified the student’s parents, Mark and Twila Williams, who filed their lawsuit a year later, in November 2012, asking for judgment against the classroom aide, Arlene Smith, and the Upshur County Board of Education, the co-defendants in the case.

The complaint, filed through the Williams’ attorney, Dennis Willett, says the child suffered from various physical and mental handicaps that caused pain and discomfort while attending Buckhannon-Upshur Middle School.



For the complete article see the 01-09-2013 issue.

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