KELLER/FORT WORTH (WBAP/KLIF News ) – A North Texas couple is suing a daycare located near the Keller Fort Worth border over allegations staffers aggressively handled and inappropriately disciplined their 23-month-old daughter.
The couple filed the suit in Tarrant County on Wednesday stemming from an incident at the Park Vista Children’s Academy in August of 2023.
According to a release by the Button Law Firm, who are representing Jeffrey and Brook Napier, the couple’s daughter and other children were subjected to pushing, shoving and being yanked by one arm at the academy.
A subsequent investigation by the Texas Health and Human Services Child-Care Licensing Division and the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services uncovered disturbing surveillance video showed a caregiver at the Academy roughly handling the child for more than 20 minutes, according to the law firm.
The footage is said to show the caregiver yanking the girl’s arm, pushing her into a classroom door for timeout and shoving her head against a wall when she attempted to move away.
The caregiver continued to grab the little girl by one arm, forcing her to the ground, where she landed on her stomach, according to the release.
The couple said their concerned about the safety and well-being of children enrolled at the facility
“No parent should have to endure the torment of discovering their child was subjected to such rough treatment,” said Brook Napier in a statement. “The revelations of how Park Vista Children’s Academy treated our daughter have left us angry and heartbroken.”
The independent state investigation ultimately cited the Park Vista Children’s Academy for violating several childcare licensing rules in Texas to include:
- Responsibilities of Employees and Caregivers – Ensure No Child is Abused, Neglected, or Exploited.
- Prohibited Punishments – Corporal Punishment
- Prohibited Punishments – No Harsh, Cruel or Unusual Punishment
- Responsibilities of caregivers – Set appropriate behavior expectations
- Prohibited Punishments – Grabbing and pulling
The academy was also cited several times by the Texas Health and Human Services Commission from September 2019 through March 2023 for issues including failing to demonstrate competency, good judgement and self control and for failing to provide adequate supervision of children when a child was left alone and unsupervised in a classroom for an extended amount of time.
The lawsuit is seeking over $1,000,000 in monetary relief but is asking for a jury trial to ultimately assign damages.
Click here to read the full lawsuit. The Park Vista Children’s Academy has not released a statement in response to the lawsuit.
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