BECKLEY - A father is suing the Raleigh County Board of Education after he claims his special needs son was injured by a teacher's aide.
Cathy Lewis and Kristen McBride were also named as defendants in the suit.
J.K. was a student at Coal City Elementary School, where Lewis was a teacher's aide, according to a complaint filed in Raleigh Circuit Court.
J.K. Sr. claims on Oct. 6, Lewis grabbed J.K.'s hand and smacked him in the face with his own hand.
The minor is considered a special needs child because he has the mental capacity of a 2 or 3 year old and while hitting J.K., Lewis asked J.K. how it felt, according to the suit.
J.K. Sr. claims Lewis and McBride shut J.K. into a small enclosure, which separates him from the classroom, teachers and other students.
The incident was reported to the principal by another teacher and a complaint was filed, according to the suit.
J.K. Sr. claims he had three conversations with the principal regarding the issue and nothing was done.
Numerous teachers and/or employees of the school board knew or should have known of the inappropriate action of Lewis and failed to report the misconduct and failed to protect J.K., according to the suit.
J.K. Sr. claims McBride failed to report the misconduct and failed to protect his minor child.
The defendants were reckless and negligent, according to the suit.
J.K. Sr. is seeking compensatory and punitive damages with pre- and post-judgment interest. He is being represented by Stephen P. New and Amanda J. Taylor of the Law Office of Stephen P. New.
Raleigh Circuit Court case number: 15-C-434