Cited: AP

Parents of 7 autistic students have agreed to a $5 million settlement of their federal lawsuit after accusing their teacher in a northeastern Pennsylvania classroom of abuse.

Former special education teacher, Susan Wzorek, pleaded no contest to reckless endangerment and spent six weeks in prison in 2005 after prosecutors alleged she subjected her students to a range of abuse, from hitting them, pulling their hair and stomping on their feet to strapping them to chairs with duct tape and bungee cords.

“Her teaching tools were fear, intimidation and physical assault,” said the plaintiffs’ attorney, Larry Moran.

The students were between 5 and 11 years old at the time of the abuse. Their families filed a federal lawsuit against Wzorek and her superiors, alleging they knew about the abuse but took steps to cover it up.

The settlement, which U.S. District Judge A. Richard Caputo approved the evening of May 27, does not require the defendants to admit wrongdoing.

Wzorek worked at Clarks Summit Elementary School in the Abington Heights School District but was employed by Northeastern Educational Intermediate Unit 19, an education agency that provides services to public school districts in the area.

“We believe that the (education agency) acted promptly and appropriately under the circumstances. Nevertheless, settlement is best for all concerned,” said John Freund III, who represented some of the defendants.

Wzorek’s criminal attorney has said she never intentionally harmed any student and alleged that she was not provided with adequate training, guidance or support.

At issue was Wzorek’s conduct from 2001 to 2003, when, the suit said, she regularly used abusive and illegal techniques to discipline her students.

In one incident, Wzorek twice slapped a child across the face, giving her a fat lip, then told the girl’s mother that she had injured herself by falling, the suit alleged. Months later, when two teaching assistants confronted Wzorek about the abuse, Wzorek replied, “I know, but I don’t know how to stop,” according to the suit.

The assistants reported Wzorek to her bosses at Northeastern Educational Intermediate Unit 19. But the officials conducted no meaningful investigation, failed to report the abuse to police, and merely shuttled the abusive teacher to a neighboring school district, the suit said.

The principal at Clarks Summit even accused the teaching assistants of “breaking a silent code,” similar to the code among police officers, the suit said.

Police began investigating after the parent of a 10-year-old boy reported that she believed her son had been the victim of physical abuse. Teaching aides later told investigators that Wzorek had dragged the boy across the room, pulled his hair and used duct tape to restrain him using a chair designed to provide muscular support for children with physical disabilities.

The chairs are not meant to be used to discipline students, and none of Wzorek’s students had a handicap that would have required their use, prosecutors said. Many of the children were nonverbal and used picture cards to communicate.

Wzorek, who worked with disabled students for decades, was stripped of her state teaching certification following her arrest.

The suit named Wzorek; the school district; the education agency; Fred Rosetti, the agency’s executive director; and Clarence Lamanna, the agency’s director of special education.

Moran said the abuse had a devastating effect on the students, who in some cases might never develop proper communication and social skills.

“One of the real diabolical aspects of this case was (they) literally could not complain to anyone,” he said. “They are very badly scarred.”

A civil trial had been scheduled to begin last month in Scranton, but was put off when the parties agreed to settle. The settlement is the largest in Pennsylvania history related to special education programs and among the top five nationwide, Moran said

He said he hopes the case sends a signal that abuse of disabled children will not be tolerated and that “all educators have an important duty and responsibility to accommodate and properly educate all children, especially children with disabilities, and absolutely refrain from the use of illegal restraints and corporal punishment.”

The Government Accountability Office reported last year that it found hundreds of cases of abuse of special education students around the country stemming from the improper use of restraints and seclusion.

Trust funds will be set up for each child with the money from the settlement, less attorneys’ fees and court costs. According to Moran, the defendants’ insurance carrier will pay the full amount with individual amounts ranging from $400,000 to $1.25 million.

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My Take: What don’t understand is if the children were being abused wouldn’t they have fought not to go to school? I’ve been around some autistic kids and they can be very determined about some things. One of those things is wanting not to do something that causes them pain. They may not be able to speak, but it seems that the parents would notice something.

Some people cannot handle their children being autistic and require the assistance of Austin divorce attorneys. One thing and Austin family law attorney would suggest is counseling because both parents need to be concerned about the child and its care. It is because many autistic children require a lot of medical care. Getting that medical care can be difficult for any doctor and that is why they usually use a rapid test kit to take any studies they need. Most strep test kits do not require drug or diet restrictions which make it easier for the parent and the doctor.

Medical supply companies provide this type of kits for doctors who have difficult patients. That is why many parents of autistic children will get a doctor house call instead of going to the doctor’s office. Monmouth County NJ home medical care makes it easier on both the parent and the child.

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Other Resources

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This truck driver will spend up to 12 years in prison for each count he is charged with. It seems that if he had gone to an academy driving school NY he would not be in this situation. He would have known to look for the restricted signs as well as known to check his rig and brakes more because he was going on to a downhill grade.

My brother was once a truck driver and he has told me that truck drivers know to stop at the top of a downgrade an uphill grade to check their rig. They need to make sure that all their connections are made between the trailer and the truck, all tires are properly inflated, and all running lights are working properly before continuing. One thing is for sure, this truck driver will never be found behind the wheel of a truck again.

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Other Resources

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In a divorce that involves children, the parent who receives custody, spends the most time with them and provides their primary care will get the house. If there are no children, and the house was purchased or inherited prior to marriage than it is considered separate property and the spouse who owns it can ask the other to leave. If both own the house, it could get a little tricky. If you cannot come to a decision, the court will decide for you during the divorce proceedings. Texas divorce lawyers can explain in more detail what is and is not community property. The main problem with community property is one spouse is cannot come to an agreement.