Mom of special needs student after assault charges dropped

VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. – A special needs student’s mother is suing after a principal and teacher were cleared of assault charges in Virginia.

Seven-year-old Eric Chapman testified in March that he had been dragged from a classroom at Rosemont Elementary School and had his head pushed down after he disrupted class.

Special education teacher Alison Williams said Eric didn’t respond to her attempts to calm him down. Principal Cari Hall said the boy then refused to walk to her office, so she carried him there in a bear hug, as she was trained to do.

WAVY-TV reports Eric’s mother, Latasha Holloway, filed a $6 million lawsuit on Tuesday, asserting they violated the Americans with Disabilities Act and Eric’s civil and constitutional rights by unlawfully restraining, isolating and assaulting him.

The school district wouldn’t comment.

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Information from: WAVY-TV, http://www.wavy.com/