A Fort Worth day care is facing a civil lawsuit after a teacher was caught on video allegedly restraining, shaking, and dragging a 4-year-old child during an April incident that left the boy with lasting emotional trauma.
The lawsuit was filed on behalf of the boy’s parents against Arka Montessori, located off Risinger Road in Fort Worth. Attorney Russell Button represents the family and released surveillance footage showing a teacher grabbing and shaking the child before dragging him across the floor toward another student.
Button described the behavior as deeply disturbing. He alleged that caregivers not only failed to intervene but that one staff member actively encouraged another child to physically attack the boy while holding him down. “This had the feel and the look of a child fight club” Button said.
State records reviewed in connection with the case show Arka Montessori received more than a dozen deficiencies and was cited three times specifically related to the April incident. Officials noted that a caregiver used prohibited punishment that resulted in bruising on the child’s arm and caused him to fall backward after she grabbed his leg.
The family says the consequences for their son have been severe and ongoing. Months after the incident the boy continues to struggle with anxiety and is currently receiving therapy. Button said the child regressed in multiple developmental areas following the ordeal.
The video footage also shows a second adult entering the room during the incident but failing to step in to stop the teacher’s behavior. Button argued that the lack of intervention from other staff members compounded the harm done to the child.
Arka Montessori has not issued any public statement in response to the lawsuit or the allegations contained within it. The state investigation into the facility has already resulted in multiple official citations tied directly to how the April confrontation between two children was handled by staff.
The family is now pursuing legal accountability through the courts following what they describe as a complete failure of duty by those entrusted to care for their son.