Student Lawsuit Alleges Abuse at Louisiana School

April 19, 2011

The parents of a mentally impaired boy who was allegedly manhandled by his special-education school principal have filed a lawsuit against Terrebonne school system.

John and Jane Smith, identified in the suit as the parents of 12-year-old student, are seeking damages for physical and mental pain from the School Board and Sophia Seymore, former principal at the School for Exceptional Children in Houma.

The suit claims Seymore initiated “tortuous activity” and “acts of violence” against the boy and threatened and manipulated him to refrain from “divulging the abuse she committed upon the child.”

The Courier reports the family is not listed in the phone book, and their attorney did not return phone calls.

Seymore told the newspaper she was unaware of the suit and wouldn’t comment on it.