SOUTHEAST TEXAS RECORD

The mother of a minor child has filed suit against the Kilgore Independent School District after she alleges a teacher's aide caused a huge gash in his head.

Amanda Norment alleges her child was attending pre-school at Kilgore Independent School District when Tina Prince yanked on his leg during nap time Oct. 2, 2012, to flip him over. 

"When Ms. Prince tried to forcefully flip the child, she hit the child's head against the corner of a file cabinet," the suit filed Sept. 15 in the Marshall Division for the Eastern District of Texas states. "The child's head gashed open and started bleeding. Ms. Prince took the bleeding child to the infirmary and reported that the child became upset and fell into a filing cabinet."

When Amanda Norment arrived at the school, she needed to take her son to the emergency room where he received stitches, the complaint says.

"A.R.S.N. received counseling as well," the suit states. "His life has not been the same since this event. He has needed and will continue to need counseling. This kind of event -- a child injured by those responsible for his care -- is the kind of event that affects someone for the rest of his life."

This was not the first time Prince had injured a child, the complaint says. She has also caused students to fall out of chairs and has yelled and taunted special education students, Norment alleges.

Prince violated Norment's son's civil rights and caused him mental anguish and physical pain, according to the complaint.

Norment seeks compensatory damages, plus pre- and post-judgment interest, costs, attorney fees and other relief the court deems just.

Attorneys Benton G. Ross and Douglas C. Monsour of The Monsour Law Firm in Longview will represent Norment.

Marshall Division of the Eastern District of Texas case number: 2:14-CV-896