The Pittsburgh Tribune-Review reports that several parents are suing the National Council of Young Men's Christian Associations of the United States of America (YMCA) and five former employees of the Regional Family YMCA of Laurel Highlands for the alleged abuse that their children suffered.
While at the YMCA Child Development Center in South Connellsville, the lawsuit claims that the children, between the ages of 3 and 6, were forced to ingest alum as a punishment. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention describe the effects of ingested alum as "burning sensation in the mouth or stomach, diarrhea, vomiting, loss of appetite, nausea and choking." On January 12, 2009 the suit states that an assistant supervisor was informed of a particular incident involving a child and alum. The assistant supervisor was told by one of the defendants in the case, that a child was given alum; which induced choking. The lawsuit states that the child began to fight off the two adults and one of them kicked her. Once the assistant supervisor learned about the assault incident, she told the parent and then later called Fayette County Children and Youth Services.
Since being informed of the incident, the five employees were suspended and then fired.
The Herald Standard reports that the parents are being represented by Pennsylvania personal injury attorneys Alan Perer and Brian W. DelVecchio. When asked about the lawsuit, Mr. DelVecchio said, "We have to be the voice of these children, and we have to do our best to make sure that the people who committed these acts are never put in charge of children again."
The PA personal injury attorney went on to say, "We hope that in the future the YMCA will commit itself and its workers to its stated mission of 'deepening positive values and strengthening children's spiritual, mental and physical well-being' rather than destroying them."
All of the defendants are being accused of "negligence, assault and battery, intentional infliction of emotional distress and negligent infliction of emotional distress."
Related Resources:
- Proving Fault: What is Negligence? (FindLaw)
- Assault and Battery (FindLaw)
