Family sues Duval County Public Schools, teacher after child with autism locked in closet

The family of a child with autism is suing the Duval County Public Schools district and his former teacher.

In 2016, Action News Jax first reported the Alimacani Elementary School teacher was suspended for allegedly locking the child, who was 3 years old at the time, in a dark closet.

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The civil lawsuit was filed in January, but transferred to federal court in late March. It accuses DCPS and the teacher of false imprisonment, negligent supervision and training, and misconduct.

The lawsuit claims Linda Haggard locked the child in the closet as a form of discipline on several occasions during the 2015-2016 school year.

The report said it was a utility closet filled with books, papers and cleaning supplies.

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According to the lawsuit, Haggard would “threaten other students that if they didn’t behave they would be locked in the closet.”

The family’s attorney, Stephanie Langer, said the school district failed the special-needs child.

“There’s no reason a child should ever be locked in a closet, especially a nonverbal autistic one,” Langer said.

Langer said the experience led to behavioral changes in the child.

“The child started to regress,” Langer said. “He started to misbehave both at home and in school.”

The lawsuit claims the parents of the child didn’t find out about what happened until it was reported on the news.

“It’s the school district’s responsibility to make sure these teachers have the proper training,” Langer said.

After an investigation, Haggard received a five-day suspension and a letter of written reprimand was placed in her personnel file.

Action News Jax asked DCPS for a statement, but the district said it can’t comment on the active lawsuit.

Cox Media Group