A 220-pound Queens gym teacher and former football player plans to sue the city of New York over injuries he allegedly suffered after being attacked by a 50-pound six-year-old.
The teacher, 27, played college football as a tailback for Morrisville State College in upstate New York and then became a teacher. He filed the required notice of intent to sue following an encounter with the 4-foot, 2-inch six-year-old during lunchtime supervision. The student allegedly kicked the teacher in the ankle and knee. The teacher now wears knee and ankle braces.
“This kid is clearly a tiny terror,” said the teacher’s lawyer. The teacher should have been offered protection from the student because he “can endanger other teachers and students,” the lawyer said.
“How could my little boy do so much damage?” said the boy’s father. “My poor son.”
The teacher alleges he had to get psychiatric help over the stress he suffered and alleges his doctor advised him not to work for a few months. But an education department doctor says the teacher can return to work.
Source: Kieran Crowley, “Queens teacher suing city claiming he was beaten up by a first-grader; ‘Tiny terror,’ 6, unleashes wrath at school,” New York Post, October 1, 2012