By Stephen Stirling
The family of a 4-year-old has filed a lawsuit against a Whitestone preschool and the city after the child's mouth was allegedly taped shut for talking during “quiet time.”
The lawsuit, filed in Queens Supreme Court in Jamaica last week, alleges that on Aug. 22 Angela Amedeo spoke out loudly during a lengthy period of silence ordered by her teacher, referred to as “Mrs. Sandy,” at Flushing Fields Play School in Whitestone. According to the lawsuit, this “enraged” Mrs. Sandy, who picked Angela up, placed her in a time-out chair and placed pieces of scotch tape over the child's mouth for about 10 minutes.
According to Angela's mother, Maria, since the alleged incident the family has had to consult a psychologist to help Angela deal with the emotional scarring she endured, the suit said.
“Since this incident, Angela is afraid of the dark, she cries often, suffers anxiety, nightmares and regularly replicates what happened by repeatedly placing scotch tape on her mouth,” Maria Amedeo said in the suit.
Amedeo's attorney, Scott Sherman, could not immediately be reached for comment.
The city Law Department said they were reviewing the paperwork of the lawsuit.
The lawsuit contends the family was told the incident was being investigated but never heard back from the school or the city Department of Education.
The lawsuit names Mrs. Sandy, Flushing Fields Play School teacher Carol Landers and the city DOE and Parks Department as co-defendants.
Reach reporter Stephen Stirling by e-mail at Sstirling@timesledger.com or by phone at 718-229-0300, Ext. 138.
