Seclusion

Chesapeake Schools Settle in Special Needs Child Restraint Lawsuit

The Chesapeake School Board has settled a lawsuit brought by the family of a boy with Down syndrome and a history of autism. The lawsuit alleged school personnel strapped him into a chair as a means of behavior control. Initially, the lawsuit included both the school board and 10 unnamed employees, but the employees were removed, leaving the school board as the only …


Judge Says Bridgewater State Hospital Lawsuit Should Move Forward

A Superior Court judge has allowed a lawsuit against the state to proceed on grounds that conditions at troubled Bridgewater State Hospital may violate the federal Americans with Disabilities Act, a ruling that underscores the controversial use of seclusion and restraints at the facility. The lawsuit, filed by the families of three former Bridgewater patients, claims that officials discriminate …