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Lawsuit Claims Teacher Taped Girl To Chair

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By TOM BRENNAN | The Tampa Tribune

Published: April 2, 2009

TAMPA - The mother of a 7-year-old girl is suing the Hillsborough County School Board, claiming her daughter was taped to a chair and ridiculed by her teacher and classmates.

Berta Sosi filed the lawsuit in Hillsborough County Circuit Court over an incident involving her daughter Sa'phya when she was a kindergartner at Mintz Elementary in May 2007.

The lawsuit contends the girl was disciplined when she got out of her seat to get a crayon.

Teacher Cecibel Cruz tied the girl's arms to her waist with packing tape and then taped her to the back of a chair, the lawsuit contends. For 15 minutes, classmates made fun of the girl while she cried.

Sosi claims her daughter was traumatized by the incident and needs continued therapy. She said she has nightmares of being attacked by wild animals, all with Cruz's face, and now has difficulty learning.

The school district disputes Sosi's version of the incident, spokeswoman Linda Cobbe said. She said Cruz received a verbal reprimand from the principal but is still employed with the district.

Reporter Tom Brennan can be reached at (813) 259-7698.

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