Day Camp Negligence on my Son

[mtrinci]

My son attends a day camp that I pay 100 dollars a week for. The beginning of this week a boy around the age of 17 started as a staff counselor. He was hired by the city through some sort of sweep summer program for 2.5 months of employment.
Today at camp he was playing dodge ball with all the kids (staff is not allowed to play the games) around 11:30 am. He kept throwing the ball at the kids while they were trying to start a game of their own. He was throwing the ball really hard at them. He hit my son in the stomach a couple times pretty hard, my son said it hurt, until finally my son through the ball back at him. He then stepped up close in my sons face as if to say "what's up" in an intimidating way. He then pushed my son to the ground; my son got up and pushed him back. Then he through my son on the ground and proceeded to jump on him my son hit him to get off and he hit my son in the eye. He then pinned my son down at this time until the other staff came in and pulled him off.
The director called me at 2:00 pm 2.5 hours later after they iced my son's eye and did who knows what. When the boy was pulled off my son she was cussing saying "I can't handle this shit". After talking to the other staff they told me when he first got there, there were disputes here and there. Like him telling my son he can't play a pool game because he is going to play. I pay for my son to go to the camp and he is a staff not allowed to play the games. The staff and supervisor already told him he can't behave like that but yet still left him with my son.
When the direct finally called me he tried to offer me free summer camp for the problems and said he fired him. I went up there and called the police and the police agreed and filed assault charges against him.
This boy is Staff and is 17 years old. My son is 9 years old! I see negligence here. My son is terrified and honestly I am scared to even leave my son somewhere I am a nervous mess. I am a single mother and live in Riverside while I work in Orange County. I want to sue the city, the park whoever. I think this is the most irresponsible situation. Not to mention for a 9 year old to be thrown to the ground and have to go through this.

Does anyone know what I can do here.. Can I sue the City or the Park??

 

[FlaRiptide]

What are your damages? Did you pay out of your own pocket to have your son examined by a doctor or emergency room? Do you think you are going to get punitive damages for your son being terrorised and you becoming a nervous mess? Well, forget it. It won't happen.

Unless you can show that the City/Park hired this 17 year old staff knowing full well that he was a thug/lunatic, there is no case for negligence.

When the direct finally called me he tried to offer me free summer camp for the problems and said he fired him. I went up there and called the police and the police agreed and filed assault charges against him.

I'd suggest accepting the Director's offer and be happy that the thug staffer is gone.

You had not mentioned any other problems at the camp, thus I assume this was an isolated situation.

 

[army judge]

Sure, you can sue anyone you wish.
Do you have a case?
Who knows?
Speak with a couple of attorneys and see what they have to say.
In the meantime, have your son examined by your physician.
Discover what injuries he may have suffered.
The police report for the battery upon your son's person by the thug counselor was a great idea.
Make sure he is prosecuted in accordance with the law.
At least the police report will be on file, if a lawsuit isn't in your future.

If your lawsuit is to take wings, I'd remove my son from the camp immediately. I'd do so for his protection. Lawsuit or not, you'd be remiss as a parent to allow him to stay where he could be in future jeopardy.

 

[tpajet]

You might have trouble bringing a sucessful case, but I think this is one where I'd call the TV news.