Family Sues Embattled Northport Daycare Over Toddler’s Fall & Injury

An already embroiled Northport daycare is now the subject of a negligence lawsuit filed on Monday by parents of an infant who was allegedly hurt in a fall there last month.

In a complaint filed this week, which for now keeps the identities of the plaintiffs anonymous, parents of a 1-year-old at the Word Academy in Northport said their young child was allowed to fall out of a high chair at the daycare, landing on their head and face.

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According to the lawsuit, the little girl had been left unattended at the time of the August fall and required hospitalization at DCH afterward. They are also having ongoing consultations with a pediatrician and seeking a neurologist to determine the extent of her injuries.

The parents are being represented by Tuscaloosa attorney Clint Mountain, who told the Thread that after they were made aware of the accident involving their toddler, the parents met with staff at the daycare who assured them this was an isolated incident.

"The parents came and talked to them, and it sounded like this was a one-off. They never had any issues like this before; there's nothing going on," Mountain said.

Then revelations and accusations spread on social media and local news outlets as representatives confirmed both DHR and the Tuscaloosa County Sheriff's Office are conducting investigations into alleged child abuse at the Word Academy, which is operated out of the Word Community Church in Northport and will reportedly close at the end of this month.

After realizing there may be a pattern of neglect at the daycare, the parents of the toddler who fell from the high chair filed a single-count lawsuit accusing Word Academy and its staff of negligence.

"It sounds like there's been multiple instances, and it sounds like maybe The Word Academy was not completely truthful with the parents about it," Mountain said. "So we really want to know what happened, the circumstances surrounding this fall, whether this is negligence or something more, something that puts more culpability on the Word Academy."

Mountain filed the lawsuit without naming his clients and has filed a motion to keep the case anonymous to protect the identity of the toddler in this case, especially amid the likelihood that coverage of the alleged issues at the Academy is not yet over.

Circuit Court Judge Allen May will hear the case.

For more coverage of crime & courts and other news in West Alabama, stay connected to the Tuscaloosa Thread.