Washoe School Accused Of Disability Discrimination

Parents of a disabled high school student suing Washoe County school officials for discrimination say staff physically restrained their daughter inappropriately 110 times over seven weeks, often pinning her to the floor for several minutes at a time.

Kurt and Michelle Huntoon filed the lawsuit in U.S. District Court last week accusing the county of negligence, fraud, assault and battery of their teenage daughter, who communicates primarily through sign language.

They say the repeated use of excessive force and violence in the fall of 2011 violated her constitutional rights and subjected her to physical, mental, emotional and psychological abuse. In one case, they say staff at Spanish Springs High held her immobile on the floor for nearly 14 minutes.

School district officials say they have no comment on pending litigation.