A Fort Worth couple is seeking $1 million from a Montessori daycare after alleging a teacher encouraged her own young son to attack their 4-year-old child and then physically handled the boy herself.

Heather and Richard Harris filed the lawsuit against Arka Risinger Educators LLC, which operates Arka Montessori Academy of Risinger in Fort Worth, over an April 27 incident involving their son, identified in court documents as U.H. The family alleges the daycare failed to protect the child and is seeking damages for negligence, negligence per se and gross negligence.

According to the lawsuit, the boy was moved into a combined afternoon classroom near the end of the day. Another child initially struck him, and the situation escalated after Chynia Johnson, a teacher whose son was involved in the altercation, entered the classroom.

The lawsuit alleges surveillance footage shows Johnson grabbing, shaking and yelling at U.H. before encouraging her son to hit and kick him. The complaint further alleges that the teacher physically pushed or dragged the boy and caused him to fall to the floor. Johnson is no longer employed by the daycare.

Heather Harris said she became concerned when she arrived to pick up her son and found him crying uncontrollably. After being told that he had been involved in a fight with another child, she demanded to review the classroom surveillance footage, according to the lawsuit.

Russell T. Button, the family's attorney, characterized the alleged incident as resembling a “child fight club” and accused the daycare of failing in its responsibility to protect children in its care. The allegations remain part of a civil lawsuit and have not been established in court.

The case also comes amid scrutiny of the daycare's safety record. Texas regulators have cited Arka Montessori for multiple deficiencies involving issues including discipline, physical handling of children and supervision, according to records cited in reports about the lawsuit.

The Harrises are seeking at least $1 million in compensation, while the lawsuit asks the court to hold the daycare operator responsible for the alleged conduct and the injuries and emotional distress suffered by their son.