Couple wants to sue Navy over alleged child abuse
Claim seeks damages after their daughter was injured at day care center
Groton — A Groton couple is seeking to sue the Navy over alleged abuse of their 3-year-old daughter by a former employee at the Child Development Center run by the Naval Submarine Base.
Brandy and Francisco Balzac have submitted an administrative claim with the sub base seeking $150,000 in damages related to a January 2018 incident in which their daughter was injured at the day care. The parents said through their lawyer that they are concerned about proper training of staff and supervision at the facility.
Before they can file a lawsuit against the Navy, the parents had to submit an administrative claim with the appropriate federal agency, in this case the sub base, and the Navy now has at least six months to investigate and respond to the claim.
When the girl’s mother picked her up from the day care on Jan. 3, 2018, staff informed the woman that her daughter had a bruise on her side, but said they weren’t sure how she got injured, according to the claim. The girl initially wouldn’t say how she got the bruise, but then told her mom “she got so mad Mommy and she threw me in the kitchen,” according to documents provided by New London attorney Daniel Horgan, who is representing the Balzacs along with attorney Anthony C. Basilica, who also practices law in New London.
About a week later, the director of the day care told Balzac that security footage of the classroom their daughter was in showed “concerning behavior with a staff member,” according to the claim.
The footage shows three adults and about twenty children in a classroom on Jan. 3, just after 11 a.m. A group of children are seated in a corner of the room. A woman, later identified as Lisa Reppenhagen, who was a program assistant at the day care, is seen walking about the room with a cot in her hand.
She takes the hand of a girl, who appears to be leaning on a chair by herself, away from the group, and leads the girl toward the group of children. The girl stops in the middle of room and drops to the ground at which point Reppenhagen reaches down and grabs her by her ankle and pulls her across the floor a few feet. The girl suffered “cuts, bruising and a gash in her ribcage, physical pain and emotional trauma,” according to the claim. The girl is no longer going to the day care.
Reppenhagen was charged on March 7 by Groton Town police with risk of injury to a child and second-degree reckless endangerment. She has requested accelerated rehabilitation, a diversionary program through which a defendant’s charges are dismissed if they successfully complete a probationary period. A judge is slated to consider Reppenhagen’s request on May 9.
As for whether the Balzacs will contest the request, Horgan said they “are encouraged that Lisa accepted responsibility in a statement to police, and will talk further with the prosecutor.”
No comment
Reppenhagen is being represented by attorney J. Christopher Llinas, who said that he and his client have no comment at this time.
The state’s Department of Children and Families investigated and found the allegation of abuse to be substantiated. A committee of sub base officials, including the commanding officer and executive officer of the base, also investigated and found the allegation “met the criteria for child abuse.”
“Sub base takes this incident very seriously. Our hearts and concerns go out to the victim and the family impacted. While this singular incident is a first to our knowledge at the sub base CDC, even one is unacceptable,” Capt. Paul Whitescarver, the base’s commanding officer, said in a statement. “I’m wholeheartedly committed to the safety, health and wellbeing of all those participating in our child and youth programs.”
Immediate action
Base spokesman Chris Zendan said “immediate” action was taken when base officials found out about the incident. The three adults in the classroom were placed on administrative leave, according to Zendan, and two of them resigned during the course of the base’s investigation. Day care staff went through training and new policies were instituted regarding the notification process when these incidents occur and the level of involvement when reporting such incidents.
In general, prospective employees at the day care go through “rigorous” screening, including a background check, and training by the Navy, Zendan said.
Though located off base, the day care is run by the sub base and thus considered a federal facility, which means it requires a certificate from the Department of Defense to operate. As part of that, the day care must renew its accreditation through the National Association for the Education of Young Children every five years. There are inspections or reviews every six months, Zendan said.