Mom sues N. Aurora school over child's broken arm

A South Elgin woman claims in a recently filed lawsuit that two employees of a North Aurora private school broke her 11-year-old son's arm.

The woman, Cindy Lapotka, seeks more than $50,000 in damages from the school, Aurora Education Center, and related parties named in the civil suit filed late last month.

The suit claims that, in April, two school employees picked up Lapotka's son by each arm and pushed him into a wall, fracturing a humorous bone in the child's right arm.

Elgin attorney Loren Golden, who represents Lapotka, said Tuesday the incident occurred after the boy was transferred to the school by Elgin Area School District U-46. It is one of several where children can be sent to receive special attention for behavioral and emotional problems, he said.

"(The student) wasn't doing anything violent," Golden said of the child's behavior. "He would just act out" verbally.

The Menta Group, a nonprofit organization that oversees Aurora Education Center, 191 Poplar Place, declined to comment Tuesday, citing federal restrictions regarding special education students that prohibit the group from even confirming or denying a child is enrolled. Also named in the lawsuit is the U-46 school board and the school itself.

As for the boy, "It was a rough go, but his injuries have healed," Golden said.

The case goes before Kane County Civil Judge F. Keith Brown Nov. 17.