Texas: Family Sues Fort Worth Daycare After Toddler ‘Fight Club’ Incident Caught on Camera

A Fort Worth family has sued Arka Montessori Academy of Risinger after surveillance footage allegedly showed an adult employee encouraging her own son to attack a 4-year-old boy before shaking the child and causing him to fall. The lawsuit stems from an April 27 incident that the boy’s parents say left them questioning the care and supervision their son received at the facility. The case was filed in Tarrant County on September 4, 2026.

The Harrises say they chose the Fort Worth daycare after researching facilities and placing importance on education, cleanliness and the availability of 24-hour cameras, WFAA reported. Their attorney, Russell T. Button, has described the incident as resembling a “child fight club,” while the allegations in the lawsuit remain claims that have not been decided by a court. Lululemon Faces Probe in Texas Over ‘Forever Chemicals’ Linked to Cancer, Infertility.

Fort Worth Daycare Sued After Teacher Allegedly Encouraged Fight Involving Child

⚠️How did a daycare get "fight club" accusations?

A Fort Worth family has filed a $1 million lawsuit against Arka Montessori Academy, alleging an employee encouraged a "child fight club" environment before physically assaulting their 4-year-old son as a form of discipline.… pic.twitter.com/74oAcK7P3M

— Chron (@chron) September 15, 2026

Parents Say They Knew Something Was Wrong

You can see how the parents of a 4-year-old boy light up when they describe their youngest of two children. “He’s into sports now, sports, basketball, anything sports, basketball, soccer, football,” Heather Harris said. Richard Harris said his son also has a love for Michael Jackson and practicing how to moonwalk.

“He’s walking around now with his Michael Jackson glove. So, he’s just pretty awesome,” Richard Harris said. The Harris family recently watched the movie on Michael Jackson with their two children during their home movie night together. Nazira Haji Zada Deported: DOJ Uses Alien Terrorist Removal Court for First Time in Afghan National Case.

But the couple says there is a disturbing moment involving their son that they are still trying to make sense of. Heather says she made a surprise visit to Arka Montessori Academy of Risinger daycare in Fort Worth on April 27. She told WFAA TV in an exclusive interview that she knew something was wrong when she saw her son.

“I knew from his cry, in the look on his face, that something had happened. And from that point on, I said, I need to see the cameras,” Heather Harris said.

The family’s attorney shared surveillance video that he says shows an adult woman, described as a former employee, allegedly instigating a fight involving the 4-year-old. Heather Harris said she immediately called Richard Harris and told him what she had seen. “I was mortified when she showed me what actually happened on the video,” Richard Harris said.

The Harrises say they trusted the daycare to care for their son and were shocked by what they said happened. “The trust that I put in this daycare, they failed us,” Heather Harris said.

The family’s lawsuit alleges that a teacher encouraged her own son to continue attacking the 4-year-old and then shook the child before physically causing him to fall. The family’s attorney says the surveillance footage documents the incident. Separate reporting based on the lawsuit says the boy was allegedly grabbed, shaken, dragged and pushed during the confrontation.

The Button Law Firm is a Texas personal injury law firm that represents people and families in cases involving serious injuries, wrongful death, and other harm caused by negligence. The firm is representing the Harris family in the lawsuit involving the Fort Worth daycare.

“This place looked like a child fight club. It felt like one. This kid was thrown around like a human rag doll by somebody that was supposed to protect him,” attorney Russell T. Button said, "When you speak up, when you bring these things to light, it helps hold everyone accountable, and that makes other daycares take notice. That makes them change their ways, become safer. So, working parents have a place to send their kids."

The lawsuit alleges the daycare failed in its responsibility to protect the child. The family is seeking accountability through the civil case.

Family Says Daycare Seemed Like The Right Choice

The couple says they believed they had done their homework before choosing the daycare.

“Education was big; it was clean. Arka, we thought we hit gold with Arka,” Richard Harris said. Richard shared with WFAA TV that they even allowed their son to do a half day at the daycare to see how he would respond to the new facility, after changing his daycare based on location, after-school care, and their busy work schedules. The 24-7 cameras inside the daycare day rooms, the couple says, also played a huge role in their decision.

The Independent reported that the parents had researched multiple facilities before enrolling their son, with cleanliness, educational standards and surveillance cameras among their priorities. “Everything that glitters isn’t gold, and that facility was one of them,” Heather Harris said.

State Records Show Previous Deficiencies

Online state records show the daycare had no deficiencies during an August 20, 2026, inspection. However, state records show 21 deficiencies at the facility since January 2024, including deficiencies involving health and safety risks for children.

Other reporting on the case says state investigators cited the facility in connection with the April incident, including allegations involving prohibited disciplinary methods and a caregiver's failure to intervene to protect a child. The absence of deficiencies in the Aug. 20 inspection is separate from the facility's previous inspection history and does not resolve the allegations made in the lawsuit.

Daycare Has Not Commented On Lawsuit

WFAA called the daycare for comment on the lawsuit. An employee said the daycare had no comment and asked that the director be contacted by email. The Independent also reported that it contacted the daycare and Button, the family's attorney, for comment. The daycare has not publicly provided a detailed response to the allegations in the lawsuit.

The allegations against the former employee and the daycare remain subject to the legal process. No court finding has established the family's allegations as fact. Parents who want to learn more about a daycare can find inspection details at the Texas Health and Human Services website.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Sep 16, 2026 07:24 AM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).