'A 1st Grader Beat Me Up,' NY Teacher Sues School

It's embarrassing enough for a teacher to get beat up by a first grader. What could be even more embarrassing? To have the news picked up and broadcast nationally.

John Webster is a hulk of a man in any profession. He's 220 pounds and a former college running back. So at a New York elementary school, you'd probably bet that he'd be the one to dish out beatings.

But after a dust-up with a 50-pound fist grade student, Webster came out on the losing end and even suffered permanent injury which caused him to miss work, reports WCBS. Talk about adding insult to injury.

First grade student Rodrigo Carpio was allegedly acting up at lunch. As the students were going to the cafeteria, Carpio is said to have begun jumping and spinning around the stairs. That's when Webster became involved and told the child to stop.

Eventually, the altercation became physical and Webster reportedly grabbed the child by the arms, reports WCBS. Webster describes the 50-pound student as "very, very strong." This makes one wonder how Webster would describe a 300-pound lineman tackling him during his football playing days. But we digress.

During the melee, the student allegedly spun around and kicked Webster right in the knee, causing something to pop, the teacher claims. Webster says that he suffered a broken ankle and his right knee required surgery, injuries that have kept him out of work, reports WCBS.

When asked about the incident, the six-year-old student responded "I don't know. I forgot," writes WCBS. While this may be a valid defense when asked if you stole a cookie from the cookie jar, this may not work so well in a lawsuit.

Webster is seeking $10,000 from the school district to pay for his medical bills. It does not appear that he will sue the student or his parents. Webster claims that the school was aware that the first grader was a terror, but apparently did nothing to protect grown men vulnerable to attack.

Related Resources:

• Queens teacher suing city claiming he was beaten up by a first-grader (New York Post)
• NY Teacher Sues School for Getting Beat Up By 1st Grader (FindLaw's Injured)
• Teacher of the Year Charged With Sex with Student (FindLaw's Legally Weird)