Day Care Sued for Alleged Abuse

Thursday, January 4th 2001, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

HUDSON, Mass. (AP) â€” The parents of a child who was duct-taped to a wall at a day care center have sued the owner and several employees, saying the incident was part of a pattern of abuse.

The parents, along with two other families, sued A Place to Grow Inc. claiming their infants were also force-fed, exposed to infectious diseases and spent nap time with blankets over their heads.

Diane Davis, the center's director, and three employees were fired following the duct-tape incident.

According to a report by state investigators, Davis said she had been talking to a parent about the versatility of duct tape and decided to find out if it really did ``work on everything.'' The child was not physically harmed.

The center was closed in March. Investigators said staff also quieted children by spraying water in their face and neglected to give some children their prescribed medications.

Suzanne Foley, the owner of the center, declined to comment on the lawsuits.