Lawsuit Filed Against Palm Beach County School District.
BOCA RATON, FL (BocaNewsNow.com) (Copyright © 2026 MetroDesk Media, LLC) — A Palm Beach County family has filed a lawsuit against the Palm Beach County School District following a 2024 incident at Eagles Landing Middle School involving a teacher and a student with special needs.
The complaint, filed on behalf of a minor child by his parents, Joao and Christine Fonseca, claims that a teacher physically restrained the child without “provocation or authority.” According to the complaint reviewed by BocaNewsNow.com, the incident took place on February 6, 2024, while the child was walking with his class and a behavioral technician. The child, who requires one-on-one services for several diagnoses—including autism spectrum disorder, ADHD, and sensory processing disorder—was allegedly approached by teacher Arlo Rappaport near a classroom.
The lawsuit claims Rappaport suddenly grabbed the hood of the child’s sweatshirt from behind, pulling it so tight that it began to choke the student. The filing says the child struggled to break free while Rappaport ignored his demands to be released. The complaint alleges that the teacher only let go after the child’s actual teacher intervened and informed Rappaport that the boy was a member of her class.
Attorneys for the family say that the school board breached its duty of care, noting that the child’s parents had previously expressed concerns to the school regarding how his Individual Education Plan (IEP) was being handled. The lawsuit seeks in excess of $50,000 — the statutory minimum for filing in Palm Beach County Circuit Court.
Read the complete lawsuit, below.
