Bridgehampton couple files notice of claim over daughter's alleged day care abuse

A Bridgehampton couple claims their 21-month-old daughter was yanked out of her high chair, "slammed down" into a crib and force-fed at a day care where authorities say two employees mistreated young children.

Caroline and John Stella said Wednesday their daughter Emerald continues to suffer emotionally and psychologically after the alleged abuse last summer at Side By Side Child Care in Southampton.

"She was held down, [and they] forced food down her throat to the point of vomiting on several occasions," Caroline Stella, 34, said in an interview.

The abuse of her daughter, she said, continued "day-in and day-out, five days a week" during the 5 1/2 months Emerald was enrolled at the North Sea Road day care.

On Monday, the couple filed a notice of claim -- a prelude to a lawsuit -- seeking unspecified damages from the Suffolk County Office of Child Protective Services, Southampton Town and the state Office of Children and Family Services.

According to the claim, the agencies had knowledge of alleged negligence and mistreatment at the day care and failed to adequately investigate or inspect the facility.

Southampton Town attorney Tiffany Scarlato called the claim against the town "baseless" because the day care, which has since closed, was independently operated. Suffolk County and the Office of Children and Family Services declined to comment on pending litigation.

State officials moved to revoke the day care's license shortly after the arrests in August.

The owners were informed of the alleged mistreatment and failed to act, according to the Stellas' attorney, William K. Polignani of Water Mill.

"The owners . . . have an obligation to report abuse or suspected abuse," he said, noting that they would likely become defendants in a lawsuit.

The owners could not be reached Wednesday.

Stella said she learned of the alleged abuse from an employee, who looked up her phone number and called her on Aug. 25.

"Halfway through her telling me . . . I was just shaking. I was crying. I hung up the phone with her and just dialed 911," Stella said.

Southampton police said Stella's call triggered an investigation and eventually led to the arrest of two employees on misdemeanor child-endangerment charges.

Police said Sarah Dawber, 23, of Patchogue, grabbed the head of an 18-month-old -- now identified as Emerald -- and forced food into her mouth, "causing the child to vomit." Kathleen Culver, 33, of Southampton, threw an 18-month-old boy to the floor, "causing his head to hit the ground," police said. No other injuries were reported.

Attorneys for the former employees have denied any wrongdoing.

Stella tearfully recounted how her daughter now has a hard time socializing and shuns attention.

"Sometimes if you go to kiss her too quickly, it frightens her," she said.