Judge approves $10,000 settlement for child's broken arm at Pleasant View Learning Center

A Montgomery County judge approved a $10,000 settlement for injuries sustained by a child while at Pleasant View Learning Center, finding the settlement in the child's best interest and signing the order at today's docket call.

The child's mother, Bridal Bryant, described the incident as occurring Nov. 21, 2022, when another child fell on her daughter while they were playing and the child later was found to have a broken arm. Bryant said she received the first text message alert about the incident at about 2:06 p.m., and that she arrived at the center before 2:30 p.m. The child was evaluated at Grace Pediatrics and then referred to Tennessee Orthopedic Alliance, where the child was initially placed in a splint and later a cast; surgery was not ultimately required.

The judge explained to the parents that approving the settlement would bar "you from bringing any other action against the Pleasant View Learning Center" arising from the injury and confirmed they understood the settlement's effect. The parents said they believed the settlement was in their child's best interest, and the judge entered and signed the approval order.

Why this matters: The court must approve settlements on behalf of minors to ensure the terms are fair and that the child's legal rights are protected; the judge's questioning ensures parents understand the waiver of future claims and the impact of attorney fees if counsel had been retained.

Key procedural points - The judge confirmed the parents understood approval would terminate the child's ability to bring future claims on the injury and that an attorney, if retained, would normally take a percentage of any recovery. - The court signed the order and instructed counsel on administrative steps to file the signed order with the clerk.