Daycare employee in Coweta County faces child cruelty charges following filed lawsuit
In a shocking turn of events, a lawsuit has been filed against Big Blue Marble Academy Bailey Station in Atlanta, Georgia. The lawsuit, filed by a concerned mother, alleges negligence on the part of the daycare and assault and battery by an employee, Samantha Hertzog.
The lawsuit stems from two separate incidents that occurred within the academy. The first incident, in February 2025, saw Hertzog accused of grabbing and scratching a different 3-year-old boy at the academy. However, the specific details of this incident and its impact on the child are not detailed in the provided paragraph.
What is known is that the daycare removed the boy from the classroom but did not create an incident report or inform the Georgia Department of Early Care and Learning, according to the suit. The lawsuit argues that Big Blue Marble Academy should have fired Hertzog before the incident, as she had an assault arrest in 2020 and a teacher complained about her aggressive behavior towards children soon after she started working.
The second incident, which occurred on March 21, 2025, is more severe. Hertzog allegedly kicked a cot and then picked up a 3-year-old child, slamming her back into the cot. The girl who was hurt in this incident has since been clinically diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder, according to the lawsuit.
Hertzog was heard saying, "That's why you don't play!" when the child started screaming and crying, according to the lawsuit. Five days after this incident, Hertzog was arrested and charged with first-degree child cruelty.
Big Blue Marble Academy's statement following Hertzog's arrest in March stated that child safety is their top priority. They also mentioned that they reported the incident to local authorities and conducted an internal investigation, resulting in Hertzog's immediate termination.
The lawsuit seeks at least $250,000 in punitive damages. It's important to note that the lawsuit against Big Blue Marble Academy Bailey Station and Samantha Hertzog is ongoing, and this article is a developing story. More information may be available as the investigation progresses.
Big Blue Marble Academy has a zero-tolerance policy for the mistreatment of children in their care and will continue to cooperate with local law enforcement and licensing authorities as the investigations continue. The academy employed an individual before the March 2025 event who had previously faced charges for violent crimes and received a violence restraining order.
The lawsuit does not specify whether any further legal action has been taken against Big Blue Marble Academy regarding the February incident. The academy, in their statement, did not address this specific point.
This incident serves as a reminder of the importance of thorough background checks and continuous monitoring of staff in childcare settings to ensure the safety and wellbeing of the children in their care.
