A Dallas mother is taking a beloved North Texas diabetes camp to court, saying staff brushed off obvious warning signs after her 10‑year‑old daughter suffered a brain injury during a summer session. Scarlett Pullen filed a lawsuit this month alleging her child, identified in court papers as R.A., was assaulted by another camper during a June 2024 session at Camp Sweeney, and that employees downplayed her symptoms and delayed serious medical care. The girl was later hospitalized and has needed months of therapy, the complaint says. Pullen is seeking between $250,000 and $1 million and accuses the Southwestern Diabetic Foundation, which operates Camp Sweeney, of negligent supervision and training.
What the lawsuit alleges
According to The Dallas Morning News, the complaint says the incident took place at the camp’s Whitesboro site. The next morning, staff called Pullen and told her “she’s ok,” then described symptoms that included nausea, headaches, and slurred speech, the lawsuit states. After speaking directly with her daughter by phone, Pullen told the paper she drove to the camp and found the child stumbling and disoriented. She then took her to Children’s Medical Center Dallas, where doctors admitted her and diagnosed a brain bleed, according to the report. The lawsuit contends Camp Sweeney failed to properly supervise campers, provide adequate medical care, and promptly notify parents about the seriousness of the situation.
Camp Sweeney's history and policies
Camp Sweeney has operated for decades as an overnight camp specifically for children with Type 1 diabetes and describes itself as combining traditional camp fun with medical oversight, according to Camp Sweeney's website. The site includes a parent and camper handbook and a terms page that features assumption‑of‑risk and release language, and it lists the Whitesboro address for the camp. The lawsuit argues that those policies and waivers do not excuse the conduct alleged in the complaint.
Medical care and recovery
Pullen told The Dallas Morning News that doctors at Children’s Medical Center Dallas kept her daughter in the hospital for several days, ran tests, and confirmed the brain bleed diagnosis. The girl then began months of physical, occupational, and speech therapy, according to Pullen. Children’s Medical Center Dallas is listed on its website as the flagship pediatric campus for Children’s Health, located at 1935 Medical District Drive in Dallas. Pullen’s attorney, Zhora Mavani, told the paper that parents choose diabetes camps expecting staff with medical training who can closely monitor blood sugar and respond quickly to emergencies.
Legal implications
The complaint alleges negligence, gross negligence, and negligent supervision and training, claims that can carry higher stakes under Texas law if they are ultimately proved. Under the Texas Civil Practice and Remedies Code, exemplary damages are available only if the claimant proves by clear and convincing evidence that the harm resulted from fraud, malice, or gross negligence. The statute defines gross negligence as conduct that involves an extreme degree of risk. In a civil case like this, those questions are typically sorted out during discovery and pretrial motions, then decided by a judge or jury based on the full record.
What happens next
Pullen’s lawyer says the family has not received an explanation from the camp about what happened, and it is not yet clear how the Southwestern Diabetic Foundation plans to respond to the suit. The case is in its early stages, so the coming months are likely to be filled with document exchanges, witness interviews, and legal maneuvering as both sides weigh whether to settle or push toward a trial.
