Child Injury Lawyer Blog
By Rob Shainess, Attorney and David Wolf, Attorney
Published by Child Injury Lawyer Network
Supervision in Minnesota day care centers is key to the safety and welfare of children. Licensed day care centers are governed by the Minnesota Administration Code Rule 9502.0367 as it relates to Child / Adult Ratios – Age Distribution Restrictions. The regulations set forth the child to staff ratios which are dependent on the number of children and the age of the children. It is vital that day care centers follow these regulations to ensure the appropriate amount of staff to supervise the children. Schedules of staff members should be maintained by the facility and followed to make sure there are no gaps in supervision or times of the day that the children are put at risks with inadequate supervision.
A day care worker was arrested for allegedly injuring a young child in Huntsville, Texas. A 10-month-old was treated for bruises to the face, neck, and torso at Huntsville Memorial Hospital, and then transferred to Texas Children’s Hospital in Houston for observation. The baby was released to the parents the next day.
A day care center located in New Jersey was evacuated after a car crashed into the front reception area of the building. Luckily, no children or workers were injured. The driver of the car, however, was injured, but the extent of his injuries is unknown. Firefighters were able to repair the side of the building, and the children were able to resume class.
In Texas and other States, summer camp should be a time for fun and adventure for children. Summer camp should also be a place where a child is cared for and supervised in a safe, healthy and supportive environment. Unfortunately, many children are abused and neglected each summer at summer camps. Some are raped. Some are molested. Many others suffer serious personal injuries and death due to the negligence of the camp operators, counselors, and / or support staff. In Kerrville, Texas, a former summer camp counselor recently struck a plea deal during a trial where the counselor was being prosecuted on aggravated sexual assault of a child and indecency with a child Texas criminal charges. The charges stemmed from allegations that a boy, who is now 11 years old, was molested / fondled as he left a shower area at the summer camp. It was reported that the family was disappointed in the camp’s actions or inactions in response to the counselor’s alleged inappropriate conduct with the children after the children had showered. The counselor denied the allegations of molesting the boy. Of course, trials, both civil and criminal, take place every day when there is a dispute over the allegations or facts. Without an admission, photographs, video tape, and multiple eyewitness accounts, it is often difficult to prosecute cases of alleged abuse and molestation at a summer camp, day care center, or other location. In some cases, there is forensic medical evidence showing the improper and forceful conduct. It should be pointed out that each case, whether civil or criminal in nature, must be evaluated by its own facts and the application of the the State and sometimes Federal law on point. For more information regarding this Texas trial and plea deal, see 
In California and other States, day care centers should be a safe and healthy environment for children. Unfortunately, some day care centers are unsafe and even health hazards for children. It was reported in Visalia, California that a day care center was temporarily closed due to a discovery / reporting of black mold at the California day care / child care center. The Child Development Center on the College of the Sequoias campus cleared out the furniture and took other steps to address the mold problem in the day care center. It was reported that the black mold was not problematic since it was not airborne; nonetheless, the facility was placed on quarantine. For more information see 
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A day care operator and one of her employees have been accused of child abuse at a child care center in Surry County, North Carolina. The charges were formally pressed against 46-year-old Renee Frances, co-owner of the child care center, and 26-year-old Patricia Ann Seville, an employee at the center, following a two-month investigation. Frances and Seville were charged with child abuse and neglect, arrested and their bond set a $25,000 unsecured. According to Sheriff Graham Atkinson, the Surry County Sheriff’s Office was contacted on February 16 about a 2-year-old that had been abused at Blackburn’s Nursery and Day Care. An investigation was immediately initiated and included numerous interviews before warrants were formally issued. Although Frances and Seville have been arrested, the lead detective on the case said she is currently unable to release specifics on the type of abuse alleged. For more read