By James Bailey, Attorney and David Wolf, Attorney
Published by Child Injury Lawyer Network
A Delaware pediatrician was found guilty of child abuse and rape of his patients. Earl Bradley, 58, was accused of raping and assaulting more than 100 girls that he treated. He was convicted of 24 counts of rape, assault and sexual exploitation in Sussex Superior Court.
By David Wolf, Attorney
Published by Child Injury Lawyer Network
South Carolina authorities are investigating how a toddler wandered off from a College Park Road day care center. The Department of Social Services spokeswoman, Marilyn Matheus, said that a two-year-old girl walked off the property of Noah’s Ark Daycare Center and Kindergarten while she was under their care. The toddler was found uninjured and DSS was contacted.
By J. Rock Palermo, Attorney and David Wolf, Attorney
Published by Child Injury Lawyer Network
A van occupied by church members heading home from a Bible class veered off a highway in northeast Louisiana and crashed. Tragically, two adults and two children were killed and seven others were hospitalized.
By Will Brown, Attorney and David Wolf, Attorney
Published by Child Injury Lawyer Network
In Cleveland, Ohio, the police have arrested five people for abusing a handicapped toddler; the child’s mom and boyfriend were arrested along with three others. According to the police, the suspects burned the handicapped child with a hot iron. The incident occurred at W. 38th and Dension. The person who answered the door at the address claimed it was just an accident, but the child could not even walk, said the police. The grandmother of the child was horrified when she saw the burns on the child’s leg and called for help immediately. The grandmother said that nobody had taken the child to the hospital for treatment or reported the incident to 911.
By Scott Zahler, Attorney and David Wolf, Attorney
Published by Child Injury Lawyer Network
Elijah Johnson, nine-years-old, was treated for severe personal injuries at Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta at Egleston. The boy’s family alleges that he was a victim of a brutal attack at an Atlanta day care center, but the day care center claims that the boy injured himself.
By Joseph R. Hillebrand Attorney and David Wolf, Attorney
Published by Child Injury Lawyer Network
The State of Missouri is revising the child care laws for the first time in two decades. Two of the main revisions include: 1). A requirement that Missouri Child-Care Centers put babies to sleep on their backs; and 2). A requirement that state Child-Care Centers have a staff member trained in CPR on staff at all times. The “back-to-sleep” rule is expected to be in effect by late summer 2011 and the CPR regulation by January 1. The revisions are to aid in the prevention of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) and accidental suffocation. According to a study conducted by Rachel Moon, a pediatrician and SIDS researcher with Children’s National Medical Center, 20% of all SIDS deaths occur in child care centers, a rate that should only be 8%. The new revisions will affect approximately 2,200 centers and 1,440 licensed home-based child care centers. However, the new revisions are neither applicable to unlicensed home-based child care businesses within the state (which account for well over 5,000) nor the 670 faith-based child care centers (because they are exempted from state licensing). However, following these rules is an important step in providing better quality care for children. The Missouri Child Fatality Review Program recorded two infant deaths in licensed child care facilities because of SIDS or suffocation. For more details see Missouri revises child care laws to prevent SIDS and accidental suffocation.
By David Wolf, Attorney Published by Child Injury Lawyer Network
What started out as a childhood prank turned nearly fatal after a man shot at the neighborhood children. Although, the shooter was described by a neighbor as “low key” and “country,” his actions give off a different kind of character. 56-year-old Michael Bishop, has been charged with attempted murder after he aimed his gun into a group of children, pulled the tripper and hit a 12-year-old boy. According to police, the children had been playing a long time prank known as ding-dong-ditch, the kids run up to a home, ring the doorbell or known, and run away. The victim, whose name is not being released, is believed to have suffered a buckshot injury from a shotgun. The boy was taken to Kosair Children’s Hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. Eyewitnesses said they observed Bishop step out on his front porch with a shotgun, pointed his weapon towards the group of children, fired his gun and struck the 12-year-old boy. Dwight Mitchell, a Louisville Metro Police spokesman, said it is unclear whether the boy was the intended victim of Bishop or if he was merely just trying to scare the children off. Other neighbors were questioned by reporters and stated they too have been pranked by the neighborhood children. However, the kids were described as “good kids … not troublemakers” and their actions are not considered bothersome. Doug Dorsey, a nearby resident, is the father of a 13-year-old son who grew up with the victim. Dorsey ran to the group of children after he heard the gun shot and notice the group of kids scattering away. As Dorsey approached, he noticed the victim hunched over, with his back covered in blood. For more read Louisville man charged with attempted murder after firing gun into group of kids, striking 12-year-old boy. Mr. Bishop will be entitled to the services of a Louisville criminal defense attorney or the services of the Public Defender’s office.
By DavidWolf, Attorney Published by Child Injury Lawyer Network
A nine-year-old boy suffered permanent injuries as a result of a Bible camp game at a South Charleston church. His parents filed a lawsuit against the church and alleged that their son fell and struck his face on a carpeted-cement floor. According to the lawsuit, the boy suffered from severe lacerations on his bottom lip and chin, damaged his teeth and drifted out of consciousness. The boy’s lawyer, Benjamin Salango, said that the laceration severed a nerve in his face, which has affected his ability to speak. The boy’s medical condition and injuries required therapy through a speech therapist regularly. In addition, the boy sustained a permanent scar from the cut, said the lawyer.
The boy was allegedly injured in the church game called “Wrap n’ Run.” According to the law suit filed in Kanawha Circuit Court, camp counselors at the Davis Creek Church of the Nazarene first organized the game in June 2009. The lawsuit stated that one child would bind another child in an entire roll of plastic wrap. The wrapped child would then hop from a starting line to a finish line in a race against another child. The lawsuit stated that church counselors ignored a suggestion in the game’s rules to allow the child’s arms to remain free while racing. The lawsuit also stated that this is the second time a child was injured during the same game at the church; another child fell backwards and hit his head on a sanctuary pew.
By Scott Zahler, Attorney and David Wolf, Attorney
Published by Child Injury Lawyer Network
Pursuant to Rule 591-1-1.11 Discipline of the Georgia Rules and Regulations for Child Care Learning Centers, day care centers may use discipline measures provided that they are not detrimental to the physical and mental health of the child. These rules prohibit day care center employees from sexually or physically abusing a child under the care of the day care center. Furthermore, the regulations prohibit corporal punishment, the shaking, jerking, pinching, or rough handling of a child. Verbal abuse and humiliation are also prohibited acts. Isolation, restraints, force feeing, and confinement are also prohibited by the Georgia Rules and Regulations for Child Care Learning Centers.
By Jeremy Vishno, Attorney, and David Wolf, Attorney
Published by Child Injury Lawyer Network
In Connecticut, day care centers and schools have a responsibility and duty to have an emergency plan in place for evacuation of the building due to disasters, terrorism, and other events / incidents that could put a child’s health and / or safety in jeopardy. It is important to have such an evacuation plan in place in writing. Furthermore, the facility should practice the plan during drills at periodic time periods. While fires and other natural disasters are not that common, they do take place and it is important for day care center and school administrators and staff members to be prepared. Children absolutely need guidance when there is a traumatic event or natural disaster. In these situations, staff members need to know the plan and calmly and timely execute the emergency / evacuation plan in place. See Connecticut Law Requires Evacuation Plan for Schools and Day Care Centers.
