Child Injury Lawyer Blog

By David Wolf, Attorney
Published by Child Injury Lawyer Network

A Lake Oswego, Orgeon Fifth Grader died after blocking a football punt at recess. The boy collapsed immediately and could not breathe. See Fifth Grader Dies from Recess Football Punt. This shocking and unexpected incident ended the life of the Fifth Grader. In Oregon and other States, accidents and incidents involving child injury and death take place every day on playgrounds and recess areas at schools, child care facilities, and day care facilities. Some injuries are preventable with safety measures and proper supervision. Others are just freak or unexpected incidents that unfortunately result in injuries and some times death to the child. When children are at recess, free play or physical education in schools, it is important that the children get appropriate supervision, use appropriate equipment, and play with children of their age and size. It is also important for the school, day care facility, or child care facility to properly maintain and keep in good repair all play and recess areas including slides, swings, monkey bars, carousels, ladders, bridges, and other sports and playground equipment and structures.

By David Wolf, Attorney
Published by Child Injury Lawyer Network

Hazing is still a serious problem in Florida and the rest of the United States. Clubs, fraternities, gangs, and sports camps all carry with them the danger of hazing. What is hazing? I guess this all depends who you ask. If you ask the hazing victim, hazing involves humiliation, degrading acts, psychological warfare, and physical abuse. If you ask the hazing criminal defendant, hazing is harmless fun that everyone had to go through in order to become part of the club, gang, or program. Like anything else, tradition is no excuse whatsoever for abusing another person. This especially applies to children.

The mental and physical injuries suffered by children who are victims of hazing incidents can often times last a lifetime. This especially applies to victims who have been sexually assaulted or molested.

In Las Vegas, New Mexico, six teens from the Robertson High School football program were charged with conspiracy and other criminal offenses for various hazing incidents at a high school football camp. The criminal acts included sodomizing the new football campers with broomsticks. How any of this relates to learning football skills or becoming a better football player is truly beyond comprehension.

The head coach and other coaches resigned. The quality and extent of supervision are seriously being questioned and should be investigated by police and prosecutors. In addition to a criminal investigation, the family of the victims can retain a personal injury attorney to further investigate the matter to make sure that those responsible (directly or indirectly) for the acts are identified and dealt with through criminal and / or civil proceedings. In addition to criminal charges, the victims of the hazing incidents may have personal injury claims against the school district, camp organizers, and any other entities that created or allowed such abusive incidents to take place. Imagine, parents send their child to football camp and the child comes back sexually assaulted and sodomized with a broomstick. This is truly a tragedy for the child and his family.

Robertson High School has a couple of New Mexico High School State Championships in recent years. Frankly, the horrific acts of sodomizing new recruits overshadows anything showing up in the win or loss column for the team in past years. You can read more about these hazing incidents at New Mexico Teens Charged for Hazing at Football Camp.

By Ryan E.Alekman, Attorney, Jeremey Vishno, Attorney and David Wolf, Attorney
Published by Child Injury Lawyer Network

Christopher Bizilj, an eight year old from Ashford, Connecticut, died as a result of an Uzi sub-machine gun accidental shooting at the Machine Gun Show and Firearms Expo at the Westfield, Massachusetts Sportsman's Club. Christopher's father had given permission for his son to handle the gun prior to the incident. It is interesting to note that the father, Charles Bizilj, is the Director of Emergency Medicine at Johnson Memorial Hospital in Stafford, Connecticut. As such, it would appear that Dr. Bizilj has seen his fair share of gun shot wounds and injuries - both intentional and accidental type of shootings.

While Christopher was shooting the Uzi, it recoiled, he lost control, and then accidentally shot himself in the head. This is a true tragic course of events for the Bizilj Family and all involved with the incident.

The shooting shows the importance of gun safety and the dangers of putting a high powered weapon into the hands of an eight year old.

Massachusetts is a comparative fault state when dealing with negligence cases. In other words, a victim and / or the victim's family can collect compensation for injuries or death even if the victim or someone else was negligent as well. The amount of recovery or compensation is reduced by the amount of negligence on the part of a victim or a third party.

Jerry Belair, a spokesman with Stop Handgun Violence, a non-profit organization based in Newton, Massachusetts, noted that the Uzi is used in battlefields and that "it's not a toy. It's not something to play with."

In this instance, it is arguable that the father was negligent in allowing his son to fire the Uzi; however, it would appear that the gun show promoters, organizers, and instructor had superior knowledge to that of Christopher and his father, who practices medicine but probably does not hold himself out as a firearms expert or instructor.

The demonstration involving putting an Uzi in the hands of an eight year old put this child at unreasonable and unnecessary danger which in turn caused the untimely and tragic death of an eight year old boy. You can read more about this story at Boy Accidentally Shoots Himself with Uzi at Massachusetts Gun Show.

Jacksonville Estate Planning Lawyer, David Goldman who writes the NFA Gun Trust Lawyer Blog has an analysis of the violations of the NFA that occur when a child is allowed to use a Machine Gun. David Goldman also suggests how a NFA Firearms Trust can provide asset protection for owners of Class 3 weapons and firearms in general. Whether a person, business or trust owns a gun, safety is key to protecting yourself, children, and anybody within firing distance of a gun.

By David Wolf, Attorney
Published by Child Injury Lawyer Network

Calendar wise - summer is over by the end of August / beginning of September. Even though summer is officially over, the heat continues for most of the fall in many Southern and Western States like Florida and Arizona. Maya Peabody, a 2 year old,died recently in Arizona. Apparently, the family took several vehicles to breakfast and then returned home later that day. One of the children, age 2, was left in the car by accident. A few hours later, the family discovered that the 2 year old was left in the car. The family rushed the child to a local hospital where the child was pronounced dead. The local department of welfare, children, and families along with the local police department will conduct an investigation to determine if criminal charges will be brought against any of the family members for child neglect.

Parents, grandparents, caregivers, counselors, and teachers should be diligent in removing children from unattended cars especially when there are extreme temperatures. Whether it is the summer, winter, or any other time of year, always make sure that your children are safely removed from a vehicle to avoid child injuries and death. You can read more about the Maya Peabody tragedy at Child Dies After Being Left in a Car in Arizona.

By Jeremy Vishno, Attorney and David Wolf, Attorney
Published by Child Injury Lawyer Network

Three bus loads of middle school students in Litchfield, Connecticut were recently in a bus accident. The students were returning home from a field trip at White Memorial Conservation Park when a chain type of reaction crash took place. The last bus in the convoy failed to stop and crashed into the bus stopped in front of it. Nineteen students were treated for injuries but it does not appear that there are any serious personal injuries at this time. While traveling a convoy increased the visibility of the school buses, this mode of travel can also involve many of the students on multiple buses when an accident takes place. Parents were notified of the crash. While the crash was reported in various news papers and media outlets, the crash fortunately did not involve any deaths or tragedies to speak of. The crash does illustrate the importance of school driver safety, attention, and speed. Rear end automobile accidents, trucking accidents, and bus accidents typically result from inattention and excessive speed. It is especially important for school bus drivers to proceed with caution, care, and the utmost consideration of the health, safety, and welfare of the students on the bus. See Children Injured from Rear End Crash - 3 Buses Involved in Connecticut.

By Joseph R. Hillebrand Attorney and David Wolf, Attorney
Published by Child Injury Lawyer Network

News reports out of Normandy, Missouri indicate that as many as 50 teenagers may have been exposed to the virus that causes AIDS. The school district is currently consulting national AIDS organizers to try to minimize the scare and rumors associated with such a situation. In addition, it is vital that parents, AIDS activist, teachers, and students minimize activities that may increase the spread of the AIDS virus. You can read more about this situation at Normandy Missouri High School AIDS Scare

While the AIDS scare in Normandy Missouri is a compelling story, Normandy, Missouri is not the only place where high school students should act responsibility when it comes to issues of dating, peer pressure, driving, and other issues that could lead to injuries or even death.

By Will Brown, Attorney and David Wolf, Attorney
Published by Child Injury Lawyer Network

Dealing with a severely injured or dying child is very difficult and tragic. Parents typically use up their financial and emotional resources to do everything possible for their injured and / or dying child. Unfortunately, some people play off of the emotions of others and scam unsuspecting good citizens and friends for that matter out of money. In Cleveland, Ohio, Amanda Zolnowski was recently sentenced to 20 to 30 days in jail, 3 years of community control, and 200 hours of community service for defrauding others out of money for her supposedly ill child. Apparently, Ms. Zolnowski made up the fact that her daughter had leukemia to get sympathy and money from her friends, co-workers, and fellow students at Raphael's School of Beauty. Police became involved when people became suspicious of the situation. This crime should be treated like others with imprisonment and post prison terms and conditions. See Woman Goes to Jail for Dying Child Scam. Ms. Zolnowski made up a tragedy. The real tragedies are out there and parents are dealing with them every day. If a child is injured or dies as a result of another person's negligence or inattention, medical malpractice, or a product defect, it is helpful to have the representation of a Child Injury Lawyer.

By David Wolf, Attorney
Published by Child Injury Lawyer Network

Some people have a fear of clowns. Well, there is good reason to fear a clown named Trim Trim The Clown (otherwise known at David Albert Lemus). Lemus performed at birthday parties as a clown. He wore the big shoes, the make up and the works. He also molested children and forced them to perform sexual acts. Lemus recently pleaded guilty to molesting children and now faces 12 years in prison. If Lemus goes to prison, I would guess that his safety would be at risks from those inmates who do not have a fond appreciation of clowns who molest children at birthday parties. This California clown will be off the streets but there are plenty of other child predators out there. When arranging for a party, it is helpful to have some information from the performers and businesses. Not all companies perform adequate background checks. Furthermore, if Trim Trim never was arrested or convicted of such a crime, the parents, who arranged for the party, would have never known. With or without a background check, make sure that no children are alone with party performers. Better safe - than sorry. For all those sick clowns or others out there who have an urge to molest children, get some help and stay away from children. You can read more about this story at Fontana Area Clown Pleads Guilty to Molesting Children.