Child Injury Lawyer Blog

By David Wolf, Attorney
Published by Child Injury Lawyer Network

Little Friends Daycare, in Johnson County, Kansas is a registered but not licensed day care facility. In Kansas, registered daycares are not inspected by the health department unless there is a complaint. A complaint was lodged recently that the center was taking care of six infants at one time; the daycare is only allowed to care for up to three children under the age of eighteen months.

When inspectors arrived at the daycare facility, they were alarmed to find an infant closed into a back room, still in her car seat and completely covered by three blankets. The owner of the daycare, Lynde Ann Price claims that the child’s parents asked her to keep the child in the car seat because she had bronchitis and they wanted her in an upright position.

But according to inspectors, Ms. Price also told them that she had forgotten the child was in the back room. They also found other infants in rooms with the doors closed, which is a violation of state child care regulations. Ms. Price reportedly said that she was overwhelmed by having too many children to take care of, but believes she was giving them good care.

The daycare has been temporarily closed, and Ms. Price will have to appear before state officials before she is allowed to reopen. Read more about this Kansas City Daycare at Inspectors Shut Down JoCo Day Care, Claim Owner 'Forgot' About Infant.

By Jonathan Safran, Attorney and David Wolf, Attorney
Published by Child Injury Lawyer Network

In Kansas and other states, children in day care centers are often times put at risk by unsafe day care center drivers. Some of these drivers even choose to drive while under the influence of alcohol or drugs. In Witchita, Kansas, a former day care owner was charged with driving under the influence. She later pled no contest to the charges. Police were tipped off as to the owner's intoxication by day care center workers who say the owner leave with children in a day care center vehicle. The day care center workers were concerned and contacted the police. Fortunately, no children were harmed by the reckless conduct of the day care owner but her actions certainly put the children in the vehicle at risk. In addition, any other drivers / passengers, pedestrians, and bicylists in the area of the day care center owner's driving were also put at risk. You can read more about this story at Former Day Care Center Owner Guilty of DUI Charges.

By David Wolf, Attorney
Published by Child Injury Lawyer Network

In Kansas and other states, day care centers have a duty to provide for the safety. State authorities closed a Fairway day care center. It was reported that the day care center was closed to protect the safety and health of the children. A recent inspection of the child care facility revealed that the center had more children than it was licensed for. Furthermore, the inspection revealed that one of the infants was kept in a bathroom and another was found in a bedroom covered with blankets. The day care center operator can appeal this decision and will be able to defend her facility against the allegations and findings on the inspection.

Inspections by the State can and do help prevent tragedies from taking place. Unfortunately, the State is not present at every day care center - every minute of the day. It would be impossible to have such oversight. As such, many day care centers create and allow dangerous situations to be present which, in turn, put children at risk for serious personal injuries and even death. You can read more about this story involving a Kansas Day Care Center at State of Kansas Authorities Close Kansas Day Care Center.

By David Wolf, Attorney
Published by Child Injury Lawyer Network

In stores across America including Wal-Mart, Target, Winn Dixie, Publix, Walgreens, and Safeway, children ride in or on shopping carts. Many children see a shopping cart as a toy rather than a tool to gather shopping carts. Unfortunately, many children are injured every year in shopping cart related injuries. It is estimated that falls from shopping carts account for a leading cause of head injuries to one and two year old children. In addition to brain injuries, children suffer lacerations and fractures from shopping cart related injuries as well. Safe Kids Kansas would like parents to be aware of these statistics and the dangers of shopping carts. As noted by Cherie Sage, State Director of the Safe Kids Kansas, just because a chid is seated in a shopping chart does not mean that they are safe. Proper supervision of the child and proper use of the shopping cart are key to preventing or limiting the incidence of shopping cart related injuries. You can read more about this topic at Over 20,000 Children Injured Annually by Shopping Cart Related Incidents.

By David Wolf, Attorney
Published by Child Injury Lawyer Network

In Kansas and other Stated, day care owners / operators and child care workers have a duty to provide each child with a safe and clean environment. Tragically in Olathe, Kansas, a little girl (Ava Patrick) died in April 2009. An investigation revealed that Ava died as a result of getting her neck caught in part of a wooden fence used to enclose children in a room at the day care facility. It was also revealed that the day care center had capacity for 6 children yet had 14 children in the facility at the time of the incident. Jeanette Lawrence, the day care operator, has been charged with involuntary manslaughter, aggravated endangerment of a child and violating day care regulations. You can read more about this story at Kansas Day Care Operator Is Charged with Crimes Involving Death of Child at Day Care Center.

By David Wolf, Attorney
Published by Child Injury Lawyer Network

In Topeka, Kansas, a toddler recently died from severe head trauma / personal injuries when the child was hit by a vehicle in a driveway. Further investigation by the Topeka Police Department revealed that the child was run over by Raul A. Retana-Vasquez, age 25. Mr. Retana-Vasquez was later arrested for Involuntary Manslaughter and Driving under the Influence of Alcohol.

Driveways can be very dangerous areas for infants, toddlers, and children. It is vital that drivers are paying attention, driving slowly, and NOT under the influence of alcohol or drugs. It is a tragic loss for this toddler, the family, and the community. You can read more about this story at Toddler Dies Following Being Run Over in Driveway in Topeka, Kansas.

By David Wolf, Attorney
Published by Child Injury Lawyer Network

A 3 month old Kansas child died after being left in a vehicle. The Ellis County, Kansas coroner's office is investigating the death of the child. This death is one of many reported over the summer that have been related to the negligence or forgetfulness of parents and caregivers who leave a small child in a vehicle. This tragic death is yet another reminder to be diligent in removing children from vehicle. It can take just minutes for an injury to suffer injury or death as a result of hyperthermia.

You can read more about this story at Child Dies After Being Left in Vehicle in Kansas.

By David Wolf, Attorney
Published by Child Injury Lawyer Network

The United States Department of Health and Human Resources has a website that has a great reference tool for parents and caregivers with children in day care centers and child care centers. Each state regulates day care centers / child care centers through a state specific administrative code and / or policy manual. Go to State Administrative Rules and Policy Manuals for Child Care. Another good resource is located at the website for the National Resource Center for
Health and Safety in Child Care and Early Education. Parents should use these and other resources to educate themselves on the various state specific rules and regulations for day care centers and child care centers. Each state regulates day care centers slightly differently. As such, parents should be informed on the regulations that apply to their children's day care center. Is the facility following the law? Are the state specific requirements for staffing being met? Are records being kept according to the state law? What information as a parent and caregiver am I entitled to regarding incidents and accidents? What disciplinary measures are allowed? What disciplinary actions are prohibited? These and many other issues are addressed in these day care rules and regulations. In addition, parents concerned about the care being received in a day care center / child care center can also consult with a child injury attorney / lawyer to find out if there is a viable case or claim to be pursued on behalf of a child who has been injured in a day care center as a result of day care negligence, abuse, or neglect.

By David Wolf, Attorney
Published by Child Injury Lawyer Network

Schools in Kansas and throughout the nation have school volunteers that assist teachers and administers with activities, lessons, special events, and field trips. A school generally benefits from the involvement of parents and school volunteers. Unfortunately, many of these volunteers use school grounds and the proximity to children as opportunities to molest, assault and sexually abuse children. Background checks of volunteers are important and can keep those who have been convicted of crimes out of the school. Unfortunately, there are a great number of child predators who have not been caughted, arrested, or convicted. Some just slip through the system. As such, it is also important for schools and concerned parents to be on the look out for child predators who slip into the school system as volunteers. I recently was sent a link by a parent of a child who was a victim of a school volunteer. The website - http://schoolvolunteerbackgroundcheck.blogspot.com - is dedicated to the protection of children in the school system. The site contained trial transcripts, statutory references, and newspaper articles focusing on the problems and crimes of volunteers in the school system.

By David Wolf, Attorney
Published by Child Injury Lawyer Network

Ten years ago, Adam Herrman was an 11 year old boy living in a mobile home park in El Dorado, Kansas. He was previously in the foster care system and then adopted when he was 2 1/2 years old by Doug and Valerie Herrman. Adam disappeared when he was 11 years old but it was not reported to authorities by his adoptive parents, Doug and Valerie Herrman. According to the Herrman's attorney / lawyer, the Herrmans did not harm the child and only violated the Kansas law of failing to report that he was missing. A search of the area and association will be performed by law enforcement authorities. Adam Herrman is 21 years old if he is still alive today. You can read at Search / Investigation for Kansas Boy Missing for 10 Years.