Child Injury Lawyer Blog

By Joshua Shulman, Attorney and David Wolf, Attorney
Published by Child Injury Lawyer Network

In Portland, Oregon and many other school districts throughout the United States, there is a good reason to have a fire drill / evacuation plan. Plan and simple, it saves lives. Fire swept through the Marysville Elementary School just prior to Noon on a Fall 2009 day. Fortunately, school staff members and firefighters successfully evacuated every single student from the school. While the historic school sustained heavy fire damage, no lives were lost in this fire. The Marysville Elementary School fire shows how an effective evacuation plan can protect children and teachers as well. You can read about this story at >Students / Teachers Escape Fire at Marysville (Portland) Elementary School.

By Joshua Shulman, Attorney and David Wolf, Attorney
Published by Child Injury Lawyer Network

In Oregon, the Department of Human Services receives and investigates incidents of child abuse and neglect. Like many other states, Oregon has laws in place that define abuse. Abuse is defined by Oregon law by the effect on the child rather than the parent's motivation.

Physical abuse includes the following personal injuries / medical conditions:
bruises & cuts, head injuries, poisoning incidents, fractures, sprains, injuries due to burning or scolding incidents, electrical shock, and / or death.

You can read more about child abuse and neglect at the Oregon Department of Human Resources

By Joshua Shulman, Attorney and David Wolf, Attorney
Published by Child Injury Lawyer Network

In Multnomah County, Oregon, a 5 year old girl was found in the parking lot of the sheriff's office. She then told officers that she wandered away from an abusive home. Sherirff Bob Skipper saw the girl and brought her into the building. The little girl later told police that her mother worked at nights and the little girl left out of an unlocked door. The little girl also reported problems with her mother's boyfriend that appeared to be abusive and sexual in nature. The child will be kept in custody as an investigation is conducted by the Multidisciplinary Child Abuse Team. You can read more about this disturbing story at 5 Year Old Girl Wanders into the Safety of the Sheriff's Parking Lot in East Portland, Oregon.

By David Wolf, Attorney
Published by Child Injury Lawyer Network

In Oregon and other States, small children are at risk for drowning. In addition, teens are at risks as well depending on the waterway, extent of supervision, and strength and skills of the swimmer. A teen swimmer has been reported to be in critical condition at Legacy Emanuel Hospital after she suffered injuries while swimming with friends. It was reported that she disappeared and was underwater for several minutes. It is believed that the girl who was almost 18 years old at the time of the incident was not a very strong swimmer according to the Multnomah County Sheriff's Office. You can read more about this story at Oregon Teen in Critical Condition Following Drowning Incident in Blue Lake.

By David Wolf, Attorney
Published by Child Injury Lawyer Network

In Oregon and other States, parents, at times, use poor judgment when it comes to the supervision of their children. In Oregon, the father of four young children used a dog shock collar on them because he thought it was funny.

Salem Police thought otherwise and arrested Todd Marcum on charges of criminal mistreatment. The ages of the children were as follows: 3, 6, 8, and 9. This matter was referred to the Department of Human Services.

Shocking your kids as a joke or as punishment really is not a good idea. Todd Marcum found this out the hard way. Of course, the children probably did not enjoy getting electrically shocked either. You can read more about this story at Oregon Dad Uses Dog Collar to Shock His Children.

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 Stephanie F. Brown, Attorney and David Wolf, Attorney
Published by Child Injury Lawyer Network

Clackamas County, Oregon deputies arrested Justin B. Blackledge, age 31, for compelling a teen into prostitution, unlawful display of a child in a sex act and several counts of encouraging child sex abuse. Investigators report that Blackledge had a sexual relationship with the teenager in 2007 - 2008. During this time period, Blackledge posted explicit photographs of the teen on a website with the teen's contact information and a list of her sexual services. There appears to be a good bit of evidence on the internet and elsewhere on Mr. Blackledge. His bail was set at $250,000. It is a shame that teens are exploited in this manner.

You can read more about this story at Oregon Man Arrested for Pimping Out a Teen on the Internet.

By David Wolf, Attorney
Published by Child Injury Lawyer Network

Parents have a special responsibility and duty to raise their children and provide for their health, safety and welfare. Driving children around town on drugs is truly a dangerous situation. Furthermore, drug use and abuse distract from a parent's responsibility to supervise their children. Judgment is certainly impaired from drug use. In Oregon, William and Tracy Duncan were arrested on charges of possession of meth and for child endangerment after officers found children who ranged in age from 5 to 10 years old without seat belts in the vehicle. At the time of the arrest, both parents were under the influence of methamphetamine.

The children were taken into protective custody.

You can read more about this story at Oregon Parents on Meth Have 5 Unrestrained Children in the Car.

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.