Child Injury Lawyer Blog
By David M. Baum, Attorney and David Wolf, Attorney
Published by Child Injury Lawyer Network
In Chicago and other cities, nutritional experts and child safety advocates have concerns regarding menu items and the sugar content of foods provided to children in breakfast programs. While having a breakfast available for low income children as well as other children is important, nutritional experts warn of the sugar content of the food items offered through these programs. Furthermore, children may pick up bad eating habits and preferences when high sugar content items are offered like doughnuts and sugar laced cereals like Frosted Flakes, Fruit Loops, and other cerebral brands. Why is this a problem? It is because one of the biggest health risks that has invaded the United States is obesity in both children and adults. A cereal like Frosted Flakes may have some fortified vitamins and minerals to its content; however, these cereals are also loaded with sugar / carbohydrates that combined with other bad eating habits can lead to weight gain, obesity, and in many cases diabetes. You can read more about the menu items and concerns about breakfast items at Chicago Public Schools Serving Up Doughnuts and Sugary Cereals to Children.
A sixteen year old girl with no driver’s license and a borrowed car drove into a tree outside the Wagon Wheel Mobile Home Park in Alamosa, Colorado. She had three other teenagers and two small children, aged 20 months and 4 years, in the car with her at the time. The car had been borrowed from a relative of one of the passengers. The girl is expected to be charged with drunk driving (DUI), driving without a license and criminal negligence resulting in the injury of a child. The driver is claiming that a steering malfunction caused her to miss the turn she was trying to make into the park, and sent her into the tree instead.
A woman, Ebere Ozonwu, was rushing to make her train in Chicago this week when she unintentionally put her own child in danger. According to witnesses, the woman had started pushing her child, who was in a stroller, into the train car when the doors closed on it and the train started moving. The woman and other horrified onlookers watched as the stroller slammed against the wall of the tunnel it was entering and the child was thrown out onto the tracks. The little girl was hospitalized but has been released.
On news stations, You Tube, and other media outlets, a video of Elizabeth Lambert has hit the airwaves in a big way. Elizabeth Lambert is a college soccer player for the New Mexico Lobos. In a game versus BYU, Elizabeth was filmed pushing, punching, and then dragging another player down by the other player’s hair. The action is rough. Some say that Elizabeth Lambert is a soccer bully . . . others may refer to her as a tough competitor. The videos do show that women’s soccer is a competitive tough sport. It should be noted that on some plays other plays are pushing, punching, and grabbing Elizabeth’s shorts. While she may have been provoked at times, Elizabeth Lambert seemed to retaliate with greater force. You can make the call by watching the various videos online of Elizabeth’s play. You can view one such video at 
Nancy Owens and Vanessa Ramirez were at a birthday party together, where both have admitted to drinking. Ms. Owens reportedly allowed Ms. Lopez to drive her three children home, even though she admitted to police that she was aware Ms. Lopez was “drunk.”
Daycare owner, Shannon Veradt, of Taunton, Massachusetts, was allegedly found passed out on the second floor of her home while the children she was supposed to be caring for were unattended downstairs. Her own mother had called the police because she believed her daughter was drunk and she was worried about the children. Ms. Veradt admitted that she had been drinking, saying she was stressed from her marriage. This day care owner showed “poor judgment” but is being allowed to reopen the daycare center.
The United States Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) has recalled several styles of roman blinds and roller shades due to the possibility that they might pose a strangulation risk for children. No fatal incidents have been reported.
