Child Injury Lawyer Blog
By John Jensen, Attorney and David Wolf, Attorney
Published by Child Injury Lawyer Network
Judy Alvis Harper, 60, former owner of the Palmer-Leigh Small World Day Care Centerin Greensboro, North Carolina, will spend a minimum of 16 months in jail for the death of 16-month-old, Jackson Edmonds. Edmonds died of hyperthermia last March after Harper left the child in a car in the drive way of the day care center. North Carolina State officials closed the day care center the week the death occurred, declaring the day care center to be an unsafe, unhealthy and injurious environment. Harper also received a suspended sentence and supervised probation. You can read more about this incident at 60-year-old day care owner receives jail time.
A Massachusetts couple, Edwine Louissaint, age 33, of Dedham and David Augustin, age 34, of Milton left their children, ages 1 and 10-years-old, alone in a vehicle in a Foxwoods Resort Casino parking garage. Louissaint and Dedham were charged with risk of injury to a child, leaving a child unsupervised in a motor vehicle, and second-degree reckless endangerment said chief spokesman for the Connecticut State Police, Lieutenant Paul Vance. According to police, the couple’s children were turned over to the Massachusetts Department of Children and Families. Surveillance and gambling records revealed that the couple was in the casino for over an hour, stated Vance. Police arrived to the scene after receiving a call from someone who observed the unattended children. To read more details on this incident see 
A Texas state inspection revealed that in April 2008, staff workers at Daystar, a center for distressed children 30 miles south of Houston, provoked seven developmentally disabled girls into a fight. The staged fight resulted in biting and bruising as the staff members laughed and cheered on the spectacle. If the fight is not disturbing enough, no criminal indictments were sought against the perpetrators nor did Texas lawmakers press a state agency for answers about how this despicable act could have occurred. Instead, two staffers were quietly fired and their names have been kept secret by the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services (DFPS).
Spanking a child for disobedience has been used for generations. However, the lines separating child punishment and child abuse are becoming increasingly blurred when spanking is used for child disobedience.
Parents hire babysitters to watch and supervise their children. In most instances, the babysitter does a great job and there are no problems during the babysitting job. Unfortunately, there have been many incidents reported in which a babysitter intentionally or accidentally caused harm to a child. In Auburn, Washington, it was reported that a baby sitter has been charged with causing serious personal injuries to a 9 month old child under her care. Law enforcement officials have charged Dotty Reed with the crime of first degree child assault. The charges stem from an incident in which investigators and prosecutors believe that Reed slammed the boy’s head on the floor. This act was believed to be done out of frustration. The child was later examined by medical doctors at Seattle Children’s Hospital. Medical doctors diagnosed the child with a severe brain injury. It was reported that the mother found this babysitter on Craigs List. For more information regarding this incident, see 
In Minnesota and other States, parents and child care givers should refrain from corporal punishment. In many instances, an angry parent or caregiver can get out of control. Tempers combined with poor judgment can lead to serious personal injuries and psychological damage to a child.
In Lufkin, Texas, a teacher’s aide was arrested based on criminal allegations that she struck / hit a 4 year old boy. The incident took place at the Slack Elementary School. It was reported that another teacher’s aide witness the acts of Debra Martin Fuqua (age 54). There were subsequent investigations of the incident by the school district as well as Child Protective Services. This was an interesting story in that the alleged criminal acts were witnessed by another school employee. Often times, a child has no such adult witness to step up and serve as a witness on the case. See 
In South Dakota and other States, it is quite tragic that incidents of Shaken Baby Syndrome continue to be reported. The simple and violent act of shaking a baby can result in serious brain damage and even death. Never – ever shake a baby for any reason. Whether it is done in fun, in anger or for discipline, a child’s brain and skull cannot withstand the force of an adult shaking the child. In Eagle Butte, South Dakota, it was reported by the