Child Injury Lawyer Blog
By Stephanie F. Brown, Attorney and David Wolf, Attorney
Published by Child Injury Lawyer Network
A Clayton County, Georgia mother was arrested for leaving her four month old twins in a hot car while she was inside a Wal Mart. Janesia Williams left her twin babies in her car at about 10:00 p.m. while she went into the store on June 20, 2009. Another customer heard the babies crying through a cracked window in the car and called the police. Firefighters rescued the babies from the car and paramedics were tending to the babies when their mother strolled out the store to discover the situation.
Children with disabilities are the unfortunate victims of improper and negligent seclusion and restraints in school systems throughout the nation. This, in turn, has lead to some serious personal injuries, and, in some cases, the wrongful and preventable death of a disabled child. In Texas, Cedric Napolean (age – 14) was one such victim who died when a teacher laid on top of the Cedric when Cedric would not remain seated in the classroom. This case went to a grand jury in Texas as a homicide. While the grand jury ultimately did not recommend pursuit of the criminal charges, the death of Cedric Napolean does help illustrate the dangers to disabled children in school systems when they are retrained in an attempt to punish or instruct a child. The Government Accountability Office (GAO) reported that some restraints have been implemented when students are not even being physically aggressive or dangerous.
Police in Gwinnett County, Georgia have arrested and charged a man and woman with false imprisonment and cruelty to children for using handcuffs to restrain the woman’s fifteen year old son. The teenager was held with the handcuffs for periods of 12 hours at a time and was denied food and water over a three day period.
In New Hampshire and other states, school bus drivers have a duty to provide for proper safety and supervision of children. Children should not be left unattended or unsupervised at any time. This procedure or policy is part of the policy manual for many school districts and school boards as well as for many private bus companies. These policies are in place because children who are left unattended or unsupervised on a school bus are at higher risk for serious personal injury In Sommersworth, New Hampshire, a 3 year old boy was left unattended on a school bus while the school driver ran errands. The child was locked on the bus and left alone for 45 minutes. The school bus driver was later disciplined for the terrible lapse in judgment. Fortunately, the child did not suffer any serious physical injuries from being left on the bus. You can read about this story at 
In Delaware, day care centers are required to train and properly supervise child care providers to make sure that children are cared for in a safe environment. Delaware day care centers are regulated by the State of Delaware – Department of Services for Children, Youth and Their Families – 
Parents making methamphetamine has caused them to lose all three of their children. The Harrison County Sheriff’s Department arrested George Vincent and Amber Driscoll for felony child endangerment. A relative came and picked the children up. This is yet another unfortunate situation involving parents and drugs.
In Utah and other states, parents entrust their children to baby sitters with the expectations and hopes that the child will be properly cared for and protected. Unfortunately, some children are harmed by babysitters due to lack of supervision, inexperience, negligence, neglect, and, in some cases, due to intentional acts of violence. It is well know that shaking a baby can cause serious personal injuries including brain damage and wrongful death. In Provo, Utah, a baby sitter (Danielle Ruiz), age 27, was recently sentenced by Judge David Mortensen for the wrongful death / child abuse homicide of 5 month old – Brandon Zamora. Prosecutors presented a case of child abuse homicide caused when Danielle Ruiz lost control and shook the baby causing brain damage and other injuries leading to the death of the child. Ms. Ruiz begged the judge for leniency and probation but the Judge noted that this crime was too serious to impose a mere sentence of probation.