Child Injury Lawyer Blog
By Jonathan Safran, Attorney and David Wolf, Attorney
Published by Child Injury Lawyer Network
Madeline Kara Neumann died at the tender age of 11 years old in Wisconsin. Madeline had an undiagnosed and untreated condition – diabetes. With proper treatment, Madeline could have and would have lived a long and full life. Unfortunately, Madeline was deprived of the medical care that she so desperately needed. Madeline’s death and the criminal prosection of her parents Leilani Neumann and Dale Neumann has raised the debate of religion versus healthcare – what is in the best interest of the child? Yes, we have freedom of religion in this country; however, the best interests of a child must be considered when weighing healthcare decisions versus religious preferences of the parents. This is especially true when a child’s life has been lost. The Neumann’s believed that their daughter’s illness was a test of faith or a challenge to her spirituality. Unfortunately and tragically for Madeline, no amount of prayer or faith healing was going to medically treat her diabetes. Medical science has made great advances in the diagnosis and treatment of diabetes over the years. This is a proven fact. While prayer does have a place in society and is important to so many families like the Neumanns, the needs and best interests of the child must be considered. A jury will ultimately decide the fate of the Neumanns. You can read more about this story at District Attorney – Girl Whose Parents Prayed to Defeat Illness – Suffered a Needless Death.
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.
In Chippewa County, Wisconsin, Raymond Knez was sentenced to a 9 month jail term for shooting 6 pets to death in front of children causing mental harm to the children. News report indicate that Mr. Knez was drinking before he got his gun and started shooting pets around the house. Mr. Knez pleaded no contest to the charges and admitted to reporters that it was a stupid drunken reaction to the situation. Chrystalyn Adcock, Knez’s girlfriend, was sentenced to 50 hours of community service.
The website Craigslist.com in Atlanta is under investigation by law enforcement agencies for its use as a child prostitution site. A non-profit child advocacy organization claims that in February, 2009, 176 girls were advertised on Craigslist in Atlanta, Georgia. The FBI has filed charges against two individuals for taking nude photographs of a 17 year old girl and then uploading them onto Craigslist. According to the FBI charges, the two individuals who were charged worked for two days as a prostitute, providing her earnings to the two individuals who have since been charged.
An Erie Pennsylvania woman, who was guardian of a baby girl who swallowed crack, has been arrested and charged with child endangerment. Roxane Robinson had the legal responsibility for the health, safety and welfare of a 1 year old child. Unfortunately, Ms. Robinson failed in these responsibilities. Police reported that a 1 year old child was transported to Hamot Medical Center after being found to be unconscious after having seizures. Doctors later found cocaine in the child’s system.
In Buckeye, Arizona, prosecutors have filed indictment charges against Pastor Charles Carfrey. The Maricopa County Attorney’s Office has charged the Pastor with sexual exploitation of a minor, failure to register as a sex offender and kidnapping. Charles Carfrey worked as the pastor of The Lord’s House Church. The Pastor pleaded not guilty on these serious criminal offenses.
In Maine and other states, many sexual offenders and child predators leave many victims with permanent psychological and physical injuries until they get caught. Even after getting caught and serving prison time, many offenders re-offend and harm even more victims. In Lewiston, Maine, Joshua Whitlock was recently arrested and charged with with sexual assault including crimes against children under the age of 12 years old. At the time of the recent arrest, Mr. Whitlock was on probation and was a registered sex offender.
An Euclid, Ohio dad has been arrested for several criminal charges including child endangerment, attempted murder and assault on a firefighter. Sammy G. Hunter, Jr. faces these serious criminal charges from incidents that took place at his home. It was reported that Mr. Hunter got high, turned on his oven, and tried to shove his son inside the oven. The baby’s mother stopped Mr. Hunter from doing this. Mr. Hunter then tried to start a fire in the home that had a natural gas line. Firefighters responded to the scene. Then, Mr. Hunter assaulted firefighters. Of course, Mr. Hunter was arrested for these allegations. He pled not guilty to the charges.
In Kentucky, working parents put children in day care for proper supervision and education during the work day. Parents expect that day care workers will properly watch the children and insure that the children are kept out of harm’s way. In particular, day care workers should supervise children within the day care center and make sure that children do not wander or get out of the facility. The Little Angels Day Care Center in Mayfield, Kentucky was recently fined by the State of Kentucky after an investigation was conducted regarding a 2 year old who was found wandering outside of the facility unescorted and alone on or near a busy street. This day care center had prior incidents of children wandering outside of the day care center in the past as well.