Articles Posted in Education

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By David Wolf, Attorney

Published by Child Injury Lawyer Network

daycare-sign.gifChildren in a local day care center located in Renton, Washington, were temporarily trapped inside due to fallen power lines. Although no one was hurt, a video showed the lines crossing a metal fence and lying on the Renton Day Care Center. The wires had arced and shortened over time, which caused them to burn through and hang lower than usual. A representative for the city reported that a U-Haul truck drove through the area at the time the wires went down and may have made contact with the wires to cause the reaction. A worker who fixed the lines said they were supposed to be 18 feet off the ground but were only 16 feet off the ground when measured. The owner said she didn’t know the lines were supposed to be higher.

Published on:

By David Wolf, Attorney
Published by Child Injury Lawyer Network

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In South Carolina, working parents and families rely on day care centers to provide a safe and healthy environment for their children. Day care centers in South Carolina are regulated by the South Carolina Department of Social Services (otherwise known as DSS). While a day care center is required to be licensed, many South Carolina day care centers / child care centers operate without a license and without any government oversight. Even ones that are licensed are not inspected that frequently. As such, it is important for South Carolina parents to inspect the day care center before admission and during admission and at different times of the day. Parents should speak to day care workers to find out more about the worker and about the facility. It is also helpful to speak to and befriend other parents who have children at the day care center to help oversee the care for your child and others. Being proactive and inquisitive can go a long way to making sure that the day care center provides a safe and healthy educational environment for children. South Carolina child care facilities that cut corners, bypass licensing requirements, and that focus solely on fees or profits often times fail to follow general safety guidelines which in turn lead to serious personal injuries of children under their care. For more information on this topic, see Parents Should Be Proactive in Evaluating and Monitoring South Carolina Day Care Centers.

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By John Jensen, Attorney and David Wolf, Attorney

Published by Child Injury Lawyer Network

kid%20stuff%2C%20markers.jpgA fourth grade student in Onslow County, North Carolina faces suspension after he was caught concealing blades inside markers. The student was caught at Morton Elementary School making the weapons by inserting razor blades and “other sharp objects” into felt tip pens and markers. The student also sold the weapons to other students at the elementary school. The North Carolina elementary school student now faces school suspension and court charges for creating the weapons and selling them on school property. Three other students face similar charges for also having the weapons at school. For more read 4-grader faces suspension after making weapons out of markers and selling them at school.

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By Thomas Hastings, Attorney and David Wolf, Attorney
Published by Child Injury Lawyer Network

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Chance Jackson, a 15-year-old student, was transported by air ambulance to Methodist Hospital where he underwent surgery after he was shot at his school, West Middle School in Martinsville, Indiana. Students were put on lockdown for nearly 5 hours following the shooting. Approximately 600 students attend the school. The suspect, who was a student that attended the middle school, has been taken into custody but was not arrested. The suspect’s name, age and grade was not released as part of the initial news reporting of this incident. According to police, the suspect walked away from the middle school after the shooting around 7:30 a.m. He was eventually apprehended several miles away. Police, who traced the boy’s path, found a handgun in a wooded hillside. The suspect and other witnesses will be questioned and the investigation is ongoing. It is rumored that school officials were previous warned that violence might occur. However, Martinsville West principal Suzie Lipps denied those allegations. If arrested, the suspect will face attempted murder charge. Since the investigation is ongoing, the filing of criminal charges will depend on the evidence obtained and the decision by the local prosecutor’s office. For more read Student shot at West Middle School in Martinsville, Indiana.

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By Jay Foster, Attorney and David Wolf, Attorney

Published by Child Injury Lawyer Network

education%20school%20day%20care%20school%20bus%20with%20big%20black%20front%20mirrors.jpgIn Shaw Mississippi, it was reported that a 10 year old girl lost her life and at least 10 people were injured in an accident involving a school bus and a tractor trailer. It was reported that the truck driver informed the Mississippi Department of Public Safety that he saw the but and hit his brakes but he was unable to avoid the crash. According to investigating authorities, the bus had stopped at a stop sign and then attempted to turn on to U.S. Highway 61 when the bus / truck accident took place. A full investigation will be conducted to determine the cause, fault, and preventability of this accident. Fog and weather may have played a role in the accident. It is clear that the 10 year old victim and the other non-driving victims did nothing wrong and cannot be held liable for their respective injuries. Fault will be assessed against one or both of the drivers. An investigation will be completed by State and local officials. In addition, the victims will have the right to hire legal counsel to review the investigation and to gather additional information and statements to pursue a prospective civil case for the injuries sustained in this most unfortunate bus / trucking accident. Any time that there is a child injury in Mississippi or worse a child death – it can be quite difficult for the parents, family, friends, and community to handle. Unfortunately, the hands of time cannot be turned back to prevent the accident or the injuries that resulted from it. See School Bus, Tractor Trailer Involved in Crash.

Published on:

By David Wolf, Attorney

Published by Child Injury Lawyer Network

State%20Map%20Minnesota.jpgIf passed, a new Minnesota bill would require stricter CPR training requirements for the state’s child care centers. The bill would require training for all teachers and assistant in child care centers. The current law in Minnesota only requires one person trained in CPR to be present at the center. The bill was introduced by two Minnesota lawmakers after the tragic death of a 4-year-old girls in North Mankato. Hannah Kozitza died in June 2010 after choking on a grape at her day care facility. For more see New Minnesota bill could require stricter CPR requirements for workers in the state’s child care centers. By requiring more child care employees to be trained in CPR, more staff members will be available to aid the children in case of an emergency. The more safety at child care centers can be increased, the better our children will be cared for.

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By David Wolf, Attorney

Published by Child Injury Lawyer Network

education%20school%20day%20care%20black%20chalkboard%20with%20letters%20capital%20and%20small%20letters.jpgParents send their children to school with the hope and expectation that the children are well supervised by responsible adults. Unfortunately, according to a recent story posted by The USA Today, sex offenders are getting jobs in the public school system in various States. The article was interesting and quite disturbing. You can read about this problem and see what laws are in place for each State at Registered Sex Offenders Getting Jobs in School System.

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By Benjamin A. Klopman, Attorney and David Wolf, Attorney

Published by Child Injury Lawyer Network

education%20school%20day%20care%20yellow%20school%20bus%20close%20up%20of%20top%20front%20of%20bus.jpgWhen transporting children, it is important for the driver and all assistants and attendants on board to know the needs and abilities of the children being transported. This is especially true when a school or day care center is transporting a special needs child. A horrible tragedy took place in Baltimore County, Maryland when a 6 year old special needs student (Jeremy Jennings, Jr.) fell out of a moving school bus. The mother, who is very well versed in her son’s education and special needs curriculum, rightfully questions how the incident took place. What actions did the bus driver take? Where were the attendants at the time of the incident? Why wasn’t Jeremy properly restrained or secured in his harness? What are the policies and procedures for school transportation? Were the policies and procedures followed? In the wake of the incident, the two assistants were discharged from their employment.

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By Robert Chaiken, Attorney and David Wolf, Attorney

Published by Child Injury Lawyer Network

State%20Map%20Texas.jpgThe El Paso (Texas) Times has reported that a teacher has been criminally indicted by a Grand Jury for assaulting a 9 year old child. The teacher is accused by second degree felony injury to a child. It was reported that the Defendant worked as a teacher at the Canutillo Elementary School. The incident subject to the proceedings involved the alleged dragging of the student by her leg and pulling the student up by her hair. News reports did not contain all of the details of the incidents or any of the circumstances leading up to the incident. The teacher will be entitled to defend himself against these Texas criminal charges through legal representation through a Texas criminal defense attorney or the public defender’s office. You can read more about this story at Texas Teacher Indicted for Child Assault Charges.

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By Roy S. Dickinson, Attorney and David Wolf, Attorney
Published by Child Injury Lawyer Network

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In Oklahoma and other States, there are concerns about the lack of consistent and accurate date regarding playground incidents and accidents. Children are frequently injured on playgrounds at schools, day care centers, parks, community centers, and homes. Many experts believe that it would be helpful to have some kind of reporting system or data bank set up for the reporting of playground incidents resulting in personal injuries to children. By having such data in place, it could help designers and manufacturers make the playground equipment more safe for children. The information would also be helpful to teachers, day care providers, and child care providers who provide the day to day supervision of children on playgrounds. While not all injuries can be prevented on playgrounds, many such injuries can be prevented if we know why and how children are injured on playgrounds. You can read more about this topic at Oklahoma Playground Injury Oversight Sought

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