By Brooks P. Lynn, Attorney and David Wolf, Attorney
Published by Child Injury Lawyer Network
In Liberty County, Texas, a seven year boy (Donald Coffey, Jr) was shot when a property owner believed that he was a trespasser. Tragically, Donald died from the gun shot wounds. Donald was shot in the head after he and three other people took a break from off roading in an area about 40 miles outside of Houston, Texas.
By Stephanie F. Brown, Attorney and David Wolf, Attorney
Published by Child Injury Lawyer Network
In a Georgia Court of Appeals decision on April 24, 2009, the Court reversed the trial court’s denial of a motion for summary judgment filed by the parents of a teenager who hosted a party at his parents’ home while the parents were out of town. The teenage boy held a party at his parents’ home while they were out of town for the weekend. The boy invited a friend who purchased methadone from another party guest. After consuming the methadone and alcohol, the friend died of methadone toxicity.
By Andrew Prine, Attorney and David Wolf, Attorney
Published by Child Injury Lawyer Network
Family dogs are members of the family. Unfortunately, the family dog / family pet can sometimes be a very dangerous animal. In Eastpointe, Michigan, a Pit Bull Terrier mauled and killed a 1 year old boy. The father then killed the dog. The dog was shot with a handgun. The boy was taken to St. John Hospital where he was pronounced dead. Lt. Darrell Corsi stated that the incident would be investigated further.
By Stephanie F. Brown, Attorney and David Wolf, Attorney
Published by Child Injury Lawyer Network
Often in personal injury cases involving children, the defendant will claim that the child was contributorily negligent and his recovery is barred or must be reduced. In Georgia, children must exercise such care as his mental and physical capacities allow him to exercise in the actual circumstances of the occasion.
By David Wolf, Attorney
Published by Child Injury Lawyer Network
A government study reported that approximately 100 children died and 2000 were injured as a result of vehicle backover accidents in 2007. The study was released by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. The study was in response to a 2008 law that required the tracking of backover incidents, power window strangulations, and heat exposure injuries / deaths.
By Brooks P. Lynn, Attorney and David Wolf, Attorney
Published by Child Injury Lawyer Network
In Dallas, Texas, 14 people ranging from newborns to adults were admitted to a local hospital for carbon monoxide poisoning. It is believed that a faulty space heater was the cause of the carbon monoxide poisoning. All injury victims from the Dallas, Texas home appeared to be conscious when exiting the home.
By Stephanie Brown and David Wolf, Attorney
Published by Child Injury Lawyer Network
Parents and homeowners in Georgia need to be cautious about serving alcohol at parties where minors may be in attendance. Under Georgia’s “Dram Shop” law, parents can be held liable for injuries caused by an underaged drinker who later causes an automobile accident. If the parent served the alcohol to the minor who the parent knew would soon be driving a car and the minor’s driving while intoxicated caused injury to a third person, the parent can be held liable for those injuries. If the drunk minor sustains injuries, however, the parent who provided the alcohol cannot be held liable for those injuries. Furthermore, if the drunk minor is killed in the car accident, his parents cannot recover for the wrongful death of their child against the adult who provided the alcohol. Howell v. Marks, 269 Ga. App. 147 (2004).
By David Wolf, Attorney
Published by Child Injury Lawyer Network
I found a very helpful and resourceful site called www.kidsandcars.org dedicated to child safety and the prevention of injuries and death from non-traffic motor vehicle related incidents. “Non-traffic motor vehicle related incidents” – What is this referring to? It refers to any incident in which a child is injured or dies involving a vehicle that is not in an automobile accident or crash. This would include but not limited to the following:
By Will Brown, Attorney and David Wolf, Attorney
Published by Child Injury Lawyer Network
Babysitting can be a dangerous job. Just ask Nathan Beavers who was shot by a 4 year old he was babysitting in Jackson, Ohio. The 4 year old Ohio boy got upset because the babysitter accidentally stepped on the foot of the 4 year old. Apparently, there was a shotgun that was accessible to the 4 year old and he shot the babysitter. While the wounds were described as minor in a news report, it is quite troubling that the 4 year old had access to the shot gun, a weapon that could certainly inflict serious bodily injuries and death upon a victim. You can read about this story at 4 Year Old Shoots Babysitter and Another Teen in Jackson, Ohio.
By David M. Baum, Attorney and David Wolf, Attorney
Published by Child Injury Lawyer Network
Alex Angulo was one of thousands of children placed in a foster care by the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services. Recently, Alex was mauled to death by a family Rottweiler who was kept in the backyard. According to news report, the plan by the foster parent was to keep the dog outside and keep the child away from the dog. This poor plan obviously did not work and this child was mauled to death in the back yard while his caregiver was using a snow blower in the front yard. According to Cook County Public Guardian Robert Harris – the plan of keeping the dog away from the child was insufficient.
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