Articles Posted in Michigan

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In Michigan and other states, parents rely on day care center to provide a safe and nurturing learning environment during the workday. Whether a child attends an in-home day care center or a commercial day care center, it is important that the child is supervised by a caring and patient adult. Unfortunately, far too many day care workers are not well suited by education, temperament, or maturity to watch young children. It is a well-known fact that infants will cry and toddlers will misbehave. If children were perfect angels who never cried and never misbehaved, there would almost be no need for a day care center. For most children, a day care center is a haven of safety in an otherwise busy world. For others, unfortunately, and in far too many cases, tragically, a day care center is the site of a serious personal injury in the form of head injury, brain damage, skull fracture, shaken baby syndrome, and related injuries.

A recent case of alleged child abuse at a home day care center in northern Michigan demonstrates the reality of these types of tragedies. It was reported that the owner of a home day care shook a seven-month-old baby in her care to the point that the baby stopped breathing. When a child is shaken, the brain can be damaged.  This mechanical / medical condition is simply referred to as shaken baby syndrome.  However simple the name, the brain damage resulting from shaken baby syndrome can have permanent affects on a child and the family caring for that child. Permanent brain damage can result after mere seconds of violent shaking by an adult or older child because of the sensitivity of infants’ softer skulls and developing brains. In the case out of Michigan, reports indicate the shaking of the baby ultimately fractured the infant’s skull, which t did not result in loss of life for the infant, but did result in long-term health consequences.

According to the New York Department of Health, one to three thousand children suffer from shaken baby syndrome each year. A quarter of those children die, and approximately eighty percent of the surviving children suffer from permanent brain damage or other lasting health complications. Injuries of this nature remain completely preventable. The New York Department of Health suggests that when caring for a child that will not stop crying, caregivers lay the child down in safe place, such as a crib or play pen, and take a break, so that they do not burn out and harm the child. See Preventing Shaken Baby Syndrome. 

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By David Wolf, Child Injury Lawyer
Crib-and-Nap-Time-Day-Care-Center-276x300Parents rely on day care centers to provide a safe educational environment for their children. Tragically, children suffer serious personal injuries and even fatal injuries at the very place where the children are supposed to be protected – the day care center.  At times, other children in the day care center are violent and unstable.  It is important that day care centers closely monitor all children in the day care center. If a child is exhibiting strange, dangerous, or disturbing behavior, it should be addressed right away.  For the protection and safety of the children enrolled in the day care center, a child, with dangerous tendencies or propensities, can and should be removed from the day care center.  The local licensing agency can also step in if there is a problem with the parents of the “problem child”.  It is vital that the day care center act in a timely manner to prevent injuries at all times possible.  Unfortunately, many day care centers ignore the problem or gloss over the problem rather than take action to protect the children in the day care center.
In Michigan, it was reported that a 14 month old toddler died a day care center by an 8 year old girl with a history of odd behavior.  The toddler (Korey Brown) was crying in his crib.  Then, the 8 year old took him out of the crib, bit him in the face, and kicked the toddler.  The 8 year old girl had a number of issues.  It is suspected by the family of Korey Brown that the day care center knew or should have known about the odd behavior and should have taken action to protect Korey Brown.   At the time of the attack, there were no adults present in the room.  As such, it appears that the 8 year old was left unsupervised in a room with younger children in the room including Korey Brown. You can read more about this story at Girl Kills Toddler at Michigan Day Care Center
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By David A. Wolf, Child Injury Lawyer Blog

Truck-Accident-Rear-End-Crash-253x300In Michigan and other states, semi-tractor trailers and commercial vehicles are commonly seen on the roads, streets, highways, and interstates.  Because of the size, weight, and power of these vehicles, it is vital that truck drivers are alert and attentive to their driving responsibilities.  Unfortunately, just one inattentive moment on the part of a commercial truck driver can cause a significant impact to the driver and passengers of other vehicles and a lifetime of injuries for the innocent victims of the crash.  While it seems quite basic, many such crashes can be avoided if the truck driver maintains a safe speed, maintains a safe distance from other vehicles, and otherwise avoids distractions in the form of eating, drinking, mobile phone usage, texting, and other activities that take away from the primary job at hand – namely the driving of a commercial vehicle.

In a recent news story out of Oceana County, Michigan, it was reported that  a four year old child suffered serious, lifelong injuries after a truck driver rear-ended the family’s car which had five people in it at the time. The driver was originally charged with felony reckless driving, but at the district court level the charges were reduced to a misdemeanor.  If the driver is convicted or accepts a plea deal, the crime is punishable by up to 93 days in jail.  The truck driver will be entitled to the services of a public defender or a private criminal defense attorney.  Like other criminal cases, there are procedures and processes to go through and a criminal Defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty.

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By David Wolf, Attorney and Samantha Vloedman, Law Clerk

Published by Child Injury Lawyer Blog

Illustration of lady statue of libery facing front holding weighing scales of justice and sword set inside crest shield on isolated white background.

When a child is being cared for at a day care center, school, summer camp, or other person / entity, a parent should be able to rely on the good nature of people and organizations that the child will be cared for in a nurturing manner by adults who really promote the best interests of their child. Unfortunately, people in trust like child care providers, babysitters, and even family members use these unique opportunities to abuse, neglect, and molest the very children under their care.

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By David Wolf, Attorney and Samantha Vloedman, Law Clerk

Published by Child Injury Lawyer Blog

Building Blocks Glossy -R - Day Care CenterIn Michigan and other States, parents rely upon day care centers to provide for a safe educational environment. One basic responsibility of the day care center is to supervise the children in a manner so that the children do not wander away from the facility.

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By Mark Freedman, Attorney and David Wolf, Attorney

Published by Child Injury Lawyer Network

handcuffs.jpgA man from Grand Rapids, Michigan has been sentenced for sexually assaulting a child in his home, where police say his wife ran as an unlicensed day care. Leroy George was sentenced to 12 months in Kent County Jail, five years probation, and six months of home confinement after he serves his jail sentence and will have to register as a sex offender. George pleaded no contest to one count of second-degree criminal sexual conduct. The two other counts of the same charge were ultimately dismissed. The alleged victim is younger than 13-years-old. The child victim informed her parents about the incident, which is how police were involved and ultimately led to George’s July 2010 arrest. Investigators believe that the Georges ran the residential, unlicensed day care for at least three years. For more read Michigan man sentenced after pleading no-contest to 2nd-degree criminal sexual conduct in wife’s unlicensed, day care.

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By Mark Freedman, Attorney and David Wolf, Attorney

Published by Child Injury Lawyer Network

State%20Map%20Michigan.jpgIn Michigan and other States, a party of teens and high school students is often the site of dangers, personal injuries, and, yes, even death. It was reported that Zachary Harp, a 16 year old student from Owendale- Gagetown High School was hit by a car and dragged for approximately one block. He was later airlifted by helicopter to a local hospital but died as a result of the injuries sustained at the scene. The Tuscola County Sheriff’s Office reported that the boy was transported at approximately 4:00 a.m. Another person tried to step in to offer assistance to the victim but this person was also hit by the vehicle. An autopsy will be conducted to determine the cause and manner of the death. Due to the facts and circumstances of the incident, a criminal investigation will be conducted as well. See Owendale-Gagetown teen dead after another teen runs him over, drags his body.

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By Mark Freedman, Attorney and David Wolf, Attorney

Published by Child Injury Lawyer Network

barn.jpgA 3-year-old child was injured in Montcalm County, Michigan after falling in the child’s family barn. According to officers, the child was playing inside the barn when he feel 8 to 10 feet onto a cement floor. According to police, the 3-year-old sustained a serious head injury. The young boy was transported by helicopter to a hospital in Grand Rapids, Michigan. He is listed in serious condition. Deputies have ruled this incident an accident. If you would like to read more on this story please see 3-year-old falls from family barn sustains serious head injury.

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By Andrew Prine, Attorney and David Wolf, Attorney

Published by Child Injury Lawyer Network

sports%20football%20helmet%20white%20on%20grass.jpgVicksburg High School’s head football coach, Tom Marchese believes that concussions are more serious than most people think, especially because concussions have long-term effects. Marchese may be on to something. New studies reveal that repeated concussions may cause permanent brain damage that eventually shows up with symptoms such as depression, chronic headaches, early-onset dementia, and/or adult-onset attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder.

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By Andrew Prine, Attorney and David Wolf, Attorney

Published by Child Injury Lawyer Network

US%20State%20Flag%20Michigan.jpgIn Michigan, Governor Jennifer Granholm signed a law into effect to help distinguish or define babysitting from required day care licensing. The law states that babysitting is exempt from Michigan licensing and regulation if the babysitting is provided for free or involves less than $600.00 per year of annual payment or income. See Michigan Law Clarifies Babysitting / Day Care.

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