Child Injury Lawyer Blog
By David Wolf, Attorney
Published by Child Injury Lawyer Network
Five people were arrested in a Vermont home that operated as day care center. Police seized cocaine and marijuana plants from the home operated day care. The day care center’s operator, Kelly Vitagliano, was arrested. Vitagliano was ordered to appear in court to answer criminal charges of cocaine possession. The other four people involved with this incident face charges of drug possession and drug sale. Police affidavits detail a three month investigation that led to the seizure of the cocaine and marijuana plants. Vitagliano’s day care license has been suspended. The day care center supervised at least four children.
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A Texas state inspection revealed that in April 2008, staff workers at Daystar, a center for distressed children 30 miles south of Houston, provoked seven developmentally disabled girls into a fight. The staged fight resulted in biting and bruising as the staff members laughed and cheered on the spectacle. If the fight is not disturbing enough, no criminal indictments were sought against the perpetrators nor did Texas lawmakers press a state agency for answers about how this despicable act could have occurred. Instead, two staffers were quietly fired and their names have been kept secret by the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services (DFPS).
A 21-month-old girl was in critical condition on Friday, May 21 after being trapped in a rolled-up car window. However, she is expected to make a full recovery. The toddler’s Mother apparently left the girl and her 3-year-old brother alone in the vehicle while she went into a home. A neighbor observed that the the toddler was trapped and immediately performed CPR on her. It is uncertain how long these two minors were left unattended in the vehicle. The incident remains under investigation.
Fun in the sun might not always be the accurate description for summer. Take for instance the recent tragic drowning of a man while vacationing with his family in Galveston, Texas over Memorial Day Weekend. After their boat capsized during a fishing trip, three members of the family, all of whom were wearing life jackets, survived but the father, who was not wearing a life jacket, was found floating nearby and eventually pronounced dead at the hospital.
Parents hire babysitters to watch and supervise their children. In most instances, the babysitter does a great job and there are no problems during the babysitting job. Unfortunately, there have been many incidents reported in which a babysitter intentionally or accidentally caused harm to a child. In Auburn, Washington, it was reported that a baby sitter has been charged with causing serious personal injuries to a 9 month old child under her care. Law enforcement officials have charged Dotty Reed with the crime of first degree child assault. The charges stem from an incident in which investigators and prosecutors believe that Reed slammed the boy’s head on the floor. This act was believed to be done out of frustration. The child was later examined by medical doctors at Seattle Children’s Hospital. Medical doctors diagnosed the child with a severe brain injury. It was reported that the mother found this babysitter on Craigs List. For more information regarding this incident, see 
A 12-year-old drowned in a pond in Bethpage, Tennessee. The 12-year-old, Arthur Hawk Suddarth III, was visiting a friend, Hope Postell, when he went into the small pond to swim. It was reported that Postell said she observed Suddarth go into the pond and not come back up. Hope then went over to a neighbor’s house and called 911. Authorities responded to the call of possible drowning around 7:00 PM. A Volunteer Fire Department member was able to recover Suddarth from the pond. Suddarth was later pronounced dead at Sumner Regional Medical Center.
Dog bites continue to take place throughout the United States. Unfortunately, children are often times the victim of a dog bite which can cause serious personal injuries and, in some instances, the death of a child. The incidents can take place in the neighborhood, friend’s house, or even the very home of the child. People should keep in mind that dog’s are animals and can be unpredictable. In San Bernardino, California, it was reported that a 2 year old boy was attacked by a pit bull. The attack resulted in serious child personal injuries including serious neck and head wounds that ultimately caused the death of this child. The victim was identified as Nathan Aguirre. Animal control later seized the dog. For more information on this story, see 
In Minnesota and other States, parents and child care givers should refrain from corporal punishment. In many instances, an angry parent or caregiver can get out of control. Tempers combined with poor judgment can lead to serious personal injuries and psychological damage to a child.