By Will Brown, Attorney and David Wolf, Attorney
Published by Child Injury Lawyer Network
While most students graduate at the age 18 and go on to higher education or into the work force, special needs children usually follow a different path. Stow-Monroe high school officials are hosting their first-ever “Transition Fair” for special needs students and their parents to discover what their options are after high school.
By David Wolf, Attorney
Published by Child Injury Lawyer Network
When Julie Powell picked up her children, Carter (18 months) and Konnor (3), from the Toddler Escape Drop-In Child Care in Billings, Montana, nothing seemed out of the ordinary. It wasn’t until she received a call from Billings police later that night that she found out what had happened to Carter earlier that day. A passing motorist on busy Central Avenue had spotted the child wandering around in the street and returned him to the daycare center.
By Roy S. Dickinson, Attorney and David Wolf, Attorney
Published by Child Injury Lawyer Network
Troy Helms, an 11-year-old from Grove, Oklahoma was attending the Strut Your Mutt dog walk sponsored by the Humane Society of Grove and Grand Lake when he accidentally fell on the ground. A Great Dane attacked the child, biting down on his face and neck. The boy received more than 100 stitches.
By David Wolf, Attorney
Published by Child Injury Lawyer Network
Zachary Christie, a six-year-old first-grader, was suspended and was facing 45 days in an alternative school for troublemakers for taking his favorite camping utensil to school. The utensil was a combination knife/fork/spoon that the child had planned to use to eat his lunch. The child was expelled under the school’s guidelines for dealing with children who bring weapons to school or commit violent offenses.
By Scott A. Marks, Attorney and David Wolf, Attorney
Published by Child Injury Lawyer Network
In Richmond, California, police and investigators continue to search for witnesses and participants in a horrendous gang rape incident that took place outside of a homecoming dance. Police recently reported that at least 10 participated in the assault while 10 others watched. What a terrible and unforgivable incident? The ten who participated are criminals and should serve time for their crimes. The victim was 15 years old. An interesting law passed in 1999 in California makes it a crime for the failure to report a crime committed against a child 14 and under. While the witnesses may not have committed a crime under this law, their lack of action and contribution as spectators should certainly be scrutinized and categorized as a crime if possible under other California statutes, ordinances, and / or case law. Forensic evidence has been collected which includes DNA evidence of several of the criminals involved in the assault. It was reported that the assault took place over a 2 1/2 hour time period. Even the Richmond, California School District has admitted some liability for these acts by the statements of Charles Ramsey, a member of the Richmond School Board. Mr. Ramsey stated that the school district bears some responsibility for the attack (assault) based on the lack of or inadequate supervision in the area of the attack. You can read more about this story and the related investigation at As Many As 20 Involved in Assault on 15 Year Old California Girl Outside of Homecoming Dance.
By Robert Fernicola, Attorney and David Wolf, Attorney
Published by Child Injury Lawyer Network
In New Jersey and other States, reports of fatalities from H1N1, commonly referred to as the Swine Flu, continue. Just recently, a 17 year old boy from South Jersey died from complications related to H1N1. The death was reported at the Asbury Press (New Jersey) Website. The boy was a student at Rancocas Valley Regional High School in Mount Holly, New Jersey.
By David Wolf, Attorney
Published by Child Injury Lawyer Network
Five families from Great Falls Montana believe that their special needs children were severely abused by the 7th and 8th grade special needs classroom teacher aids at North Middle School. Tragically, the children’s special needs – autism, cerebral palsy and down syndrome – prevented them from reporting the alleged abuse. Julie Parish and Kristina Marie Kallies have been charged with felony assault on a minor and misdemeanor endangering the welfare of children. Ms. Parish has been arrested but police have been unable to find Ms. Kallie.
By David Wolf, Attorney
Published by Child Injury Lawyer Network
In December 2008, an electrical space heater caused a fire at the Heavenly Angels Daycare in Alamo, Tennessee. The fire injured three children: two two-year olds and a three-year old. The children were rescued from the fire by Alamo Assistant Chief Kevin Sugg, who was off duty at the time. All three were treated for smoke inhalation, and the three-year old also had burns on his face. The owner, Kathy T. Humphrey, was charged with child abuse and neglect of a child under the age of six.
By Scott A. Marks, Attorney and David Wolf, Attorney
Published by Child Injury Lawyer Network
It took less than one hour for a Tulare County jury to return a guilty verdict in this shocking California case. Nancy Ortiz, 24, of Orosi, California was found guilty on second degree murder and felony child abuse charges after she abandoned three of her children.
By Scott A. Marks, Attorney and David Wolf, Attorney
Published by Child Injury Lawyer Network
In California and other States, day care centers should be places of safety and education for children. Day care centers should not be places for illegal drugs or bomb making materials. The California Inland Island Child Care Regional Office recently ordered the closure of a day care center with such criminal activities. The Kuzelka family operated a day care center but did not limit their business or entrepreneur activities to child care. Law enforcement officials found bomb making materials and marijuana at the home / day care center as part of an investigation following a report that Benjamin Kuzelka blew off most of his hand Wednesday night with a liquid explosive that he was making in his garage.
Child Injury Lawyer Blog