Child Injury Lawyer Blog
By Kevin Leach, Attorney and David Wolf, Attorney
Published by Child Injury Lawyer Network
A young girl recently accompanied her mother to Washington Dulles airport to pick up a friend who was arriving from Argentina. A Customs and Border Protection K-9 unit dog that was undergoing training suddenly attacked the girl, knocking her over and clamping down on her pelvis. The dog refused to release, and was eventually subdued by its handler. The girl’s mother was also bitten by the dog when she tried to help her daughter. According to witnesses, the child did nothing to provoke the dog.
Virginia has a voluntary program in place that rates day care centers on a 4 star scale. The name of the Virginia program is the Virginia Star Quality Initiative. At this time, there are 31 day care centers with a 4 star rating which is the highest rating on the scale. The rating system provides accountability for day care centers / child care centers in Virginia. Since participation in the rating system is voluntary, many day care centers are not included in this rating system. Inspections and visits evaluate the facility. The quality and consistency of teacher child interaction are also observed.
In Richmond, Virginia, state officials with the Department of Social Services have recommended that the day care license for Yellow Brick Road Day Care be revoked. Lynne Williams, the Director of the Virginia Department of Social Services, issued this ruling or determination in response to the tragic death of Andrew Joseph Johnson who died in July 2009. The day care center left Andrew in a vehicle for 7 hours. The owner previously stated that she plans on fighting any decision by state officials to close down her day care center. Criminal charges have been filed and are being pursued against the owner and driver from the day care center.
The United States Department of Health and Human Resources has a website that has a great reference tool for parents and caregivers with children in day care centers and child care centers. Each state regulates day care centers / child care centers through a state specific administrative code and / or policy manual. Go to 
The Virginia legislature has struck down a bill that would have required health insurers to pay for the cost of therapy for autistic children. Similar legislation has been enacted in Maryland and the District of Columbia.
A Virginia Beach couple was arrested for leaving two children, ages 6 and 4, home alone without any supervision or babysitters. Julie Hammock and Clinton Harris, both employed by the United States Navy, left their children alone in the home. The 6 year old boy’s 1st grade teacher suspected that there was a problem at boy’s home. Thereafter, school officials called the police. The couple claimed that they did not have the money / funds for day care.
Lindwood Jones, Jr. and Shawntay D. Jones have been arrested and charged with their daughter’s death in Suffolk, Virgina. WAVY-TV 10 reported that the parents were charged for first degree murder. Zanya K. Jones died on December 1. Zanya was less than a year old. The medical examiner conducted an autopsy and determined that Zanya died from dehydration and malnutrition. Other children were removed from the home which was unsanitary.