By Scott A. Marks, Attorney and David Wolf, Attorney
Published by Child Injury Lawyer Network
In Vista, California, a man was recently sentenced for the crime of leaving his small child in a hot car. It is very dangerous and careless for parents to put small children in danger of hyperthermia and related problems when left in a hot car. Especially during summer months, reports of serious injuries and even deaths have surfaced when a parent, caregiver, or day care provider has mistakenly left a child in a hot car. In Vista, California, Artermio Diaz was given a jail sentence of 180 days and probation for 4 years for this crime. Mr. Diaz apparently left his son in the vehicle while he shopped for groceries. While some may argue that parents should not be arrested for such conduct, it is important for all parents and caregivers to play it safe – Do not leave any children in a vehicle. You can read more about this story – Man Sentenced for Leaving Son in the Car While Grocery Shopping.
Areas near schools and school bus areas can become quite congested during morning and afternoon hours. When there is a high concentration of children, there are dangers in high traffic areas. In Portland, Maine, parents of high school students are quite concerned about the safety of their children. Parents as well as high school principal (Michael Johnson) are urging city officials to mark off areas as a school zone so that drivers are mandated by law to slow down in the area near the high school. City officials, according to a story posted at 
A sixteen year old girl with no driver’s license and a borrowed car drove into a tree outside the Wagon Wheel Mobile Home Park in Alamosa, Colorado. She had three other teenagers and two small children, aged 20 months and 4 years, in the car with her at the time. The car had been borrowed from a relative of one of the passengers. The girl is expected to be charged with drunk driving (DUI), driving without a license and criminal negligence resulting in the injury of a child. The driver is claiming that a steering malfunction caused her to miss the turn she was trying to make into the park, and sent her into the tree instead.
In Cupertino, California, a 5 year old child was run over by a teacher. Tragically, the 5 year old died. It was later determined that the day care center, Elite Chinese School, did not have a day care license. Elite has a business license but did not have the separate California day care license. As such, the State of California never inspected the facility or its grounds for safety or compliance with the applicable day care center guidelines and regulations. The accident at issue is also under investigation.
A woman, Ebere Ozonwu, was rushing to make her train in Chicago this week when she unintentionally put her own child in danger. According to witnesses, the woman had started pushing her child, who was in a stroller, into the train car when the doors closed on it and the train started moving. The woman and other horrified onlookers watched as the stroller slammed against the wall of the tunnel it was entering and the child was thrown out onto the tracks. The little girl was hospitalized but has been released.
On news stations, You Tube, and other media outlets, a video of Elizabeth Lambert has hit the airwaves in a big way. Elizabeth Lambert is a college soccer player for the New Mexico Lobos. In a game versus BYU, Elizabeth was filmed pushing, punching, and then dragging another player down by the other player’s hair. The action is rough. Some say that Elizabeth Lambert is a soccer bully . . . others may refer to her as a tough competitor. The videos do show that women’s soccer is a competitive tough sport. It should be noted that on some plays other plays are pushing, punching, and grabbing Elizabeth’s shorts. While she may have been provoked at times, Elizabeth Lambert seemed to retaliate with greater force. You can make the call by watching the various videos online of Elizabeth’s play. You can view one such video at 
In Paducah, Kentucky, a day care director has been charged with a crime for leaving a three year old boy on the day care center van. WPSD-TV reported that Tanashea Young was charged with the crime after she took the van to a repair shop for repairs. The child was left on the van and was later found after the van was lowered from the rack or lift where it was being repaired. Ms. Young reported that she knew that the child was still in the van. This really did not make sense in that the child was left in the van while it was placed up on a lift. What parent or diligent day care director would put the child in such a position?
The House of Representatives recently passed its version of the Healthcare Reform bill (HR 3962). Parents and guardians of special needs children will most likely benefit from two aspects of the bill: health insurance companies would no longer be able to deny coverage based on pre-existing conditions, and the public insurance exchange option. Of course, the Senate still has to pass its own version of the bill, and the two bills will have to be blended together and voted on again – but so far the news looks good for children with special needs.
Nancy Owens and Vanessa Ramirez were at a birthday party together, where both have admitted to drinking. Ms. Owens reportedly allowed Ms. Lopez to drive her three children home, even though she admitted to police that she was aware Ms. Lopez was “drunk.”