By David Wolf, Attorney
Published by Child Injury Lawyer Network
Day care providers in Montana and other states have a duty to provide adequate and appropriate supervision of children under their care. It is especially important to provide diligent supervision when children are participating in aquatic / swimming activities or when children are near or have access to bathtubs, swimming pools, or waterways including rivers, retention ponds, oceans, lakes, and canals. Sharon Miller recently was given a 1 year suspended sentence for her role in the drowning death of a 6 month old Montana girl under her care. Under the plea deal, Sharon Miller promised not to provide any child care for children except for family members. Ms. Miller was reported to have left a 6 month child (Jenna Unruh) in a bath seat in a sink while she changed another child’s diaper in another room. Just a few minutes of inattention led to this drowning death in Montana. You can read more about this story at Chinook, Montana Woman Pleads Guilty to Child Endangerment Charges for Drowning Death of Child Under Her Care.
Families of two children in Washington state were given quite a scare when a man in a pick up truck lured their children into his vehicle on two separate incidents. The man (Dean Kinsman) offered one child a bicycle and the other shoes if they got into his vehicle. Children who go off with creepy strangers are really in danger and are often times injured, molested, and, in many tragic cases, killed. Fortunately, Kinsman did not take the children away from these families forever; however, the families were quite concerned that these incidents happened in the neighborhood. The boy was 9 years old and the girl was 4 years old.
As summer approaches, more and more children will be attending outdoor activities under the supervision of schools and child care providers. Parents and guardians are routinely required to sign permission slips before a child is allowed to go on a field trip to an amusement park or the local swimming pool. Does a permission slip signed by a parent make the school or child care provider not responsible for accidents and injuries?
In Santa Clara, California and other States, school nurse perform a vital function every day. They are there to help supervise, examine, and care for school children. At times, teachers, administrators, school employees, parents, and visitors need the assistance and expertise of a school nurse while on school grounds. Eileen Bowden, a school nurse, collapsed and died after she helped save someone’s life. She was called into action when a man needed help at a school function. Eileen along with another person administered CPR. The incident took place at the Santa Clara (California) High School. Ms. Bowden helped save softball coach John Rahbar.
In Oklahoma and other states, day care centers / child care centers inappropriately discipline children in a harsh, neglectful, and harmful manner. We all know that children will misbehave and fail to follow directions at time. Day care center employees should exhibit patience and control when dealing with a misbehaving child. Oklahoma day care centers and child care centers are regulated by Oklahoma Department of Human Services through 
In King City, California, an 11 year old girl (Ester Rubio) recently died. She had been shot several times at a soccer match at King City High School. She was shot in the stomach. Ester received medical care at Stanford Medical Center and at Good Samaritan Hospital in San Jose, California. Three juvenile criminal defendants were arrested in the shooting.
In Louisville, Kentucky, a Jeep ran into a school bus at an intersection. The Jefferson County school district reported that 15 people suffered personal injuries, 13 of the 15 injured were students from the Brandies Elementary School and Foster Academy.
My Space and other social networking web sites can be quite dangerous. Predators like Joshua David Threlkeld use the technology of My Space and the internet to lure teens for nude photographs and sex. Mr. Threlkeld created a profile online as Sarah – a 14 year girl named “Sarah”. “Sarah” gained the trust of other teen girls and told them that a photographer could meet them to take modeling photographs. Many teen girls were interested, posed nude, and had sex with Mr. Threlkeld. Fortunately, a concerned parent stepped forward to report the situation to police. An investigation was initiated and Mr. Threlkeld was identified and arrested. It appears that there is a pile of evidence against Mr. Threlkeld. His computer and other evidence was obtained through a search warrant of his home.