By Scott Soutullo, Attorney and David Wolf, Attorney
Published by Child Injury Lawyer Network
In Alabama and Other States, staffing ratios or staffing requirements are set forth in rules and regulations promulgated by the State to insure adequate staffing of the facility and supervision of the children in the day care center. The Department of Human Resources for the State of Alabama clearly sets forth Minimum Standards for Child Day Care Centers including Staff Requirements as follows:
By Stephanie Brown and David Wolf, Attorney
Published by Child Injury Lawyer Network
Each week in Atlanta, Georgia, people are injured on escalators—often those people are children. While recent reports have blamed the popular soft-sided flexible clogs worn by children, escalator injuries are an ongoing problem that did not begin with the advent of the suspiciously ugly shoes. While the escalator industry has voluntarily created new standards for reducing the size of the gap between escalator steps and the escalator wall, these new standards do not have any impact on escalators built before 2000.
By David Wolf, Attorney
Published by Child Injury Lawyer Network
A St. George, Utah man was recently sentenced to life in prison without parole. Marc Clifton Bryant was convicted of the heinous crime of rape and torture of a 16 year old girl with a screwdriver and a blow torch. What a deviant! Mr. Bryant was convicted and sentenced in absentia. In other words, he did not attend the trial because he had fled the State but was later arrested in the Jacksonville, Florida at a Golden Corral after his crimes and the case was reported on America’s Most Wanted. You can read more about this story at St. George, Utah Rapist Sentenced to Life in Prison Without Parole. This story was reported at the Salt Lake City (Utah) Tribune website at Rapist Gets Life in Prison Without Parole.
By Brooks P. Lynn, Attorney and David Wolf, Attorney
Published by Child Injury Lawyer Network
Sophia Worsham of Denton Texas died at a home based day care center in Denton recently. The Texas day care center / child care center (Too Kool 4 School Kids Club Day Care) had a license for a capacity of 12. According to news reports, there were 30 children in the facility at the time of Sophia’s death. The Tarrant County Medical Examiner will conduct an autopsy to determine the cause and manner of death.
By David Wolf, Attorney
Published by Child Injury Lawyer Network
A cold front went through the Upper Mid West including States like North Dakota and South Dakota. Many schools were closed in the Dakotas as well as other States like Iowa, Minnesota, Kansas, and Missouri. The temperature in Grand Forks, Dakota dropped to a record low of 37 degrees below zero which beat the prior record set in 1979 according to the National Weather Service.
By Benjamin A. Klopman, Attorney and David Wolf, Attorney
Published by Child Injury Lawyer Network
In Maryland and Other States, children suffer serious personal injuries every day because a day care center / child care center is not properly maintained. Buildings and the general facilities are often times become run down or are already in a poor condition. As a result thereof, child are injured. Pursuant to Title 13 A State Board of Education – Child Care Centers – Regulation 13A.16.05.01, a child care center has a duty to provide and maintain a soundly constructed building or facility that is in good repair. The child care center must be clean and free from the infestation of insects and rodents. The child care center must also be free from safety hazards.
By Scott Soutullo, Attorney and David Wolf, Attorney
Published by Child Injury Lawyer Network
In Alabama, child day care centers are classified in one of two groups: Licensed or License Exempt. All centers, under Alabama law, that require a child day care license must be licensed by the Department of Human Resources. Child day care licenses need to be renewed every two years. The Department of Human Resources sets for minimum standards to qualify for a license. Once a license is approved, child day care centers must remain in compliance with these licensing regulations.
By Stephanie Brown and David Wolf, Attorney
Published by Child Injury Lawyer Network
In Georgia, rules and regulations are in place for the set up, supervision, and maintenance of playground equipment for Georgia Day Care Centers. The purpose of these rules and regulations is to promote safe play and ongoing supervision so as to limit or prevent child injuries that often take place when children play on playground equipment. Pursuant to Chapter 290-2-2-.12 (aa) (8) & (9), Physical Environment and Equipment – Rules and Regulations for the State of Florida, day care centers need to arrange outside playground equipment so that supervision of the children is not obstructed. The Georgia legislature recognizes the importance of supervision. If equipment prevents or obstructs proper, close supervision, then the facility may not be in compliance with these Georgia rules and regulations. Climbing and swinging equipment, like ladders, monkey bars, and other equipment, shall be properly anchored and shall have a resilient surface beneath the equipment and the fall zone that is adequately maintained. In addition to the above, day care centers should make sure that swings, ladders, slides, and other playground equipment are free from litter, sharp edges, and other hazards. Playground equipment can rust and become deteriorated over time. As such, it is important for a day care center to institute and follow a maintenance and inspection program to make sure that the playground equipment is safe for continued use and free from hazards. You can read about the rules and regulations at Chapter 290-2-2.12 (aa) (8) & (9), Rules and Regulations for the State of Georgia.
By Scott Soutullo, Attorney and David Wolf, Attorney
Published by Child Injury Lawyer Network
The Alabama Safety Belt Use Act of 1991 (“ASBUA”), codified at 32-5b-1, is Alabama’s primary law that governs safety belt use. This law requires every adult front seat occupant of a passenger car to have a safety belt fastened to their body while the vehicle is in motion. “Adult” was emphasized because Alabama law imposes a different set of requirements on the parents of small children riding with them in a vehicle. This makes perfect sense. Because a child’s body is significantly smaller in size and weight, it cannot be properly restrained by the same safety belt intended for a full grown adult. To make matters worse, fastening a child in an adult restraint could cause even more severe bodily harm / personal injuries to a child in an automobile accident. For these and other reasons, Alabama’s primary safety belt law refers us to a completely different code section at 32-5-222 which specifically governs child safety restraints. You can read this code section and others at the Official Site for the Code of Alabama.
By Jay Foster, Attorney and David Wolf, Attorney
Published by Child Injury Lawyer Network
A nationwide study recently reported Mississippi with the highest teen pregnancy rate in the nation. As compared with a national average, Mississippi’s teen pregnancy rate was 60 % higher. The study reviewed birth certificates for each State. Over 400,000 births were to mothers ranging from age 15 through 19. You can read more about these and other statistics at Teen Pregnancy Rate – Mississippi Leads the Nation.
