Florida Child Injury Lawyer Blog

Florida lawmakers are supporting a bill that would address the validity of waiver of liability forms for children engaged in recreational, sports, and other activities. An important amendment to the bill would still allow a parent to file a lawsuit against the business if there was negligence on the part of the business. It appears that the bill as proposed would only apply to the inherent dangers of the activity rather than injuries suffered as a result of poor supervision, inadequate maintenance, or other negligence. You can read more about this bill at Lawmakers Considering Bill Regarding Liability Waivers for Children.

The Jacksonville Times Union reported that a vehicle recently went into a retention pond near the First Guarantee Bank on Youngerman Circle. It was a strange accident in that the driver had dropped an item out of the vehicle and left the car running. the car kept on moving forward and the driver got back into the car. Thereafter, the accelerator was hit and the car went into the retention pond. A mother and an 8 year old child were submerged for a time period and suffered some serious injuries. An investigation will be conducted to determine what caused this accident. Was it driver error? Was there a mechanical defect? Either way, it is a tragic accident that resulted in serious injuries. You can read more about this story at Car Goes Into Retention Pond in North Florida.

The Florida Poison Information Center, located on the campus of Shands Jacksonville Medical Center at the University of Florida, is a twenty-four hour resource for Florida parents to protect their children. The center serves forty two Florida counties and the Virgin Islands and fields around sixty seven thousand calls each year.

All emergency calls are answered by specialists such as nurses, pharmacists, or physicians trained in the latest poison assessment and management methods. All specialists must pass a national exam to earn the certification required to answer the phones.

According to experts at the center, nine out of every ten calls they receive involve a child under the age of six. The most common causes of poisoning for children are cosmetics and other personal care products, household cleaners, medical ointments and medications. Thanks to the hotline, nine out of ten callers can resolve the issue at home and avoid a trip to the hospital. Overall child deaths from poisoning have been reduced eighty percent in the last fifty years.

Parents, grandparents, babysitters or others who may have a child present in their home need to inspect their home for poisonous materials very carefully. Most people do not think of cosmetics as poisonous, but they can be very attractive to young children and harmful if swallowed.

The Florida Poison Information Center is a wonderful resource for Jacksonville parents and child caregivers. The service can be reached at (800) 222-1222.

Read more about possible poisons and the efforts of the Florida Poison Information Center at Poison control: Jacksonville's busy center.

A pair of unnamed parents had utilized the services of Jeannine Marie Campbell to babysit their two children while they were at work for over two and a half years. On a recent evening, the parents returned to find that one of their children had a black eye that Ms. Campbell could not explain. That was when they decided to install a “nanny cam” to keep an eye on the woman and their children during the day. About a week later, the parents fired Ms. Campbell, saying they were unhappy with the care she was giving their children.

When they watched the video tape from the day Ms. Campbell was fired, they discovered shocking footage of Ms. Campbell throwing, hitting and kicking one of the children. They immediately brought the tape to police, who confirmed that Ms. Campbell appeared to be very angry and that it was obvious she was not playing with the child.

Ms. Campbell was arrested and charged with battery on a child. She is in jail on $75,000 bail. She reportedly told police investigators that she knew about the hidden camera, but was angry about being fired and wanted to punish the parents by taking it out on the child by slapping, kicking, slamming and hitting him.

Even though the evidence appears to be caught on tape, Ms. Campbell is still entitled to her day in court. She did not make a comment to the press about the charges. Find out more about this story at Jacksonville police: Babysitter videotaped abusing boy said she was angry with parents.

Robert J. McComiskey of Interlachen, Florida was allegedly driving his pickup truck without a license on a recent Friday morning, when he reportedly failed to yield the right away to a school bus. The bus swerved but was unable to get out of the way. McComiskey’s pickup hit the side of the bus where a six year old boy was sitting. The child suffered only minor injuries, and the other three children on the bus were not injured. The driver of the bus escaped injury as well.

According to the Florida Highway Patrol, the accident occurred at the intersection of Theresa Avenue and Diane Street in Putnam County at 9:30 am. Even though McComiskey was wearing a seatbelt, he was critically injured and had to be taken to Putnam Community Medical Center in Palatka, Florida. The Florida Highway Patrol has charged him with violation of right of way and operating a motor vehicle without being licensed.

I find myself writing about school bus accidents that cause child injuries far too often. Drivers need to be extra cautious when they see a school bus approaching and be sure to follow the rules of the road, especially those designed for school bus safety. When it comes to driving near schools and school buses, a little extra caution can help save lives.

Find out more about this story at School bus crash: 6 year old hurt.

In Orlando, Florida, Disney World's buses and transportation sites convey millions of people in and out of the theme parks and resort areas. Every day, there is a hustle and urgency to get visitors to the parks to enjoy the theme parks and activities. Unfortunately, automobile and bus accidents are reported in Orlando that involve Disney buses and visitors. One recent incident involved a Disney bus driver who rear ended a tour bus for the Waldorf Astoria Hotel that was stopped for mechanical issues. This accident was investigated and reported by the Florida Highway Patrol. Ivan Marriott, age 5, was one of the passengers on the bus. The severity of his injuries were not known until he had returned to Arizona for additional testing. It was later discovered that Ivan actually suffered a fractured pelvis which is an extremely painful kind of injury. For most, a trip to Disney World is filled with fun and great memories. For others, a trip to Disney is not so pleasant especially when a person suffers serious personal injuries. You can read more about this story at Arizona Boy Suffers Pelvic Fracture In Disney Bus Accident - Orlando, Florida.

Daniel Crichton is a 2 year old child who is in critical condition following a robbery and carjacking in Jacksonville, Florida. Tragically, Daniel was shot by police in a hail of bullets aimed at the carjacked vehicle that Daniel, his mother, another child, and the suspect were occupying. It was reported that 42 rounds were shot in the incident. Now, the Jacksonville Sheriff's Office is investigating the incident. The shooting took place on Baymeadows Road. The boys' family is questioning how the incident took place and if the tragedy could have been avoided. There are a number of questions that come to mind in incidents like this:

What policies and procedures were required for deputy sheriffs responding to the scene?

What efforts were made to resolve or deal with the situation prior to the use of force (i.e. the firing of bullets)?

What contact was made (if any) with the suspect?

What was the suspect's criminal and psychological history?

What officers responded to the scene?

What was the strategy of the Jacksonville Sheriff's Office in dealing with the situation?

What agencies other than the Jacksonville Sheriff's Office were involved with the incident?

No matter the conclusion of the investigation or any legal matter connected with the incident - it is tragic that an innocent toddler was so seriously injured. You can read more about this story at Toddler Suffers Serious Personal Injuries Following Robbery / Car Jacking.

Sixteen year old high school student Tiphne Hollis was a sophomore at Ed White High School in Jacksonville Florida. She died after being shot while travelling through the area of Stockton Street north of Interstate 10 in a car full of other young girls.

Tiphne’s cousin reported that she and some other young ladies had been shopping together earlier in the day, and decided to go see a friend in what is considered a rough area of Jacksonville. The girls were driving down the street in an old police car with tinted windows when they heard a shot, followed by several more. Tiphne collapsed into her sister’s lap, and was pronounced dead at Shands Jacksonville Medical Center sometime later.

Tiphne’s family is shocked by her sudden death, saying that she was a peaceful and loving young woman who held a part-time job at a local daycare and had aspirations to attend college and become a real estate agent. Tiphne’s mother, Shanda, said the incident is like a nightmare from which she cannot wake up. Tiphne’s grandmother, Wynoma, is “stunned” by the violence in certain neighborhoods of Jacksonville. Tiphne’s mother agreed, saying she hoped her daughter’s death could serve as a wake-up call for residents to come together and stop crime.

Read more about the tragic death of Tiphne Hollis at Jacksonville high school student dies after being shot.

Serious injuries and deaths to children from driveway accidents are tragedies in every respect. . There are hidden dangers in driveways. Some think that sidewalks are the best place for children, pedestrians, and bicycle riders. In actuality, drivers frequently ignore or do not carefully look for children and others on sidewalks and driveways. When there is a death or serious personal injuries suffered by a child in a driveway or back over accident, it is certainly difficult for the family, extended family, and community to deal with such a tragedy. Unfortunately, driveway or back over accidents continue to be reported across the nation.

In Florida and other States, teens often show poor judgment when making decisions that could have a permanent effect on their life or put their health, safety, and welfare in danger. Tanning salons may present a health risk to minors. Like with anything else, it has to do with overuse, misuse, and improper use. In Florida, a minor must obtain written consent from a parent to go to and use a tanning salon. There is some talk about making these laws more strict by requiring a parent to actually attend each session and / or to restrict the use of the tanning salons to a certain age.

Tattoos can be dangerous if done improperly and if universal precautions are not followed as to the equipment. In addition, a tattoo can and often times does have a permanent effect on a person. Yes, there are procedures now in place to remove tattoos but there are still risk of deformity and scarring even with modern science. This especially applies to sensitive areas of the body like the hands, neck, and face. In Florida, a minor cannot get a tattoo without the signed and notarized consent of a parent. The consent is required but the attendance of a parent is not required. Georgia has a more stringent law that prohibits the tattooing of any person under the age of 18 years old. Of course, there are ways around this law like driving to Florida or another State where the laws are not as strict.

Special laws are in place for tattoos and tanning salons because teens often lack good judgment. Peer pressure can also play a role. Tattoo parlors and tanning salons have a duty to follow the law on these matters. You can read a good article about these issues at Tattoos and the Power of the Parental Veto in Florida.

In Florida and other States, millions of children participate in organized sports. Children play in team sports like basketball, baseball, football, soccer, or lacrosse. Children play in individual sports as well like tennis, golf, and bowling. While there are many health and social benefits to playing in sports, there are also some health and safety risks. While not all injuries can be avoided in sports or life for that matter, many injuries can be avoided with proper training, instruction, and supervision. The risks probably rise with age and the competitive nature of the sport. It was reported by the National Athletic Trainers' Association that over 700,000 high school sport related injuries are reported every year. On a daily basis, there are 8,000 children seen, evaluated and treated in emergency rooms.

March is designated as National Athletic Training Month. It is important for NATA and other child safety advocates to get the message out about safety and sports. Parents should do their part to work with their children, coaches, and schools to help promote the safety and welfare of children engaged in sports. You can read more about children and sports related injuries at Safety - A Priority for Children Participating in Sports.

Recently, the Florida Department of Children and Families announced that it had set a goal of reducing the number of children in the foster care system by fifty percent by 2012. According to the department’s own annual report, the Northeast Florida region is close to meeting this goal two years ahead of schedule. The success of the Jacksonville, Florida area Department of Children and Families has helped boost the entire state of Florida into first position in the nation for completing adoptions of children in the foster care system.

The Northeast Florida area has also led the state in its receipt of Prudential Davis Productivity Awards, which recognize innovation in serving the public. Much of the success can be credited to a successful partnership with Family Support Services (FSS) of North Florida, an organization that provides child-protection services in Duval and Nassau counties. The FSS currently has no children under the age of eight available for adoption.

According to Jim Adams, the Chief Executive Officer of FSS, 99.9% of children in foster care were visited by their assigned caseworker every thirty days. The increase in adoption rates has also reduced caseloads for caseworkers from thirty-five to eighteen children each.

Find out more about Jacksonville and Northeastern Florida’s successful adoption programs at Four cheers: Foster care leaders.

Warm sunny spring weather meant that Daytona Beach Florida was packed with beachgoers last Saturday. Ellie Bland, a four year old girl visiting Florida from England, was enjoying the weather with her family as she walked along the beach in front of Sun Splash Park, holding her uncle’s hand. But the day turned tragic when she was struck by a Lincoln Towncar driven by Barbara Worley, who was visiting Florida from Georgia.

According to witnesses, Worley initially struck Ellie, knocking her down. When onlookers alerted her that she had hit the child, she panicked and stepped on the accelerator instead of the brakes, causing the vehicle to drive over the girl. A Volusia County spokesman said that she was killed instantly.

The Florida Highway Patrol has been very busy interviewing at least seventeen eye-witnesses and is carefully considering whether to bring charges against Worley. Cars are allowed on the beach and Worley was reportedly driving below the posted 10 miles per hour speed limit. A spokeswoman for the Florida Highway Patrol said that even though cars are allowed on the beach, accidents are very rare. She could not remember the last time a pedestrian was hit by a car on Daytona Beach.

Read more details of about the little English girl killed after being struck by a car on a Florida beach at Tributes to Nottingham girl killed on Daytona Beach.

According to the Florida Attorney General’s CyberCrime Unit, Jason Richard Andes chatted twice online with an individual he believed to be a fourteen year old girl. Both times he asked the girl to meet him for sex. He also used his web cam to send nude images of himself to the undercover state investigator who was posing as the underage girl.

Andes was caught in a sting that had been planned in a joint effort by the Florida state CyberCrime unit, the Jacksonville Sherriff’s Office, and the FBI. When a search warrant was executed at Andes’ home, police seized his computer, webcam, and other digital media files. Andes has been charged with four felonies; two counts of computer pornography and two counts of soliciting a child via computer. Andes has been booked into the Duval County jail. He is not currently eligible for bond.

While it is great that these law enforcement agencies are actively pursuing Internet predators, parents can do a lot to help keep their children safe while surfing the web. Talk to your kids about web safety, how to respond to inappropriate behavior, and make sure that adult and other objectionable content is blocked from their view.

Read more about this online child solicitation sting operation at Mandarin man arrested this morning for cyber-sex crime.

After an hour of deliberation, the jury in the DreShawna Davis murder trial returned an 8-4 verdict in favor of the death penalty for Rasheem DuBose, who had been found guilty of the girl’s murder. A separate jury recommended life sentences for his two younger brothers, who were involved in the fatal shooting. The judge in their case agreed with the jury’s recommendations. While Florida judges tend to follow jury recommendations, Dubose’s lawyer plans to argue for a lesser sentence of life in prison for his client.

According to court records, Dubose and his two brothers, Tajuane and Terrell, fired twenty nine shots into DreShawna Davis’ house in retaliation for her uncle trying to rob DuBose and force his pants down in public. Rasheem was found to have fired twenty three of the shots, including the one that killed DreShawna as she shielded her two younger cousins from the gunfire with her body.

The murder was just one in a series that have earned Jacksonville the dubious distinction of having the highest murder rate of any city in the state. Prosecutors hope the verdict sends a message to other would-be murderers that they will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.

Read more about the trial at Jury decides Rasheem Dubose should die for killing DreShawna Davis.

If your child has been injured in an accident that was someone else’s fault, please contact our Jacksonville, Florida law firm to determine the child's rights in Florida pertaining to the injuries.

I recently wrote a blog article about a Jacksonville, Florida two year old girl who was wounded during a drive-by shooting while playing outside at a children’s birthday party. Police have revealed that the child’s mother has admitted that there was no drive-by shooting. She has now been charged with giving a false police report.

It turns out that it was another child at the party who accidentally shot Jontasia Marielle Miller, according to Tom Hackney of the Jacksonville Sherriff’s office. Jontasia’s mother, Whitney Shamone Toliver, told police she made up a story that a drive-by shooting took place, which she earlier claimed involved a white sedan. Police have called off the search for the car.

The other children present at the party were all under six years old. The shooter has not been identified, and no further details have been released by police, except the fact that the gun accidentally fired by the other child at the party has not been recovered. Jontasia suffered wounds to her hand and buttocks from the shooting and was treated at Shands Jacksonville Medical Center.

Once the gun is recovered, the gun’s owner may be help responsible for not keeping it out of reach of children. Read more about this accidental shooting of a child by another child and the attempted cover up at LAW & DISORDER: Mom admits drive-by shooting story was false.

If your child has been injured due to someone else’s negligence, it makes sense to contact a Florida child injury lawyer to determine the rights of the injured child.

Clay County (Florida) Sheriff's Office executed search warrants that revealed three methamphetamine (meth) labs in three different Clay County locations recently. One location was a storage unit on Blanding Avenue in Orange Park, Florida, outside of Jacksonville; the other two were homes that are also located in the Orange Park area.

According to reports filed by the Clay County Sheriff’s Office, three small children were found in the meth labs in two of the three searched locations. One of the children was a five month old infant.

The report goes on to describe the dangerous nature of meth production the labs were using, called the “one-pot method.” The report called it “extremely volatile and flammable” and certainly not an appropriate environment for a child. Both of the infant’s parents were present at the lab and were arrested; the child was taken into the custody of the Florida Department of Children and Families.

All of the people present at the three labs were arrested and taken to the Clay County Jail. The extent of the children’s exposure to meth fumes or their injuries is unknown at this time. Small children are vulnerable to all sorts of environmental elements that can harm their growth and development. Parents must take care not to expose their children to unnecessary risk.

Read more about the discovery of three children at Orange Park, Florida meth labs at Clay meth labs busted: 5-month-old infant present at one of the sites.

A fire forced the evacuation of a Jacksonville, Florida day care center. The day care center is located on Soutel Drive. The Jacksonville Fire Department responded with 45 rescue units and approximately 70 firefighters. Day care workers evacuated the 24 children at the center as well as the staff. One adult needed medical care at a hospital.

Fortunately, tragedy was avoided since no serious personal injuries or deaths were reported of the children enrolled in the center. This incident is a good teaching point for day care centers to prepared for fires and other unexpected emergencies. Getting the children to safety is paramount to everything else. You can read more about this story at Fire Hits Jacksonville, Florida Day Care Center.

In Jacksonville, Florida, parents, who put their children in day care centers, have enough to think and worry about during the typical day including the following:

How am I going to get my child to day care?
How is my child feeling prior to going to day care?
What kind of supervision is provided at the day care center?
What kind of staffing showed up for work that day?

In addition to the above concerns and many others, parents in Jacksonville, Florida also had to worry about robbers who were targeting mothers taking their children or picking up their children from day care centers. The Jacksonville Sheriff's Office reported that two suspects targeted over 20 mothers taking their children or dropping off their children at Jacksonville / Arlington day care centers. You can read more about this story at Robbers Target Day Care Mothers.

After Somer Thompson was kidnapped and murdered last October, her memorial was held in the First Baptist Church of Orange Park, Florida. That same church was recently the site of a training seminar aimed at teaching parents how to keep their children safe from predators. Ken Wooden, a child protection expert, provided the 300 parents who attended with a list of “lures” that predators use to attract their victims. According to Wooden, if you teach your kids the lures, they will be better able to resist them.

Wooden, who runs the organization Child Lures and Teen Lures Prevention, told the audience that the most common lures play on a child’s need for attention, their desire to be helpful or to obey those with real or perceived authority. Wooden says that the lures are so powerful they can even be used on older “children” on college campuses or military bases.

Wooden’s program is so successful that it is even used by the United States Secret Service, United States - State Department, and the Federal Bureau of Investigations - FBI. Florida law enforcement officers in attendance at the Orange Park event said that they could remember many cases where the lures Wooden discussed were used to abduct a child.

Members of Somer's family attended the program, and said that they hoped the information would help other families. Read more about the program and the common lures at Child protection begins with recognizing the lures.

If your child has been injured, please contact our law firm for child injury legal counsel.

A Jacksonville, Florida Daycare owner, David James Hart, has been arrested and charged with lewd and lascivious molestation on a victim 12-16 years old, sexual battery on a victim younger than 12, and assault. Parents of some of the children who attend the A+ Just for Kids Academy on Crown Point Road in Mandarin, Florida are in shock.

One parent reported that her kids absolutely loved Hart, and that he seemed very friendly and caring and knew all of the parents and kids by name. She has been taking her children to the daycare center for three years, and now is devastated at the news of Hart’s alleged actions and very worried for her children.

Another daycare owner, Charles Schramm, who purchased the Just 4 Kids Learning Academy on Losco Road in Mandarin from Hart last summer, says he “never would have believed something like this," about Hart. Just the same, he is going to change the name of his daycare center immediately. He doesn’t want parents getting his business confused with Hart’s.

The Florida Department of Children and Families is working closely with Jacksonville law enforcement in the investigation. The A+ Just for Kids Academy was inspected just last month, and was found to be in full compliance. The center has had only a few minor violations in the past.

Read more details of David James Hart’s arrest at Jacksonville A+ Just 4 Kids Academy Owner Arrested on Molestation Charges.

If your child has been injured by a daycare or child care worker, please contact our law firm for child injury legal counsel.

The federal government is considering a ban on junk food in public schools; the purpose of the ban is to help keep children from becoming obese. The ban would prohibit sugar loaded sodas, candy bars, pastries and salty snacks from being sold on school property. If the ban goes through, all public schools in the United States will have to replace sodas in the machines with healthy alternatives like water and juice.

While the ban may make sugary snack less available to Florida kids, it may also have a huge impact on lucrative vending contracts that Jacksonville, Florida schools districts use to support athletic programs and other extracurricular activities. It is unclear if kids will want to pay as much for healthy alternatives as they do for sodas.

Last year the Duval, Clay and St. Johns county school districts made $2.4 million in extra cash through exclusive beverage contracts with PepsiCo. School officials are very worried that they would not be able to make up such a large loss through other means.

While health officials applaud the efforts to remove junk food from schools, many of the soda companies have put up little resistance, presumably because most of them also bottle juices and waters that they can sell in place of their less healthy beverage options. Read more about Florida school contracts with the major beverage companies and plans to cut back on junk food in campus vending machines at Federal ban on junk food, sodas in schools could impact First Coast deals.

If your child has been injured due to negligence or a defective product, please contact our firm for business legal counsel.

At a home in Northeast Jacksonville, several children gathered recently for a child’s birthday party. The children were playing outside the home when witnesses say they heard a single gunshot. An unidentified two year old girl was hit by the gunfire.

A resident of the home, Charlene Johnson, reported that there were several children playing outside at the time, and wasn’t sure if anyone had been injured at first. When it was discovered that the two year old girl had been hit, her parents rushed her to Shands Jacksonville Medical Center.

According to Sergeant John Gay of the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office, aggravated battery unit, it is not clear if the girl was hit more than once, but she is expected to recover. Neither the motive for the shooting nor the intended target is known at this point. Police are still investigating the incident.

It is scary to think that someone would fire off shots in the direction of a group of young defenseless children right here in our own city. It is fortunate that the girl will be all right, but she will certainly carry emotional and physical scars from this tragic event throughout her life.

You can read more of the details of this story at Drive-by shooting wounds 2-year-old girl in Jacksonville.

If your child has been injured, please contact our firm for child injury legal counsel.

Nineteen year old Jasmine White apparently followed Augustin Duclos and his three week old son, Melvin, home from Shands Jacksonville Medical Center. At the hospital, she presented the man with false credentials and papers saying that she worked for the Florida Department of Children and Families (DCF). She informed Duclos that his son was being taken into DCF custody because of suspected child abuse, and that an investigation of the family was underway.

When Duclos contacted authorities several hours later, he found out that there was no such investigation and that his child had been kidnapped. An Amber Alert was issued and the police got started trying to track down the missing child.

According the Jacksonville, Florida Sheriff’s office, they were able to get one fingerprint off of the forged paperwork, and identified Jasmine White from a juvenile arrest for auto theft. Melvin was found with Ms. White ate her mother’s home shortly thereafter. He was unharmed. Ms. White was arrested on several charges including kidnapping, fraudulent use of identification and interference with child custody.Sheriff John Rutherford said that the FBI, the US Marshall’s office and the Florida Department of Law Enforcement were instrumental in helping his office find and arrest Ms. White.

Florida Parents should be aware that typically no government official will appear at their door and demand custody of their child for any reason. Any such person should be reported to authorities immediately. Read more about the Duclos family’s ordeal at Abducted Baby Home 'A Miracle From God'.

If you are involved in a child custody matter, please contact our firm for child injury legal counsel.

A new law under consideration in Florida would prohibit children aged sixteen and younger from getting tattoos, and require sixteen to eighteen year olds to be accompanied by a parent or legal guardian when getting “inked.” The law comes after years of complaints from parents whose children got tattoos without permission as the law requires; many of those children have contracted illnesses, infections or scarring from the experience.

Unlike almost every other state, Florida does not regulate tattoo artists. They are not required to have any credentials or special training, even though they are working with human blood. They are not required to wash their hands or use clean needles. Even hair stylists in Florida are required to complete training, pass a test and acquire a license before cutting a child’s hair. That will change if the new law is passed. The pending legislation would require tattoo shops and tattoo artists to be trained, tested and licensed. The training would include a course on blood-borne pathogens and communicable diseases. The Florida Professional Tattoo Artists Guild is in favor of the law. Local tattoo professionals are looking forward to improving the industry’s image.

The new licensing fees for shops and artists are expected to be less than what they currently pay for Florida’s supervisory doctor system, which would be replaced by the new licensing program. Read more about the proposed requirements for Florida Tattoo shops atFlorida tattoo shops focus of proposed regulations.

If your child has been injured by unsafe tattooing techniques, please contact our law firm for child injury legal counsel.

The contamination caused by the closed LCP Chemicals factory in Brunswick, Georgia may be affecting the fish consumed by Jacksonville, Florida residents and their children. Atlantic bottlenose dolphins in the area have been found to have record high levels of polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB), acquired by eating contaminated fish.

PCB is an industrial chemical that is believed to be a carcinogen. The director of the marine mammal office of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Teri Rowles, said that contamination from the Brunswick site may be mobilized both up and down the east coast as contaminated prey fish move about. Biologists are planning to test the PCB levels of fish found off the Jacksonville coastline. The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) will also be conducting a study of Georgian’s who eat local seafood on a regular basis.

The PCB poisoned dolphins had weak immune systems, low thyroid hormones and enzyme build-ups in their livers. Low thyroid activity in children can stunt development and cause fatigue, weakness and later reproductive problems. PCBs are especially hazardous for pregnant women, who might pass the effects of the pollution on to their children. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) took over cleanup at the plant after LCP went bankrupt about fifteen years ago. While the most hazardous materials have been cleaned up for a long time, the EPA is still looking at a plan for long term remediation. Read more details of the possible fish contamination along the Jacksonville coastline at Chemical causes high contamination levels in Atlantic dolphins.

A monthly class held in Jacksonville, Florida is aimed at making teens better babysitters. Participants in the class learn many skills for good babysitting, including child safety, first aid, preventing accidents, helping a child who is choking, and determining what constitutes an emergency. They also learn how to feed an infant, change a diaper, burp a baby, and take a child’s temperature. They do not learn CPR because they are considered too young.

Participants also learn discipline techniques, which emphasize using time outs; a child should receive a time out in a special area of the home where there are no toys, and the time out should last one minute for each year of age. The teens also looked at the business side of babysitting, learning how to get jobs, what to charge, and how many children it is safe for them to care for at one time. (The going rate for a babysitter in the Jacksonville, Florida area is $6 per hour, with a $.50 surcharge for each additional child.) Teens are also reminded not to text, talk on the phone or play computer games while caring for children.

After the course, the teens receive a card from the American Red Cross, showing that they are certified in babysitting. They also get a reference handbook and CD to take home with them. The babysitting class is offered about once a month, usually on a day that kids are out of school. For more information about class location, costs and times, visit Baby-sitting class teaches students first aid, safety skills for watching children.

If your child has been injured by a childcare or daycare worker, please contact our law firm for child injury legal counsel.

Two year old Serenity Bergey was found dead in September of 2007, her head wedged between the mattress and the drop railing of her broken Simplicity brand crib. Two days later, the United States government issued a recall of nearly 1 million cribs; several other children were already believed to have been asphyxiated by defective drop-sided cribs made by Simplicity, Inc.

Even though Serenity’s death was ruled an accident at the time, Florida detectives never believed that her death was accidental. The child’s home was dirty and full of drug paraphernalia, and her supposedly defective crib was broken and held together by duct tape. In 2008, detectives sought to charge the girl's mother, Connie Bergey, with aggravated manslaughter charges, but prosecutors declined to take the case due to the lack of evidence. Now a witness has come forward with new information that is allowing detectives to pursue criminal charges against Serenity’s mother.

Ms. Bergey’s lawyers have denied that she did anything wrong. Ms. Bergey is suing Simplicty, Inc., which has gone out of business, and Wal-Mart, where she purchased the crib. Read more about the recall of Simplicty cribs and the death of Serenity Bergey at Investigation reopened into toddler death that led to crib recall.

If your child has been injured by a defective product, please contact our law firm for child injury legal counsel.

Former Jacksonville Jaguar, Richard Tylski, and his wife, Jane Tylski, have lost a civil suit filed on behalf of their former foster daughter, Janie. A Florida Judge has ordered the couple to pay $1.2 million in damages to the now ten year old girl, for injuries she suffered at the hands of her foster parents. The Tylskis have denied injuring or abusing Janie.

The civil lawsuit was filed on behalf of the girl by an attorney ad litem, who sought damages in order to help Janie pay for future medical needs and counseling stemming from the abuse. The judge in the case determined that Janie had been abused by the Tylskis for years, and has been permanently disfigured by the abuse. Her injuries included a broken finger and a broken leg. The broken leg may prevent her from growing properly.

The Tylskis had previously faced criminal charges in the matter, but settled the criminal case via plea bargain. Ms. Tylski pleaded guilty and received probation; Richard Tylski’s case was handled through the Florida Department of Corrections pretrial intervention program. Tylski did admit in court two years ago that he had caused visible belt marks on the girl’s skin. You can read more details of the civil trial of Jane and Richard Tylski for child abuse at Former Jag, Wife Must Pay $1.2M In Suit.

If your child has been injured while under another’s care, please contact an attorney at our law firm for child injury legal counsel.

In Florida schools as well as other schools around the nation, special needs and disabled students are unduly and aggressively restrained every day in the classroom. Many child safety advocates argue that in these modern times - child restraints should be limited or eliminated from the classroom. This is especially true when children are physically and emotionally harmed from the unnecessary or overuse of these restraints. Florida State Representative Dorothy Hukill - Republican from Port Orange, Florida is sponsoring a bill that would limit of the use of the public school use of restraints. Hopefully, the bill will pass and measures will be taken in public as well as private schools for the proper education and supervision of disabled and special needs children in the school system. You can read more about this topic at Florida - Limiting the Use of Restraints in the School System.

The Orlando Police Department recently shot and killed a pit bull dog that was deemed to be dangerous by the responding officer. Any time that an officer pulls his or her weapon - it should be a careful decision based on the facts and circumstances as they exist at the time of the shooting. The officer assessed the situation and put down this dog was appeared to be dangerous to the point that the dog put the officers and public at risk. Some dog advocates may argue that there was a more humane way to deal with this animal. Others may argue that the officer prevented serious personal injuries that could have resulted from the unpredictable and seemingly dangerous disposition of this dog. It was reported in the Orlando Sentinel that attempts were first made to capture the dog but these attempts failed. See Pit Bull Attack - Orlando Police Department Shoots and Kills Dangerous Dog.

This shooting follows another recent incident that took place in the Orlando area where a 3 year old was attacked and killed by a dog.

As a parent, it is important to thoroughly check out any child care center where you will be leaving your child. In Florida, the Department of Children and Families childcare licensing staff must inspect and license childcare centers in sixty one out of Florida’s sixty seven counties. Daycare inspection reports are available by visiting the Florida Department of Children and Families’ special website at: www.myflorida.com/childcare. On the website’s “provider search” page you can search by the provider’s name, by the county or even the zip code.

But checking into the center’s licensing status is only the first step. Making a visit to the center is important too. Parents should also keep in mind that religiously affiliated childcare centers may claim religious exemption from licensing. In these cases it is especially important for parents to visit and inspect the center for themselves before leaving their children there.

When checking out childcare center, keep the following tips in mind:

• Check the facility for cleanliness and ensure that there are no hazardous chemicals in reach of children
• Check the bathroom for cleanliness and appropriate paper goods
• Do the children seem happy and well-cared for?
• Do you feel comfortable in the environment?

Checking into the daycare center where your children will be cared for is a smart move that can help protect your children and give you better peace of mind. Get more tips at Web site helps public check on daycare compliance.

If your child has been injured while at daycare, please contact our Jacksonville, Florida area law firm for child injury legal counsel.

Ryan Gooding, of Palm Springs, Florida and friend saw a science experiment on YouTube.com that looked interesting to them, and decided to try to do the experiment on their own. The experiment was creating a rocket out of a plastic soda bottle using vinegar and baking soda.

But when Ryan and his friend were ready to launch the rocket, the bottle accidentally exploded in Ryan’s face, causing chemical burns, lacerations, a broken nose and temporary blindness in one eye. Ryan was hospitalized. Unfortunately, the family’s health insurance policy lapsed two days before the accident took place, and now his mother is trying to figure out how to pay the hospital bills for her son’s care.

Experiments and entertainment on TV and the Internet often look very tempting to young kids, who do not have a fully-developed sense of caution when it comes to dangerous activities. Parents need to help their children understand that mimicking stunts and experiments performed by professionals is dangerous and could get them hurt. The news story did not point out the link to the YouTube.com video Ryan was watching, but one can only hope that it had an appropriate warning for children not to try the experiment at home without supervision.

Read more about Ryan and his family’s plight at Child injured recreating YouTube experiment.

Last January, two year old Anthony Jesy “AJ” Cabral was home alone with his mother’s boyfriend, Jason Lenz, one evening when he suffered a complex skull fracture and died sometime the next day. Lenz never alerted anyone that the child had been injured, including the child’s mother, who was a registered nurse and returned home a few hours after the injury took place. She was the one who found her son dead the next morning.

Lenz claims that he was carrying the boy when he tripped and fell, dropping the child to the floor. But according to prosecuting attorneys, Lenz beat the child to death by “bashing his head into something.” The jury agreed, convicting Lenz of felony murder and sentencing him to life in prison with no chance for parole. He was also sentenced to thirty years in prison for aggravated child abuse.

Lenz had been living with the family for eight months prior to AJ’s death. It is very sad that children are abused, neglected and even killed by the people closest to them; people who have been entrusted with their care. A person with a bad temper or history of abuse does not make an appropriate babysitter. Parents need to be very careful who they leave their children with, whether it is a friend, a relative or a daycare provider.

Find out more about this story at Jury finds Oviedo man guilty in child's death.