Florida Child Injury Lawyer Blog

A special vaccine court recently ruled against parents seeking compensation through the Vaccine Injury Compensation Program. It was estimated that more than 5,000 claims were filed by parents and caregivers seeking compensation for damages related to Autism that were allegedly caused by Thimerosal-containing vaccine. The court concluded that the scientific evidence overwhelmingly did not support the claims of the parents on behalf of their children. Litigation on related issues continue. Nonetheless, the ruling in this case was a disappointment to families seeking compensation for injuries that, according to the families, their attorneys, and expert witnesses, were related to vaccines.

You can read more about this story at Court Rules that Vaccine is not Linked to Autism.

Posted by David A. Wolf | Permalink | Email This Post

Posted In: Autism , Medical Care & Health Issues , Special Needs Children

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In Fort Pierce, Florida / Port St. Lucie Florida, Judith Leekin lived with disabled children that she adopted in New York. Ms. Leekin appeared to be more interested in the $1 million in subsidies and welfare that she received for the children rather than the education, safety and welfare of the children. Ms. Leekin was charged with aggravated child abuse for beating and handcuffing the children in a locked room. She did not adequately provide food for the children and frequently deprived the children of medical care and education. Ms. Leekin pled no contest to to the charges and was sentenced to a 20 year prison term.

The acts of Judith Leekin were truly heinous in that she preyed on disabled children while personally pocketing government funds to take care of her own needs rather than those of the children. You can read more about this story at Florida Woman Gets Prison Term After Pleading No Contest to Charges of Aggravated Abuse of Disabled Children.

Posted by David A. Wolf | Permalink | Email This Post

Posted In: Abuse & Neglect , Child Safety , Crimes Against Children , Economic Crimes , Special Needs Children , Special Needs Children

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Phyllis Musumeci is the founder of Florida Families Against Restraint and Seclusion and the National Families Against Restraint and Seclusion. Phyliss is also a mom on a mission to end restraints on special education / special need students. Unfortunately, many special education law students including those with autism, ADHD, cerebral palsy, and other disabilities, are unduly restrained in public and private schools in Florida and the rest of the United States. Phyliss was asked to speak by the National Disability Rights Network in Washington, D.C. A new report on the issue of restraints and seclusion of special education students show widespread use in public schools throughout the nation. Some child rights and education rights advocates believe that the restraints amount to abuse and neglect of these students. Furthermore, the use of these restraints often times causes serious personal injuries and the wrongful death of special education students.

Under Florida law, school officials can restrain a special education student who is deemed to be a danger to themselves or others in the school environment. Muscumeci and others believe that Florida law is too vague and that children are often restrained when there is no danger at all to themselves or others. In public schools, some students are restrained for convenience of the teacher or staff rather than for the safety and welfare of the student. You can read more about Phyliss Muscumeci's efforts and the problems of restraints of special education students at Child Advocacy Groups and Mom Seek to End Restraints of Special Education Students in Florida and Other States.

Posted by David A. Wolf | Permalink | Email This Post

Posted In: Child Safety , Education , Education Law , School Safety , Special Needs Children

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Special needs students in public schools have every right to be educated and supervised based on these special needs. Close and consistent supervision are key ingredients to the safety and welfare of these students. A tragic sexual assault took place at the Kanapaha Middle School in Gainesville, Florida. While a teacher stepped out of the classroom leaving no other teachers or school staff in place for supervision, a 14 year old special needs child was raped. In fact, one boy raped the girl while another held her down. These criminal acts took place while in the Alachua County School System during the school day during day light hours. Certainly, this reprehensible act of violence and abuse of the 14 year old girl would never have happened with a teacher or other adult the classroom. The Alachua County School District is liable for the actions and inactions of its teachers. While the teacher did not want this event to happen, the teacher negligently created an unsupervised environment that the incident did happen. Under Florida Statutes, the Alachua County School Board can be placed on formal notice for negligence and related damages and personal injuries. Then after the expiration of the formal notice period, the Alachua County School Board can be sued.

It is unfortunate that the school, school board, and teacher learned a lesson out of this tragedy. That lesson is that 10 minutes of missing or neglectful supervision can leave to a traumatic event that a 14 year old girl will need to live with for the rest of her life.

You can read more about this story at Alachua County (Gainesville) Florida Special Needs Child Raped in Classroom by Another Student.

Posted by David A. Wolf | Permalink | Email This Post

Posted In: Abuse & Neglect , Child Safety , Crimes Against Children , Education , Education Law , School Safety , Sexual Offenders / Predators , Special Needs Children , Violent Crimes

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Corporal punishment is still utilized in several Florida school districts and in Florida day care and child care settings. I personally and professionally do not believe in the use of corporal punishment. Whether there is a resulting injury or not, corporal punishment often times leads or causes emotional injury and unacceptable fear in children. Pursuant to Florida Statute Section 39.01, corporal punishment may be considered excessive if it leads to any of the following child injuries or harm:

Sprains, dislocations, or cartilage damage;

Bone or skull fractures;

Brain or spinal cord damage;

Intracranial hemorrhage or injury to other internal organs;

Asphyxiation, suffocation, or drowning;

Injury resulting from the use of a deadly weapon;

Burns or scalding injuries;

Cuts, lacerations, punctures, or bites related injuries;

Permanent or temporary disfigurement;

Permanent or temporary loss or impairment of a body part or function; or

Significant bruises or welts.

You can read this statute and related definitions at the Official Florida Statutes Web Site.

Posted by David A. Wolf | Permalink | Email This Post

Posted In: Abuse & Neglect , Child Safety , Crimes Against Children , Day Care Centers and Child Care , Education , School Safety , Special Needs Children , Violent Crimes

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A landowner, business or homeowner, may be held liable in Florida for injuries to children on the property if the injury is caused by a hazardous or dangerous condition that is likely to attract or interest children who are unable to appreciate the risk posed by the object or condition. In Florida, children under the age of 6 cannot as a matter of law be considered negligence. Children over the age of 6 can be considered negligent in part for their own injuries. Cases of attractive nuisance may involve piles of lumbar or sand, abandoned cars, trampolines, swimming pools, electrical transformers, wells, and irrigation equipment. Florida cities from Miami to Jacksonville to Pensacola all have weather that permit a child to play outside year round. Child are curious and will play in just about any area. A dirty and dangerous area to an adult is viewed as something quite different to a child. Typically, businesses, government, and homeowners have liability insurance that cover injuries to children caused by an attractive nuisance.

Posted by David A. Wolf | Permalink | Email This Post

Posted In: Attractive Nuisances , Child Safety , Day Care Centers and Child Care , Homeowner's Insurance / Injuries at a Home , Playground & Recreation Injuries , Special Needs Children , Sport Related Injuries , Wrongful Death

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Do Florida children with ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder) qualify for Special Education under IDEA (Individuals with Disabilities Education Act)? Like many legal questions that I face as a child rights attorney every day, the answer is "it depends". ADHD is not particularly listed as one of the conditions that could qualify a child / student for Special Education under IDEA. These conditions include the following:

Autism
Hearing impairment (which includes deaf children)
Visual Impairment (which includes blind children)
Mental Retardation
Serious emotional disturbances
Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI)
Orthopedic and related physical impairment
Special learning disability
Other health impairment

The United States Department of Education did add ADHD as a condition under "Other health impairment" as noted in the Children with ADD/ADHD -- Topic Brief in March 1999. However, a parent must show that the ADHD alone or the ADHD combined with other noted conditions produces a need on the part of the child for Special Education.

Posted by David A. Wolf | Permalink | Email This Post

Posted In: Autism , Education , Education Law , Special Needs Children

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Florida School Districts / School Boards have home pages on the internet. When you have a problem with a School District / School Board, it is helpful to read through the School District / School Board site and the School Board Rules. The Florida Department of Education has a Public Schools / District Home Page that has a listing for each county / district / school board in the State of Florida.

Administrators and School Board should be familiar with the rules / regulations and these rules / regulations should be followed the the school, administrators, teachers, and the district. Many disputes can be handled with a simple telephone call or conference with the teacher, administrator, or principal. Some disputes, problems, and issues require more formal action and consideration. These include issues dealing with Special Education, IDEA (Individuals with Disabilities Education Act), and IEP (Individualized Education Plans). As parents, we should educate ourselves as to the the local, State, and Federal rules / regulations to the best of our ability. Parents should serve as the child's advocate in a positive way as should the local school, teachers, administrators, principals, and the district. Before contacting teacher, administrator, principal, or school board, think through the problem. Educate yourself on the local school and school board rules and regulations. If necessary, contact a Special Education lawyer to consider your child's legal rights within the school system and the school's legal responsibilities.

Posted by David A. Wolf | Permalink | Email This Post

Posted In: Education , Education Law , Special Needs Children

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Having a deaf child in the Florida school system can be a wonderful mainstream experience for your child. Then again, it can be most frustrating if the school does not take measures to properly educate the deaf child and provide necessary resources to insure the success of your deaf child in the school system. I reviewed an extensive study and article on the subject of Deaf Children and IDEA (Individuals with Disability Education Act) that was linked at the American Society for Deaf Children Web Site. Parents of deaf children often times arm themselves with education and studies in order to promote and advocate for their child's educational needs and best interests. Often times, parents need help from a Special Education Attorney ready, willing, and able to enforce of the rights of the deaf child under IDEA and related laws. Addressing the educational needs of a deaf child and other special needs children in a timely, professional and effective manner is paramount to the child's educational as well as social growth and maturity. It is also the law.

Posted by David A. Wolf | Permalink | Email This Post

Posted In: Autism , Child Safety , Education , Education Law , Special Needs Children

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I am often asked the question, "I need a Lawyer to represent my child's educational needs before a School or School Board. What kind of Lawyer / Attorney do I need?" This is an excellent question. Frankly, Florida Personal Injury Lawyers are easy to find. Watch television or look in the yellow pages. Special Education lawyers / attorneys are not so easy to find. It is helpful to find a Special Education Lawyer in your geographical area. In North Florida, you would look for an attorney in Jacksonville, Orange Park, Jacksonville Beach, St. Augustine, Green Cove Springs, and the surrounding areas. Getting a school and / or school board to educate your child and provide the services required by law can be quite challenging. If necessary, the Special Education Lawyer can request an administrative hearing and get an order to require the school to comply with the applicable federal and state laws regarding your child's educational needs.

Every school district has the legal duty to comply with IDEA (Individuals with Disabilities Education Act). Children that may qualify for special education under this federal law include children with mental retardation, hearing impairment (which includes deafness), visual impairment (which includes blindness), serious emotional disturbance, autism, traumatic brain injury (TBI), special learning disability, or other health impairment.

If you need a Special Education lawyer, contact Wood, Atter & Wolf, P.A., a laws firm "On Your Side - At Your Side."

Posted by David A. Wolf | Permalink | Email This Post

Posted In: Autism , Education , Education Law , Special Needs Children

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Children with disabilities and special needs in both public and private institutions in Florida and the rest of the United States should be educated in an environment that is least restrictive. Federal Law - United States Code - Title 20, Chapter 33, Subchapter II, Section 1412 provides the following:

"To the maximum extent appropriate, children with disabilities, including children in public or private institutions or other care facilities, are educated with children who are not disabled, and special classes, separate schooling, or other removal of children with disabilities from the regular educational environment occurs only when the nature or severity of the disability of a child is such that education in regular classes with the use of supplementary aids and services cannot be achieved satisfactorily."

Special Education Lawyers in Florida represent and advocate for the educational and best interests of children. Even though it can be challenging to accommodate the needs of a child with disabilities and education, the school, administration, and school board still have a legal duty to comply with Federal and State law. Often times, the school system falls short, ignores the needs of the child and family, and needs to be educated as to the law and educational resources and techniques that should be put in place for the child with Special Needs and disabilities.

Posted by David A. Wolf | Permalink | Email This Post

Posted In: Autism , Education , Education Law , Special Needs Children

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In dealing with your child's special education needs in Florida, it is helpful to know the definitions of key terms utilized by special education law advocates, therapists, educators, administrators and school boards. Some key definitions include the following:

Individualized Education Program (IEP)
a yearly education plan written by teachers, therapists, psychologists, etc. and the child's parents for school age children with disabilities

Individualized Family Service Plan (IFSP)
an education plan written by teachers, therapists, psychologists, etc. and the child's parents for a child birth through 2 years old with disabilities

interdisciplinary team
various individuals from different disciplines that assess children's needs (speech therapist, occupational therapist, nurse, psychologist, etc.)

You can find definitions for other key terms at the Special Education Law Dictionary. While it is helpful to know key terms and their definitions, this knowledge, in and of itself, will not necessarily promote the best interests of your special needs child in the school system. A special education lawyer / attorney / advocate can help guide you through the process. Contact Wood, Atter & Wolf, P.A. for more information. At Wood, Atter & Wolf, P.A. - we are On Your Side - At Your Side.

Posted by David A. Wolf | Permalink | Email This Post

Posted In: Autism , Child Safety , Education , Education Law , Special Needs Children

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Service dogs help better the lives of Autistic Children. One prime example is Charlie who is owned by friends in California. Charlie was bred and trained by a wonderful organization called the North Star Foundation in Stors, Connecticut. You can read all about Charlie and his adventures at my friend's blog - Charlie the North Star Dog. The North Star Foundation places service dogs with autistic children and special needs children to promote the social skills and other life skills for the child. According to the North Star Foundation Web Site, "We believe there is no better way to teach tolerance than through the eyes of a puppy being trained to help a child find their way to a happy and healthy tomorrow."

I believe that everybody could learn a thing or two about life with a service dog. Hopefully, Charlie the North Star Dog will have years of happy adventures in the future as he betters this world one bark at a time. There is an article about Charlie the North Star Dog and other service dogs at American Kennel Club Gazette - Picking the Lot - Service Dogs Enter A New Specialty - Helping Autistic Children.

Posted by David A. Wolf | Permalink | Email This Post

Posted In: Autism , Child Safety , Dogs / Dog Bites / Animals / Pets , Special Needs Children

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