.png)
In November 2023, a 3-year-old boy was struck on the hand with a ruler by a caregiver at his daycare center in Dallas. No one did anything until a week later, when a teacher, who witnessed the incident, informed the boy’s mother about what happened. Previously, the child had made numerous accusations of abuse, but the daycare center’s director dismissed his complaints because she did not believe him. When the teacher stepped forward and informed his mother that she witnessed the caregiver strike the child with a ruler, it confirmed what the toddler said and led to action being taken.
The Dallas daycare center failed the toddler and his parents again when the daycare director did not report any of the incidents to the Department of Family and Protective Services, as required by state childcare laws, also known as the minimum standards.
When our experienced Texas daycare injury lawyers at The Button Law Firm got involved and partnered with another firm, we fought to hold the Dallas daycare center accountable for the abuse the toddler suffered at the hands of a caregiver and the center’s safety failures that could have prevented the incidents. We also made the daycare center answer for ignoring the minimum standards regarding reporting protocols. Together, we secured a life-changing result for the toddler and his family to help them move forward.
How Did the Dallas Daycare Center Fail This Child and His Mother?
Per the minimum standards, daycare centers are required to keep all children safe and protected from harm’s way. This duty starts with a center’s hiring practices. Working closely with young children requires a special skillset, including patience, compassion, and understanding. The minimum standards mandate that qualified caregivers must have a high school diploma or equivalent diploma, pass background checks, have a current medical record showing they do not have tuberculosis, and complete a notarized licensing affidavit swearing to their criminal background history.
Sadly, the daycare center did not properly vet or train its caregivers before placing them with children, and the toddler suffered the consequences. An independent investigation into the incident conducted by the state found evidence that the toddler was abused by a caregiver at the center. And, this was not the first time an abuse incident had occurred at the Dallas daycare center. The center had three prior licensing citations for separate incidents involving caregivers abusing children. In fact, the center received 54 violations over five years, indicating a scary pattern that child safety was not prioritized at this daycare center.
How Were the Toddler and His Mom Able to Move Forward After This Daycare Abuse Incident?
The abuse incident at the Dallas daycare center deeply affected the 3-year-old boy. Even though his mother removed him from the daycare center as soon as she learned about the abusive caregiver, it was too late. The boy struggled emotionally and began showing aggressive behavior toward his older sister whenever he became upset following the incident. Potty-trained and growing his independence, the toddler regressed from these milestones and became clingier to his mother.
His mother’s life was also uprooted by the abuse incident at the Dallas daycare center. She had to scramble to find new childcare help for her son. In addition, she became hyperaware and vigilant of her son’s behavioral changes and interactions with adults, which became extremely stressful.
In partnership with the Houston law firm, our daycare injury lawyers fought to get justice for the toddler and his mother. We made the Dallas daycare center answer for its many safety failures, including the abusive caregiver’s actions and the daycare director’s lack of action to report this particular incident. We secured a settlement that compensated this family for the disruptions the abuse incident caused to their lives, and it helped with the necessary ongoing resources to help the toddler process his traumatic experience at the daycare center so that he could move forward.
Contact The Button Law Firm If Your Child Was Injured at a Daycare Center
If your child was physically or emotionally injured at a daycare center anywhere in Texas, contact our experienced daycare injury lawyers at The Button Law Firm. With lawyers in Dallas, Houston, and Midland, we are ready to listen, fight for your family, and help your family move forward. Our lawyers at The Button Law Firm are recognized on the prestigious Texas Super Lawyers list, and we can help guide you after a traumatizing incident involving your child. We work on contingency, meaning we don’t charge you or collect any upfront fees to get started on your case. Call us at 214-699-4409, email us at intake@buttonlawfirm.com, or fill out a contact form for a free case evaluation.
.png)
.png)
