What Happened at This Plano, Texas Daycare?
A young girl was abused by unqualified and untrained workers at a Plano daycare. One worker grabbed the young girl by the arm and dragged her across the classroom to another worker, who restrained the girl on the floor. A surveillance camera at the daycare revealed that the little girl was kept in the same spot for 13 minutes while the worker pinned another child to a chair by their arms. A worker hit the little girl on the head and used her hand to hold the little girl’s head—all of which is considered daycare abuse.
As you can imagine, the little girl suffered physical and emotional injuries from the traumatic incident. A doctor determined that the girl developed serious behavioral issues and suffered from “a severe stress and adjustment reaction and a conduct disorder.” She also developed extreme separation anxiety, significant nightmares, and poor communication with adults.
The emotional impact caused by the daycare abuse forced the little girl to drop out of a swimming class. It even prevented her family from being able to visit the little girl’s grandfather overseas while he was recovering from a stroke. The family also had to hire a private nanny—a costly and unplanned expense—to care for the little girl because even attending a new daycare was traumatic for her.
The little girl’s parents contacted our experienced Dallas-area daycare injury lawyers at The Button Law Firm to get justice. Our legal team fought to hold the daycare accountable for this little girl’s injuries and for its failure to follow state laws. Thanks to a settlement secured by our attorneys, the family could cover expenses and provide the resources needed to help their daughter heal.
Texas Daycare Laws Meant to Protect This Little Girl
The little girl’s parents paid the daycare to keep their young daughter safe while at work, expecting the facility and its caregivers to deliver on its promise. Unfortunately, the daycare failed them in many ways.
In this case, the daycare center in Plano violated the minimum standards of Texas daycare laws and was cited for:
- Allowing a teacher to work directly with kids while a background check was still pending
- Using harsh and cruel punishments on the children
- Putting the girl in timeout that lasted longer than the “one minute per year of a child’s age” standard
- Failing to use positive methods of discipline and guidance
An investigation into the incident found the childcare facility’s errors were not an isolated event. The daycare had been cited by the state of Texas twice before for unsafe hiring practices:
- Failing to submit a background check at the time a caregiver was hired
- Allowing a caregiver to be present at the facility before receiving the background check notification
What Texas Parents Can Do to Protect Children in Daycare
Our Texas daycare injury lawyers have created a free guide to help parents find a safe daycare for their children. Our knowledgeable team has found that many childcare facilities—even those that present authority through fancy websites—fall short of their promises to keep children in their care out of harm’s way. Our goal is to make communities safer, and that starts with empowering and educating parents.
More Helpful Information
For guidance on navigating the aftermath of daycare injuries, explore these articles. They offer valuable insights into understanding legal rights, addressing medical concerns, and ensuring your child's safety and well-being, providing the crucial information you need to effectively handle such situations.
- What Are My Rights as a Parent If My Child Was Hurt at a Daycare Center in Texas?
- How to File a Daycare Incident Report When Your Child is Hurt at a Texas Daycare
- 8 Commonly Asked Questions About Daycare Injuries Answered
How The Button Law Firm Can Help Your Family with a Texas Daycare Injury Case
If your child was abused or neglected at daycare, camp, or school, contact our compassionate child injury attorneys at The Button Law Firm. We are experienced in working on cases involving children, like this case where a young girl was hurt by an unqualified daycare worker. Our attorneys will listen to you and your child to assess the situation and determine where a daycare, camp, or school failed to protect your child in its care. Our attorneys 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 or fill out a contact form below for a free consultation.