CHICAGO, Illinois - In a recent article by Morningstar, our team at The Button Law Firm has been prominently featured for our role in a lawsuit against The Children’s Courtyard daycare center in Austin, Texas. The case centers around shocking claims of abuse involving a 2-year-old boy, with the daycare center accused of employing prohibited and cruel punishment tactics. This feature highlights The Button Law Firm's dedication to advocating for child safety and holding negligent parties accountable.
Video Footage Captures Child Abuse at Texas Daycare Center
The article shares details of what happened. On July 8, 2024, Alexis Dominguez filed a lawsuit against The Children's Courtyard, located on West William Cannon Drive, after witnessing disturbing footage of her son being abused by a caregiver. The incident occurred in July 2023 when the child's father checked the daycare’s live surveillance video during work. To his horror, he saw a caregiver smothering the toddler with a blanket to keep him quiet during naptime and repeatedly slapping the child’s face and head.
Upon witnessing this abuse, the father immediately reported the incident to the daycare’s management. However, according to the lawsuit, The Children's Courtyard failed to report the abuse to state or local authorities as mandated by law. The daycare's response was to suspend the accused caregiver for only one day, allowing her to continue working despite the visual evidence of abuse.
Texas State Investigation and Prior History of Violations
The independent investigation into the incident was conducted by the Texas Health and Human Services Commission Child-Care Licensing Division and the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services. The findings substantiated the abuse allegations and resulted in The Children's Courtyard being cited for five violations. These violations included physical abuse of a child, the use of prohibited punishment tactics, allowing a dangerous caregiver to continue working with children, and failing to report the incident.
Further examination of the daycare center’s records revealed a troubling history of safety violations. Between June 2019 and May 2024, The Children's Courtyard received 56 separate safety violations, underscoring a pattern of negligence and disregard for child safety.
The Mother’s Shock and Disappointment with The Children’s Courtyard
The child’s mother expressed her distress and disappointment with The Children's Courtyard’s handling of the situation, stating, "Clearly, The Children's Courtyard did not value my son's safety or express concern for his well-being. Anyone with basic common sense understands that smothering and hitting a child is completely unacceptable. Everything was on camera."
Russell Button, the daycare and childcare injury lawyer representing Dominguez, emphasized the gravity of the case and the broader implications for child safety in daycare centers. "The serious safety issues at The Children's Courtyard are full of alarm bells and red flags," Button remarked. "It is clear this daycare center does not prioritize child safety based on the treatment of our client's child and this facility's track record. Abuse accusations at any daycare center should be taken seriously, and centers should employ caregivers who comply with the clear procedures required by law to protect children under their watch."
About The Button Law Firm
The Button Law Firm is a Texas-based personal injury law firm committed to advocating for children and their families through meaningful litigation to make communities safer. The firm is focused on daycare and childcare injuries, including abuse and neglect cases, bottle warmer burns, traumatic brain injuries, and catastrophic injuries. The Button Law Firm operates out of Dallas, Houston, and Midland. Our team’s dedication to child safety and justice is evident in our ongoing efforts to support families across Texas.
Contact The Button Law Firm for Help After a Daycare Incident
If you or someone you know has encountered similar issues or concerns about daycare safety, don't hesitate to contact The Button Law Firm. We provide the support, guidance, and legal representation necessary to ensure justice is served. Our lawyers 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. Get a free case evaluation by calling us at 214-699-4409, emailing us at [email protected], or filling out a contact form.
.png)
.png)
