Planning a family vacation? Choosing a safe and trustworthy daycare is probably at the top of your list. However, a Texas mother’s experience serves as a stark reminder that even established daycares can fail to protect our little ones.
Joselyn Carter filed a lawsuit against Bright Horizons at Legacy daycare in Plano, Texas, alleging that they neglected to supervise her 20-month-old daughter, leading to a chilling incident involving a vape pen.
A Daycare Nightmare: Toddler Exposed to Nicotine
Imagine this: you drop your child off at daycare for their very first day, trusting their well-being to the caregivers. Later that day, you return to find your child’s eyes swollen and red. When you inquire, the caregiver laughs it off, claiming your little one is “just a good sleeper.” This is the devastating reality Joselyn Carter faced.
According to the lawsuit, Carter’s daughter gained access to a vape pen belonging to a Bright Horizons employee. The complaint states that a daycare worker, Zora Herani, witnessed the toddler with the pink vape pen, smoke emanating from her nose and mouth. Shockingly, the employee failed to report the incident immediately, fearing repercussions. It was only after Carter’s daughter developed a severe cough and vomiting later that night that the gravity of the situation began to unfold.
Disturbing Allegations and a Mother’s Fight for Justice
Carter asserts that it took eight agonizing days for Bright Horizons to finally disclose the incident, withholding the specific substance her daughter had ingested. Furthermore, the daycare only suspended the employee who owned the vape pen (who later resigned) and took no action against the employee who witnessed the incident but failed to report it.
Seeking justice for her daughter’s endangerment, Carter contacted the Plano Police Department. Their investigation confirmed that the toddler had inhaled vapor from a Lost Mary OS5000 disposable vape pen, containing 40mg of nicotine. This highly addictive substance poses significant health risks, especially to young children.
A Pattern of Neglect: Past Violations Come to Light
Disturbingly, this isn’t an isolated incident at Bright Horizons at Legacy. The lawsuit alleges a pattern of neglect, citing prior violations and a disregard for Texas daycare safety laws. These violations include:
- Inadequate Training: Multiple caregivers lacked the minimum required annual training for working with children.
- Unsafe Sleep Practices: Incidents of unsafe sleep practices during nap time, including covering a child’s head and face, posing a suffocation risk.
- Verbal and Physical Abuse: Reports of caregivers yelling at children, using harsh language, and physically mishandling them.
A mother comforts her daughter
Caption: The lawsuit alleges a pattern of neglect at the daycare, including inadequate training and unsafe sleep practices. (AP Photo/LM Otero, File)
The Importance of Accountability and Seeking Justice
Carter’s lawsuit seeks to hold Bright Horizons accountable for their negligence and to ensure the safety of other children entrusted to their care. Her attorney, Russell Button, emphasizes the traumatic impact this incident has had on the family.
“When you have a deeply traumatic experience like what happened here…that is going to be a lifelong trigger for her,” Button stated, highlighting the lasting psychological and emotional effects on the toddler.
This case raises crucial questions about daycare safety standards, employee training, and the importance of thorough parental vigilance.
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