Local News
145 Shady Grove Lane, Alpharetta
An Alpharetta daycare is now under intense scrutiny following a fatal playground accident, which claimed the life of 3-year-old Thomas Stephens Tuesday, July 8, 2014.
According to the Alpharetta Patch, 3-year-old Thomas Stephens was playing on the outdoor slide at Ms. Janna’s Daycare in Alpharetta when a piece of twine attached to the slide caught around his neck. Authorities believe the young boy may have placed his head inside the loop of twine while playing on the slide, causing accidental strangulation. Emergency crews arrived just before 10:00am to find a woman attempting CPR on the young boy. He was rushed to an area hospital where he succumbed to injuries the following day.
The Georgia Department of Early Care and Learning (DECAL) has issued Ms. Janna’s Daycare, at 145 Shady Grove Lane, an Order for Intended Emergency Closure of a Family Day Care Home. While these orders are common whenever the death of a child is being investigated, DECAL Spokesman, Reg Griffin, announced, “In this incident, DECAL found serious rule violations contributed to the death of a child.”
The details of these violations have not been released.
Our Legal Take
A preliminary investigation of the daycare has revealed a startling history of safety citations, raising grave concerns over safety codes at the daycare, as well as the government agencies responsible for enforcing them. The Murray Law Firm, a premises liability firm which protects young victims of daycare negligence and abuse, is now questioning what factors may have lead to the Alpharetta tragedy:
The daycare was cited by DECAL in January for safety violations around the playground. Various safety hazards, such as excessive tree limbs, an unraveled water hose and protruding nails, were noted in the citation. Did DECAL perform a follow-up inspection to ensure these violations were corrected before allowing children to return to the playground? Were parents notified of these playground citations? Was the twine, which lead to Thomas Stephens’ death, present on the playground slide during the safety inspections and, if so, was the owner asked to remove it?
Where was the daycare owner and manager at the time of Thomas Stephens’ accident? Was the child being supervised as he played with the perilous twine? What was the child to adult ratio at the time of the accident? Were supervisors properly certified in emergency CPR for children and infants?
Was the twine part of the playground slide or packaging and, if so, what efforts are being made by the manufacturer to remove it from all packaging?
As the details of this tragedy continue to emerge, the family of Thomas Stephens may elect to hold the daycare owner civilly liable in his wrongful death. Although legal proceedings are of little importance to a grieving family, such claims are critical in demanding other home daycare owners follow Georgia safety codes. Further claims may be filed with state and local safety inspection agencies, should their lack of enforcement and follow-through have contributed to the death of this young boy. Additional claims may also be filed with the playground equipment manufacturer, should the slide structure or packaging have contributed to the accident in any way. By demanding daycare owners and those who license and inspect them make child safety their first priority, many young lives may be spared.
As there may be multiple parties at-fault in this tragedy, the family of Thomas Stephens should retain an experienced premises liability firm without delay to ensure all evidence is preserved and their best interests are protected.
The Murray Law Firm works ardently to protect young victims and families devastated by daycare negligence and we offer our legal expertise, if needed. Anyone seeking further information or legal representation is encouraged to contact us at 404.842.1600.