Posted on Mar 03, 2014
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A Pennsylvania sexual assault case involving two preschool girls has caught the attention of local media. CBS 21 reported on the case, which Harrisburg sexual assault attorney Scott Cooper is pursuing on behalf of the victim. Details of the case are as follows:
A local mother recently filed suit against KinderCare Learning Center in Lower Paxton Township based on allegations that her 4-year-old daughter was sexually assaulted at the center. The mother, whose name has not been released to protect the child’s identity, learned of the abuse in May 2012.
She initially became concerned when her daughter came home from day care one day and started talking about some inappropriate behavior by another 4-year-old girl at the center. According to the lawsuit, the other girl kept referencing “the nasty.” The mother notified the center and was assured that the two girls would be closely watched to prevent any further incidents.
Just three days later, the mother arrived at the center to find the two girls unsupervised in a small side room. The other girl was lifting up her daughter’s skirt. According to the mother, the center has been uncooperative in settling the matter. The lawsuit alleges that the day care center failed to do any of the following:
- Protect the child from sexual abuse
- Train staff on how to supervise children
- Train staff on how to handle sexual abuse between children
- Create a protocol for handling sexual abuse between children
- Created a dangerous situation by allowing the children to be unsupervised
The center is currently in full compliance with state licensing requirements, but records indicate there have been various issues in the past. Just last year the facility was cited for failing to comply with a regulation that requires staff to know the names and whereabouts of children at all times. The lawsuit also references this regulation.