BY: LITIGATION DESK | BocaNewsNow.com
BOYNTON BEACH, FL (BocaNewsNow.com) (Copyright © 2024 MetroDesk Media, LLC) — A daycare facility managed by Baptist Health’s Bethesda East allegedly gave a 17-month-old child a THC gummy. The child, according to the lawsuit just filed in Palm Beach County Circuit Court, subsequently needed emergency treatment for acute THC poisoning. The daycare, known as “The Clifford and Madeline Ripley Early Learning Center at Bethesda” is located at 2575 SW 2nd Street. It is just blocks from the actual Bethesda East Hospital facility.
The suit, obtained by BocaNewsNow.com, says that the guardians of the child expected the child to be cared for professionally and safely. But on June 17th, 2024, the child “consumer a food time, candy, gummy, or other dangers or hazardous substance that contained THC causing the 17-month-old-child to sustain acute THC poisoning, seizures, and other serious and permanent injuries.” The suit makes these additional claims:
“(Baptist Health) failed to maintain the Clifford and Madeline Ripley Early Learning Center at Bethesda in a reasonably safe condition; negligently failed to supervise the child while inside the facility and while on the outdoor playground; negligently failed to provide specific childcare personnel to directly supervise a group of children; negligently failed to keep the childcare facility clean and free of health and safety hazards; negligently failed to keep the Clifford and Madeline Ripley Early Learning Center at Bethesda free of narcotics, alcohol or other impairing drugs including but not limited to THC which pose a danger to children on the premises of the childcare facility.”
As a result of the THC ingestion, the child allegedly suffered bodily injury resulting in, “pain and suffering, disability, disfigurement, permanent and significant scarring, mental anguish, loss of the capacity for the enjoyment of life, expense of hospitalization, medical and nursing care and treatment, activation of a latent condition and/or aggravation of preexisting condition. The losses are either permanent or continuing…”
The suit seeks in excess of $50,000, the statutory minimum for filing a lawsuit in Palm Beach County Circuit Court Court. Baptist had not filed a response processed as of Monday by the Palm Beach County Clerk of Courts. The family of the child is represented by Attorney Thomas Jerla, Jr., at Morgan and Morgan in Plantation.
