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Google PlayA South Florida day care center is facing a lawsuit after a mother found her two-year-old daughter locked inside the facility by herself.
Fox affiliate WSVN reports Stephanie Martinez arrived at the KinderCare Learning Center in Plantation around 6:30 p.m. Wednesday and discovered her daughter was locked in.
“They know I get here around 6, 6:15 because I have to pick up my other son by 6. I get here, everything is shut off. No cars, which is weird,” Martinez told the news station. “Finally, I heard something. She managed to push a chair next to the door to stand on it and called for my name and that was the only reason I was able to see her is because she’s shorter than the door. She got on the chair to say, ‘Mommy.’”
The facility is being investigated by Plantation police and the Broward Sheriff’s Office Child Protection Services. It’s currently unclear how Martinez’s daughter was left alone. KinderCare Learning Center has stated that it always makes sure to check out the children, while Martinez says she did not receive a call to pick up her child.
Martinez’s attorney Mark DiCowden told NBC 6 his client plans to take legal action.
“This entire event could’ve been avoided if Kindercare did not abandon their responsibilities and the toddler,” DiCowden said. “What adds insult to injury is that nobody at Kindercare bothered to answer the phone in this emergency situation, they fail to apologize for their bad behavior and they fail to provide anything but a bad excuse for what happened.”
Following the incident KinderCare released a statement condoning what transpired, while also claiming it is short-staffed, writing, “We also placed the staff members involved on administrative leave while we, and our agency partners, look into the concern further. As these investigations take place, we’ll also take immediate steps to ensure this kind of thing doesn’t happen again.”
