BLF’s New Lawsuit Against Austin Daycare as Reported by KXAN

KXAN Features New Lawsuit Filed by The Button Law Firm

A second Austin family has come forward with daycare abuse allegations against The Children’s Courtyard on West William Cannon Drive, and KXAN recently covered this troubling case.

The Button Law Firm has filed a lawsuit on behalf of Janese Milivojevic, who claims she witnessed daycare workers abusing her 18-month-old daughter and other children in her class through the center’s livestream footage in May 2023. The KXAN report sheds light on these allegations and the daycare's history of safety violations.

According to the lawsuit, Milivojevic saw a caregiver aggressively yanking, dangling, and swinging her daughter by the arms before dropping her onto a nap mat. The caregiver allegedly continued to mishandle the child by pulling the mat, causing her daughter to fall face-first, and then throwing her on top of another child before covering her completely with a blanket. Horrified by what she saw, Milivojevic immediately pulled her daughter from The Children’s Courtyard and reported the incident to the daycare director.

However, the lawsuit states that the daycare’s response was insufficient. After following up for a week, Milivojevic finally received a response from the director, who stated that “corrective actions were taken.” She later discovered that the caregivers were not terminated, and the center failed to report the incident to the state, violating Texas daycare regulations.

The Children’s Courtyard’s Troubling Pattern of Negligence

AUSTIN, Texas - The KXAN report revealed that Milivojevic’s lawsuit follows a similar case filed on behalf of Alexis Dominguez in July 2023. Dominguez also accessed the center’s livestream footage and reportedly witnessed his son being roughly handled in the same classroom where Milivojevic’s daughter was abused. The Button Law Firm, representing both families, has amended Dominguez’s original complaint to include the May incident.

In both cases, caregivers allegedly used prohibited discipline methods that violated Texas daycare safety laws. The allegations suggest a pattern of neglect and abuse at The Children’s Courtyard, highlighting the urgent need for improved safety practices.

A History of Violations at the Austin Daycare

KXAN’s coverage also exposed a long history of violations at The Children’s Courtyard. Between October 2018 and March 2023, the daycare was cited 25 times for safety deficiencies. Despite this, from July 2023 to August 2024, the center accumulated 50 additional citations for similar issues, including employing unqualified staff, neglecting to report incidents, and failing to adhere to hygiene protocols.

Russell Button, daycare and childcare injury lawyer at The Button Law Firm commented, “It is clear that systemic safety failures at The Children’s Courtyard are endangering innocent children. The lack of concern for abuse allegations for one child led to another child being harmed.”

Holding The Children’s Courtyard Accountable

The Button Law Firm is dedicated to holding The Children’s Courtyard accountable for its actions. “Our goal is to ensure that negligent daycare facilities like The Children’s Courtyard face consequences for endangering children,” Button said. He emphasized the critical role of Texas daycare safety laws in safeguarding children and preventing these kinds of incidents.

According to the article, Milivojevic and Dominguez are both seeking justice for their children through these lawsuits. “My heart sank when I saw my daughter and other children being harmed at The Children’s Courtyard by the adults who were supposed to protect them,” Milivojevic said. “Working parents should not have to balance doing their job and watching a daycare center's livestream to ensure their child is not being harmed.”

You Don’t Have to Go Through a Daycare Injury Alone

If you believe your child has been abused or neglected at their daycare, don’t hesitate to reach out to our team. We are passionate about advocating for families affected by daycare negligence, aiming to secure justice, obtain life-changing results for families, and prevent future harm to children.

To reach a member of our team, call (214) 699-4409 or fill out the contact form for a free case evaluation. You can also contact us by clicking here to start a chat. We’re here to help you keep moving forward.

Schedule a Free Case Evaluation with a Texas Daycare Abuse Attorney Today

If you or someone you know has a child who was harmed by their daycare teacher, contact our firm. We know how difficult getting through this can be. Our experienced team wants to help guide you – as we have helped guide many parents and families within Midland, Houston, Dallas, and the surrounding areas.

You can give us a call at 281-857-6116 or email us at [email protected]. You can also reach out to us by filling out the form below or by starting a chat with a member of our team.

Daycare Abuse Lawsuit Against The Children’s Courtyard in Austin Featured on KXAN