BLF’s Lawsuit Highlighted by Law&Crime for Systemic Failures at The Children’s Courtyard Daycare

AUSTIN, Texas - In a lawsuit recently highlighted by Law&Crime, The Button Law Firm’s daycare and child injury lawyers represent Janese Milivojevic in a case against The Children’s Courtyard daycare in South Austin, where caregivers physically abused her 18-month-old daughter.

The lawsuit paints a troubling picture of systemic issues within the daycare, with Milivojevic’s account serving as a glaring example of neglect and abuse, all of which was captured on the center’s live surveillance feed. According to Law&Crime, this case sheds light on long-standing issues at the daycare, including numerous past violations that reveal a troubling history of safety failures.

The Daycare Abuse that Prompted the Lawsuit Against This Austin Daycare

Milivojevic recounts that in May of 2023, she watched the daycare’s live feed when she saw a caregiver aggressively handling a young girl. The footage shows the caregiver pushing the child to the ground and leaving her crying without checking for injuries. Milivojevic quickly began recording the footage and then saw her daughter being mishandled in the same shocking manner.

As she watched in horror, Milivojevic witnessed the caregiver yank her daughter up by her arms, swinging her through the air before dropping her onto a nap mat. According to the lawsuit, the caregiver then yanked the nap mat, causing her child to fall face-first. The footage also captures the caregiver tossing her onto another child’s mat, where she was left covered head-to-toe with a blanket.

Adding to the heartbreak, the live feed showed another teacher engaging in similar actions with a young boy. Milivojevic immediately rushed to the daycare to retrieve her daughter and confronted the daycare management. While The Children’s Courtyard claimed corrective actions had been taken, neither caregiver was immediately terminated, and the incident was not reported to the state as required by law.

Children’s Courtyard Troubling Past of State Violations

The Button Law Firm’s lawsuit against The Children’s Courtyard highlights this daycare’s troubling history of violations, citing records from the Texas Health and Human Services Commission. Over the past five years, the daycare has been cited numerous times for failing to meet state-mandated safety standards. The violations include unqualified caregivers, improper discipline tactics, and a consistent failure to report incidents to authorities.

Milivojevic’s lawsuit follows another complaint filed by Alexis Dominguez, where Dominguez alleges her son was similarly mistreated by a caregiver at the same facility. The amended lawsuit now includes both cases, demonstrating a repeated pattern of behavior that appears to be unaddressed by The Children’s Courtyard.

As Law&Crime reported, this is not the first time the daycare has faced scrutiny. The report highlights the center’s chronic safety lapses, with the lawsuit describing that the daycare’s failure to ensure the safety of the children in its care directly contributed to repeated incidents of abuse.

The Button Law Firm’s Passion for Holding Negligent Daycares Accountable

The Button Law Firm is committed to advocating for families like the Milivojevic and Dominguez families, working to hold daycares accountable for the harm caused to their children. “When a daycare fails to protect children, it becomes our mission to ensure they answer for their negligence,” said Russell Button, the attorney representing both families. “We intend to show that these incidents are not isolated, but rather a part of a systemic failure to prioritize child safety.”

The firm emphasizes that daycare facilities are legally required to report incidents of abuse and to terminate employees who put children in harm's way. By filing this lawsuit, The Button Law Firm seeks justice not only for the affected families but also aims to prevent future abuse by exposing the daycare’s consistent failures.

The Button Law Firm is Here to Help after a Daycare or Child Injury

If you or a loved one has experienced similar abuse or neglect at a daycare, contact our passionate team at The Button Law Firm. Our team is here to help guide families through these challenging times and to seek justice and life-changing results for children and families.

We work on contingency, meaning we don’t charge you or collect any upfront fees to get started on your case. Get a free case evaluation by calling us at 214-699-4409, emailing us at [email protected], or filling out a contact form.