Family of one-year-old abuse victims files civil suit against Berlin Activities Depot
Child Abuse
Berlin, Md. – The Berlin Activities Depot is under fire once again, named in a civil lawsuit complaint consisting of five counts against both the facility and a former employee.
This is all connected to an incident earlier this year. Heather Ward, a daycare worker at the Depot, was convicted of assaulting a minor under her care, and it’s that minor’s family who has filed suit against both the Depot and Ward. It’s the latest in a string of incidents connected to the facility. In June, Catherine Deutsch was arrested on 11 charges of failure to report child abuse/neglect and 4 charges of neglect of a minor. And most recently, 57-year-old Lionel Evans was charged with 2nd-degree child abuse and 2nd-degree assault. This lawsuit however centers around what happened with Ward and the minor.
Some of these details are disturbing.
The minor victim was enrolled in daycare at the Berlin Activities Depot. Attorneys say she needed special care given her use of a feeding tube, but instead, received anything but. Heather Ward, the former daycare worker, was seen on surveillance video throwing the child’s face down in the crib, covering her head with blankets, and numerous instances where she was violent with the child.
The parents have now filed a civil suit, being handled by prosecutors of SBWD LAW, Michael Belsky, Esq. and Catherine Dickinson, Esq. Belsky tell us, “We represent one of the many victims of child abuse that are alleged to have taken place at the Berlin Activities Depot… The civil lawsuit alleged not only claims against the perpetrator Ms. Ward, who has also been criminals charged with 90 counts of criminal violations, but also against the Depot itself, the business itself, for not supervising and monitoring her in a reasonable and appropriate fashion.”
Catherine Dickinson, Esq. says children in this country should be put first. “All children are afforded the highest level of care and protection in this state because they are children, and they are a vulnerable population but in particular, children with physical limitations like our client are owed a duty of care that’s high, and those kids should be protected.” Ward was already convicted on several charges and awaits criminal sentencing, but Belsky says Maryland law also allows victims to seek civil justice. “The civil justice system seeks monetary damages for pain and suffering on the part of the victim, the young child victim, and also the cost of economic damages to the family.”
They say litigation can take anywhere between 1 to 2 years, which means that the child could be 4 years old before any civil justice is served. Because the child was only one at the time, they aren’t sure how she will be affected long term. We reached out to the Berlin Activities Depot, also doing business as Twisters Inc., and the owner Carmella Solito tells us she hasn’t been served with the lawsuit yet so can’t comment. We were unable to reach Ward.
In the State of Maryland, the amount of a lawsuit filed in circuit court, like this one, starts at $75,000 and the jury could set the price higher if they find liability. Prosecutors are still investigating, not just with respect to the depot’s liability, but also the impact of the crimes committed. More details to come as this story unfolds.
