Reality Alert: A sewer backup caused the lower level of a childcare facility to flood. Six inches of water resulted in extensive damage.

Exculpatory agreements, commonly referred to as waivers or releases, are documents that protect businesses and individuals from claims arising from negligence. Businesses with unique liability exposures often find they cannot operate profitably without the protection afforded by these agreements.

Real Life Claims: A caregiver suffered a severely fractured wrist after rushing to the aid of a seizing, developmentally disabled teen wearing a bicycle helmet. As the women attempted to support the victim’s head, her wrist was slammed violently into the pavement.

In the News: Two football players were working out at a local fitness center where they were both members. They were both experienced weightlifters and had performed the lifts using the same weights numerous times before.

In the News: In August 2005, 8-year-old Jacob Buckett, his father, and three-year-old sister went to lunch at a Burger King. In a matter of seconds, Jacob climbed up the horizontal support poles of the play structure and suddenly lost his grip.

In the News: A routine check on a respected youth leader’s work computer revealed a hidden cache of child pornography. This material included hundreds of videos and pictures of underage boys engaging in illicit behavior.

In the News: A 20-year-old day care worker, previously charged with five felonies for molesting young girls in his care, now faces a new charge alleging that he sexually assaulted a 3-year-old girl at a different day care facility. He has pleaded not guilty to the other felony charges accusing him of touching children in his care at the YMCA last year.

Reality Alert: A 20-month-old child lost the tip of his finger after getting it caught in the hinge-side of a large metal door. Multiple employees were working at the child care center and all children were well supervised at the time of the incident.

Resistance Band Injuries: An individual at a fitness facility was working out with a resistance band when the band broke and struck him in the face, severely injuring his right eye. Luckily the main impact from the band hit him above the eye and not directly on the eye or he most likely would have lost his eye.