Boston Injury Lawyer Blog
The parents of baby Rylan Koopmeiners are suing Waltham, Massachusetts-based Care.com and babysitter Sarah Gumm for wrongful death. The 3-month-old baby died while under Gumm’s care at her Illinois home in 2012. The couple found her through the website.
Gumm, who is behind bars, is charged with first-degree murder in the tragic incident. She allegedly caused the fatal injury that killed Rylan. .
Reggan and Nathan Koopmeiners are accusing Care.com, a caregiver screening website based in Massachusetts, of failing to disclose that Gumm had a prior record, which included two drunk driving citations. The couple said the site was supposed to do a background check on her.
According to their wrongful death lawsuit, Gumm was intoxicated when she allegedly slammed the baby’s head on a wood table. An autopsy report indicates that Rylan, who sustained a skull fracture and experienced cranial hemorrhaging, died from blunt force trauma.
The couple wants monetary damages for medical costs, funeral expenses, loss of companionship, and pain and suffering. They say that they would not have retained Gumm if not for Care.com. They are accusing the company of negligence.
Gumm had placed an ad for her services on Care.com. She had been caring for Rylan for about six weeks when the head injury happened.
Massachusetts Wrongful Death
If someone you love was seriously injured or died while under the supervision of another person and you believe that negligence was involved, you may have reason to pursue a Boston personal injury or wrongful death claim. You also may have grounds to file a Massachusetts civil case against other parties whose negligence may have played a part in the tragic incident. In the matter of Rylan Koopmeiners, her parents are saying that Care.com should have notified them of Gumm’s previous record of driving while intoxicated.
Losing a child is always devastating-especially when the death could have been avoided were it not for someone else’s negligent or reckless behavior. Filing a Massachusetts wrongful death case is one way to hold the responsible parties liable.
Grieving parents sue Massachusetts-based Care.com for allegedly failing to disclose ‘screened’ babysitter’s court record prior to infant death, MassLive, August 3, 2014
Baby sitter held in 3-month-old’s death admitted injuring child, authorities say, Chicago Tribune, August 7, 2012
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Massachusetts General Hospital Doctors Settle Boston Medical Malpractice Lawsuit for $4.5M in Plymouth Woman’s Death, Boston Injury Lawyer Blog, April 16, 2014
Hyde Park Contractor Subjects Employees to Electrocution Hazards: Faces $70,000 in Fines, Massachusetts Workers’ Compensation Lawyer Blog, July 28, 2014
New Studies Reveal Serious Side Effects of Cholesterol Drug, Drug Injury Lawyers Blog, July 24, 2014
