On June 13, 2025, Horowitz Law filed a sexual abuse complaint lawsuit in Broward County Circuit Court of against Family Center International Childcare, LLC. The lawsuit was filed after a complaint was made by a woman on behalf of her daughter, alleging the child was sexually assaulted by a male classmate while attending Florida Center International Academy in North Lauderdale. The Plaintiff in the lawsuit is represented by sexual abuse attorneys Adam Horowitz and Dee Dee Scheller of Horowitz Law.
Factual Allegations in the Complaint
The plaintiff, a 3-year-old girl, was enrolled and attended Florida Center International Academy during the summer of 2024. On or about July 2, 2024, a male classmate touched the Plaintiff inappropriately by placing his hand inside the Plaintiff's underwear and touching the toddler's vagina via skin-to-skin contact. The classmate also penetrated her vagina with a toy.
The abuse was discovered that same day when the victim's mother picked her up from the daycare facility. The Plaintiff's mother took her to the bathroom before leaving Family Center, where the Plaintiff exhibited signs of trauma, resisting, and crying, refusing to go to the bathroom.
The child began screaming and crying in pain as she urinated. She then spontaneously exclaimed to her mother that her classmate touched her genitals. The child's mother reported this to the teacher and asked the classmate him if he touched the classmate's vagina, to which he initially responded affirmatively by shaking his head “yes” before returning to the classroom.
The Plaintiff's mother promptly reported the sexual abuse to the Margate Police Department, and the Broward Sheriff’s Office was assigned to the investigation.
Previous history
This is not the first incident to occur at Family Center International Academy. There is a documented history of failed inspections by the Department of Children and Families due to noncompliance related to child safety and supervision. In fact, two months before the sexual abuse, Family Center, was found noncompliant as to the direct supervision of children. During that inspection, the classroom for three-year-olds was left unattended for 14 children, and the classroom for one-year-olds was left unattended for 6 children.
Two years ago, the Family Center was found noncompliant with direct supervision when multiple classrooms were observed without a teacher present. Additionally, prior to the sexual abuse of the Plaintiff, Family Center was found noncompliant in supervising children, resulting in injury to a child that was neither documented nor disclosed to the child’s parents by Family Center.
There was also at least one other complaint involving a female child being inappropriately and sexually touched while under the care of Family Center International Childcare, before the sexual abuse of the Plaintiff.
Count 1: Negligence
Family Center owed a duty to the Plaintiff to use reasonable care to ensure her safety, care, and well-being while she was enrolled and placed in its care.
- Family Center's duties include using reasonable care and supervision to protect children placed in its care and to ensure their safety, well-being, care, and health.
- Children who attend the Family Center must always be within the direct line of vision and earshot of one or more adults while on the premises.
- Family Center breached its duty to use reasonable care in its supervision of its students and thereby failed to provide a safe environment for Plaintiff where she would be free of sexual assault.
- Family Center’s duties included ensuring that employees and administrators always provided proper supervision and attention to the children entrusted in their care.
- Family Center and its agents breached their duties by failing to always maintain the Plaintiff in the line of vision and failing to use reasonable care and attentiveness in her supervision, and, as a result, her male classmate had the opportunity to sexually assault the Plaintiff without intervention by school personnel.
Attorney Adam Horowitz stated, "Sexual misconduct should never happen at a childcare facility. We intend to hold those responsible for the supervision our client accountable and ensure that such incidents never happen again. The safety and well-being of children must always be the highest priority."
At Horowitz Law, we are committed to advocating for the rights of survivors and ensuring that their voices are heard. Together, we can work towards a future where all students feel safe, supported, and empowered to seek justice. If you or someone you know has experienced abuse, we encourage you to reach out for support. Your voice matters, and we are here to help.
Horowitz Law is a law firm representing victims and survivors of sexual abuse in schools and other educational settings. If you or a loved one was sexually abused, raped, or sexually molested by a principal, teacher, or another school employee, contact our law firm at 888-283-9922 or e-mail sexual abuse lawyer Adam Horowitz, at adam@adamhorowitzlaw.com for a free consultation.