Monroe County preschool accused of allowing child to be burned by boiling water

A Bartonsville preschool is being accused of allowing a child to burn themselves.

A lawsuit filed by the parents of the affected child on March 3 in the Monroe County Court of Common Pleas accused Stepping Stones Preschool/Daycare Inc. of Bartonsville of negligence and inflicting emotional distress over allowing their child access to a container of boiling water, causing him to be burned.

According to the complaint, the incident happened on Nov. 21, 2024, while the child was in custody and care of Stepping Stones. The complaint states that due to a failure to supervise the child; to train, monitor, and supervise their employees; and to ensure a danger-free premise, the child “came into contact with the container of boiling water, resulting in significant and permanent injuries.” The plaintiffs said that the container of boiling water was left in an area that was accessible to the children, and their child suffered “significant permanent burns” that “will require ongoing medical care and treatment.”

In the defendants’ preliminary objections to plaintiffs’ complaint, they argued that the complaint states that no factual allegations are made to “establish maliciousness, wantonness, or recklessness,” other than that the container of boiling water was left within an area accessible to children.

The defense’s objections were overruled by Monroe County Court of Common Pleas Judge David J. Williamson.

The Pocono Record called Stepping Stones on April 29 and the person who answered declined to comment. The Pocono Record also reached out to the defendants’ attorney, Jeffrey Havran, via email on April 29, to see if the defendants, owners Nicole and Alex Howe and employee Jennifer Faussette, wanted to comment. No response has been given as of early afternoon May 2.

Max Augugliaro is the public safety and government watchdog reporter at the Pocono Record. Reach him at MAugugliaro@gannett.com.

This article originally appeared on Pocono Record: Parents sue Stepping Stones Preschool for child’s burn injuries