A Cahokia woman, on behalf of her minor child, is suing a local daycare center, alleging sexual molestation..
Tammy Bradley, as mother and next friend of her daughter a minor, filed a lawsuit on Nov. 25 in St. Clair County Circuit Court against Melba King Sanders, doing business as Open Arms Daycare Center in Cahokia, alleging negligence and willful and wanton disregard for the safety of a minor.
According to the complaint, the minor plaintiff was one of the children who attended the defendant's daycare center and on a day in July, the child was allegedly sexually molested while under the defendant's care.
The suit says the perpetrator of the molestation is Donnie Russell, the son of Sanders. He was charged for his actions and pleaded guilty. The suit says Russell committed similar acts before Bradley's daughter was abused, which were allegedly reported to the Department of Child and Family Services.
Therefore, the suit states, Sanders was aware of her son's criminal actions, but she still put children in harm's way.
Bradley seeks at least $50,000 for both charges, court costs and attorney fees. She is represented by attorney Jeffrey S. Deutschman and Bradley A. Skafish of Deutschman & Associates PC in Chicago.
St. Clair County Circuit Court case number 15-L-677.