Child center sues to keep doors open

After several downscale reviews by the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services, Upscale Child Development Center is suing to keep its doors open.

UCDC filed a request for a an injunction June 23 in Jefferson County District Court.

The case's presiding judge, 60th District Judge Gary Sanderson, approved a temporary injunction that same day. A hearing for a permanent injunction will be slated for a later date.

Court papers show that UCDC operates a child-care center in Port Arthur.

On June 16 UCDC received notice from a TDFPS supervisor informing the day care to cease operations and notify the parents of the children they attend to of the action.

The denial of the license and order to cease operations stemmed from "allegations that the center 'failed to establish a pattern of compliance with minimum standards' based on inspections, court papers say.

The center worked to correct the "deficiencies" and TDFPS performed a follow up inspection and found found that center had corrected the "deficiencies, with one exception, that being a caregiver did not have first aid training."

"Although no follow-up was made on the first-aid training, the employee obtained the training by the assigned deadline," the suit says.

Believing that it is now up to speed and has remedied all "deficiencies," the center is asking the court to force TDFPS into allowing the day care to keep its doors open.

The plaintiff is represented by Bruce Gregory of the Gregory Law Firm.

Case No. B184-346