Judge allows parents to seek damages from school after several sex abuse claims

Broward County Circuit Judge Mily Rodriguez Powell gives lawsuit against Bright Horizons Family Solutions green light

Olakunle Omomowo, 38, was arrested on charges of lewd and lascivious molestation in 2013.

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. ā€“ A Broward County judge allowed parents to file a claim for punitive damages against the parent company of the Coconut Creek school, where they said their daughter was sexually abused in 2013.

Broward County Circuit Judge Mily Rodriguez-Powell decided that the Discovery Preschool Center in Coconut Creek, also known as Kidstop at Boynton Beach, and the school's owner, Bright Horizons Family Solutions, were liable after a teacher was accused of abusing several children.

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When a mother complained May 2013 to Discovery Preschool Center administrators about a male teacher playing a "tickle-time" game with her 4-year-old daughter, school administrators did not put a stop to the game, the mother claims.Ā 

"They had a policy that allowed male teachers to tickle little children all over their bodies," attorney Jeff Herman said Tuesday. He is representing the parents of several children, accusing the same teacher of sexual abuse and claiming that the school "was extremely reckless."

Bright Horizons Family Solutions spokeswoman Bridget M. Perry said Wednesday in a statement that the school was committed to providing high-quality child care and learning opportunities in a safe and nurturing environment. Parents of some of the victimized children said they strongly disagree.

Music teacher Olakunle Omomowo, 40, also known as "Mr. Ola," has three cases pending on counts of first-degree and capital sex felony charges for lewd and lascivious molestation. Parents believe the school's administrators should have known that Omomowo posed a risk,Ā  the lawsuit said.

CHILD ABUSE CLAIMS

"Mr. Ola sexually abused multiple children at Discovery, both girls and boys," the lawsuit claims. "About 12 children have disclosed sexual abuse by Mr. Ola," Herman said. Lawsuit mentions four cases.

"He had been accused of sexual abuse before," Herman said.

Omomowo, of Lauderhill, also worked at Phyls Academy Preschool in Lauderdale Lakes.

DOCUMENT: Read the lawsuit against Bright Horizons Family Solutions

The mother told police that, while she was tickling her daughter May 20, 2013, the girl said, "You tickle me like Mr. Ola tickles my [genitals]."Ā According to an arrest affidavit, another girl said, "Mr. Ola rubs my back and arms at nap time," and she added that when he touched her under her clothes it hurt.

In a statement, Perry said Bright Horizons Family Solutions took the situation "very seriously" and while they offered the victims support, they also helped to "ensure a thorough" investigation. Herman disagrees. On the contrary, they misled parents in an attempt to discredit the allegations of sex abuse, the lawsuit claims.

Herman's firm was also representing parents in three other pending lawsuits. He filed a lawsuit against the preschool on behalf of the parents of a 4-year-old girl in June 11, 2013, a second lawsuit in July 9, 2013 on behalf of the parents of a 5-year-old girl and a third lawsuit in Sept. 10, 2014.

Attorneys from the firm of Richard Lydecker and former Miami Mayor Manny Diaz, Gabriel Costa, Andrew Rochen and Emanuel Galimidi, were representing Bright Horizons Family Solutions. Requests for comment went unanswered.

The company, founded in Delaware and based out of Massachusetts, runs at least 770 child care and early education centers in the U.S., Canada, the U.K., the Netherlands, Ireland and India. They reported revenues of $350 million for the first quarter of 2015.

"We will continue to support the children and families that we serve in every way we can," Perry said in a statement.

Omomowo's trial on the cases filed in 2013 (June 5, June 28 and July 12) in Broward County court was set for October. Attorney Nellie Linn King was representing him.

Follow Local10.com reporter Andrea Torres on Twitter @MiamiCrime