9 Investigates: Baldwin Park day care works to dismiss sexual abuse lawsuits

ORLANDO, Fla. — Attorneys for Bright Horizon at Baldwin Park filed motions Thursday to dismiss two civil lawsuits that were filed against the day care and a former teacher accused of sexually abusing two children at the facility, Channel 9 investigative reporter Karla Ray learned. 

Jayrico Hamilton has been accused by two separate families of sexually abusing children while he worked at Bright Horizons at Baldwin Park. Hamilton, who no longer works at the facility, has never been charged with a crime.

Attorneys for Bright Horizon at Baldwin Park argue the facility can’t be held liable for the alleged sexual battery because such conduct would be outside the scope of his employment.

Hamilton’s attorney also filed a motion to dismiss the lawsuit and called the allegations listed in one of the suits “scandalous” with “repulsive language” meant to make Hamilton look bad.

Eyewitness News obtained documents by the Department of Children and Families Wednesday that the department verified abuse of at least two children and that Bright Horizons at Baldwin Park failed to perform a required out-of-state abuse history check that would have revealed a past investigation involving Hamilton with Virginia's child protective services. That’s something the state of Florida’s background check wouldn’t have revealed.

DCF ordered the Bright Horizons at Baldwin Park to pay a $2,500 fine and could have its license suspended for three months.

A spokesperson for the day care said they plan to file an appeal and the facility will stay open in the meantime.

The director who was in charge at the time of Hamilton's employment no longer works at Bright Horizons at Baldwin Park.

Cox Media Group