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  1. #1
    Join Date
    May 2018
    Posts
    3

    Default Charges for Leaving a Toddler in a Locked Car

    My question involves child abuse or neglect in the State of: NJ

    my friend, a mother of 2 year old, was charged with Endangerment of the life of the child "2C:24-4A(2)".
    , where toddler was left in the car locked at 80 F, for 5 minutes.

    The lawyer she contacted asked for $20k before the trial day and same amount for the trial day, totaling $40k.

    These amount seems unrealistic financially.

    She has a stable family and she's a reasonable person. She might not be familiar with the NJ law, since she's only few years in US. She might not be familiar with statistics on heat-related health threats to toddlers.

    The child was difficult to go to mid-day nap on that day and it took longer than usual. As she was driving to get him asleep, and as he got asleep, she needed to go to bathroom. She stopped at the store she new has a bathroom. The air conditioner was working during the ride and it was cold inside the car. Car has tinted heat-reflective windows.

    She's still feeding the child at night, waking up several times.

    I'd appreciate any reasonable advise on this. She's devastated by the hard news about possible convictions.

    She loves her child.

    Thanks.

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Oct 2016
    Posts
    4,301

    Default Re: Mother Charged with Toddler Left in the Car Locked

    She should shop around for a more affordable lawyer and ff she can not afford a lawyer she can request one be appointed by the court.

  3. #3
    Join Date
    Oct 2014
    Posts
    8,238

    Default Re: Mother Charged with Toddler Left in the Car Locked

    Quote Quoting taliad
    View Post
    My question involves child abuse or neglect in the State of: NJ
    The lawyer she contacted asked for $20k before the trial day and same amount for the trial day, totaling $40k.

    These amount seems unrealistic financially.
    That was likely the retainer that the lawyer wanted. The retainer is an advance on fees to ensure the lawyer gets paid. She can contact some others to see if they might do with a lesser retainer. She also needs to ask exactly how the fee will be determined. It is likely an hourly rate, but she needs to know for sure exactly how the bill is computed. It might be that the lawyer won't need to spend as much time as he projects and that ultimately it will cost less than the $40k he wants for the retainer. But the reality is that litigating this kind of case can get very expensive. It might even end up costing more than the retainer she puts up, meaning he'll come back needing even more money from her.

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