pbrown@mollp.com
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The owners of an unlicensed home daycare where a two-year-old child died two years ago have been charged with obstructing police.
York Regional Police allege two people interfered with the investigation into the July 2013 death of Eva Ravikovich and destroyed evidence.
The pair and several others – including the Ministry of Education – are already being sued by Eva’s family.
The statement of claim for the $3.5-million suit does not reveal what the family believes happened inside the daycare that led to their daughter’s death, but alludes to an “incident.”
Ombudsman investigation
Eva’s death prompted an investigation by Ontario’s ombudsman, which found unlicensed daycares in the province operate under lax and barely enforced rules in a system with legal loopholes.
A public health report showed health inspectors found contaminated, expired and rotting food at the daycare the day Eva died there and ordered the facility shut down on the grounds of health hazards.
The girl was one of four children in the Greater Toronto Area to die in an unlicensed daycare in a seven-month period.
Toronto critical injury lawyer Patrick Brown, a partner with McLeish Orlando LLP, says that Eva’s parents are grateful for the ongoing efforts made by the York Regional Police in seeking answers to their daughter’s death.
Brown is representing the girl’s parents in a $3.5-million lawsuit against Panfilova and Rabadanova and the Ontario Ministry of Education.
‘Disturbing and appalling’
The allegations, if proven, are “disturbing and appalling,” he says.
“On behalf of the family, we ask anyone who has information to come forward and contact the police right away,” says Brown, noting the civil lawsuit against the owners and the Ministry of Education is ongoing.
“We have not been granted full production of documents nor have we have been given the opportunity to examine these individuals and the Ministry of Education under oath,” says Brown. “We will continue to push forward to find justice for Eva.”
