Is parental consent necessary when you have a 2 year old ?

Question

The parents gave me their 2 year old to enjoy for the evening. They expressed nothing to me about parental consent for anything. They just said I should have a good time. While at the mall I gave the 2 year old akid's haircut thinking it was something I would do along with other things we were doing at the mall. The parents were angry. It was a mistake. They now tell me I needed their permission. They never sait that before. They are taking out a lawsuit for $20,000 for intentionally cutting the child's hair and they want money for damages.
I have spoken to the Father and he wants a cheque now!!!
What is the solution outside of getting a lawyer???? Was the parent's correct in their outlook onthis problem???
Do I have any rights as a good friend of the family???? Am I suppose to pay for this mistake???

Answer 1

You had absolutely no right to give the child a hair cut since he wasn't your child. How would you feel if you hired a babysitter and they took your child to get a hair cut? However, the $20,000 lawsuit is excessive. The most they should ask for is the cost of the hair cut.

Answer 2

Hi. I hope you are joking and this is not for real, because if it is, it is very pitiful that grown ups would take such drastic and dramatic steps for a relative dum mistake. You were in the wrong by giving the child a haircut, even if it was a modest one - which it does not sound like it was. A haircut is not something that falls within the concept of having a good time with a two year old. Having said all this, a haircut, even if you chopped all the hair off of a two year old girl with beautiful long hair, it is not something to start a lawsuit and ruin a friendship. As parents, you make a mental note not to give your kid again to this wacko and say -thank you-. You do own them an apology and a nice dinner. I dint think that it would be a wild guess to assume that you have not had children of your own? Because haircuts for two year old is something that parents and gran parents do, because it is such an unique experience for the kid and the parents. The solution? ...time? nice letter of apology... an intermediary to diffuse their anger? About the lawyer...worry about one, only if you get served with an actual law suit. Also, if these close friends of your reacted in such an overboard way, you might want to distance yourself from them, in the future. no more babysitting for you.

Answer 3

Sounds like they are crazy and this lawsuit is frivilous with a capital "F." Good luck finding a lawyer that will have anything to do with that case. What are the damages done to the kid? The suit would have to be brought on behalf of the kid. I think that the only way the parents could have damages is if the kid died or was seriously injured....then they would have a "loss of enjoyment" type of claim.

Any jury would believe that your actions were reasonable. They entrusted you with their child and gave you no instructions other than "have a good time." It was reasonable for you to feel that taking the kid to the mall and getting a haircut was a good time, especially if it was at Snippets or one of those kids haircut places where the kid sits in a car and watches cartoons.

Further, the jury would feel that the parents were just being crazy and not acting reasonable in their reaction to the decision of someone they obviously trusted a great deal to get a haircut for their kid.

If anything, the parents owe you money for the haircut on an "Unjust Enrichment" counter-claim. Tell Daddy that next time he comes asking for money.

Answer 4

ok right here that is, 16 365 days olds must be adults besides can 13 365 days olds. 18 isn't some thing yet a style. turning 18 in elementary words skill youre an adult with techniques from legal words. although, the difinition of an adult is once you commence appearing like one so an 18 365 days previous ought to also not be an adult. And the music is censored bc the radio is for each body (0-2 hundred years previous), not only for 16 365 days olds. And if youre heavily complaining about being an adult and radios then youre not an adult.

Answer 5

First of all I can not believe that you took someone else's kid out for a haircut... what if something happened and they cut off an ear??? You would have been responsible. That was not your right! You are a babysitter that was supposed to just keep there child safe and entertained... not give them a makeover... as far as them suing you... I think that people in this country are entirely too sue happy... and the amount that they are suing for is ridiculous... but might I repeat myself "that was not your right!" Good luck and I hope that you learned something from this!

Answer 6

While I know nothing about the legality of this situation, I do know that 20K is a ridiculous amount of money to be demanding in this situation. Given the parents' reaction here, I'd ask myself if I were set up intentionally. They may have been looking for something to slap you with because they need to make a boat payment or something.
Or they might just be nuts.

Answer 7

I would check with a lawyer on the legal details. But on a personal level, if the parents are wanting to sue you over a haircut, they probably aren't really friend.

Answer 8

I would say that it was inappropriate for you to get the child's hair cut without their permission. Their behavior sounds completely ridiculous given the situation. Frankly, I'd tell them "Bring it on", but not bother getting an attorney until you get a subpoena or hear from their attorney. Sounds like B.S. to me.

Answer 9

I don't see how they can collect ANY monetary damages, other than the cost of a new haircut.

Hair grows back. They should accept your apology and move on.

Answer 10

Get a lawyer.