Gillispie Law Firm Helps Secure $110 Million Jury Verdict in Catastrophic Child Injury Case

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. – Nov. 11, 2025 – The Gillispie Law Firm, led by attorney Joshua Gillispie, helped secure a $110 million jury verdict on behalf of the family of a 7-month-old infant catastrophically injured at an unlicensed home daycare in Mena, Arkansas.

The verdict — one of the largest child injury awards in Arkansas history — includes $40,000 in punitive damages and follows a three-day trial in Polk County Circuit Court.

The lawsuit revealed that the daycare operator’s actions and negligence caused devastating and permanent injuries to the infant, including multiple skull fractures, brain bleeds, detached retinas resulting in total blindness, and traumatic brain injuries leading to lifelong developmental delays.

“This case is about accountability and the value of a child’s life,” said attorney Joshua Gillispie of the Gillispie Law Firm. “The family trusted someone who failed to protect their child. The jury’s verdict sends a clear message that neglect and abuse— especially toward our most vulnerable — will not be tolerated.”

Gillispie served as co-lead trial counsel alongside Joseph Gates of Gates Law, PLLC, and BW Walas of the Walas Law Firm. Attorney Caitlin Malott of the Gillispie Law Firm also played a key role in the litigation. Together, the team demonstrated that the daycare was operating illegally without a state license, failed to provide a safe environment, and directly caused the child’s life-altering injuries.

The jury’s verdict is intended to provide the child’s family with the resources needed for long-term medical care and support. The compensatory award totals $110 million, reflecting the extent of the child’s injuries and the care he will require for the rest of his life. The jury also issued $40,000 in punitive damages, a finding that signals the community’s concern about how the daycare operated and the choices that led to the child’s injuries.

Medical experts testified that the child’s injuries left him permanently blind and severely brain-damaged, requiring round-the-clock care for the rest of his life.

“No family should ever experience something like this,” Gillispie added. “We are proud to stand beside this family and fight for justice in the face of such devastating harm.”

The case underscores growing concerns over abuse at daycare facilities and highlights the need for stronger oversight and enforcement to prevent similar tragedies.

About Gillispie Law Firm

The Gillispie Law Firm in Little Rock focuses on representing victims of child sexual abuse. The goal for Josh Gillispie and his team is nothing short of decreasing the amount of child abuse in Arkansas, one case at a time.