--- title: "$110 Million Jury Verdict for Infant Daycare Brain Injury" meta: "og:description": "An Arkansas jury awarded $110 million to the family of a 9-month-old boy who suffered catastrophic brain damage and blindness at an unlicensed home daycare." "og:title": "$110 Million Jury Verdict for Infant Daycare Brain Injury" description: "An Arkansas jury awarded $110 million to the family of a 9-month-old boy who suffered catastrophic brain damage and blindness at an unlicensed home daycare." --- April 6, 2026 # **$110 Million Jury Verdict for Infant Daycare Brain Injury** An Arkansas jury awarded $110 million to the family of a 9-month-old boy who suffered catastrophic brain damage and blindness at an unlicensed home daycare. [**Negligence and Malpractice**](https://exlitem.com/jury-verdict/110-million-jury-verdict-for-infant-daycare-brain-injury/jury-verdict/category/negligence-and-malpractice) [**Personal Injury**](https://exlitem.com/jury-verdict/110-million-jury-verdict-for-infant-daycare-brain-injury/jury-verdict/category/personal-injury) ### **Outline** Author ![](https://media.jurimatic.com/cdn-cgi/image/q=70/profile_images/shared_image_1.webp) **Sohini Chakraborty****Sohini Chakraborty is a lawyer, with over two years of experience in legal research and analysis. She specializes in working closely with expert witnesses, offering critical support in preparing legal research and detailed case studies.** ![Article Image](https://media.jurimatic.com/cdn-cgi/image/q=70/images/DANIEL_and_MANDY.webp) In a landmark decision for child safety and personal injury law, a Polk County jury held an unlicensed daycare operator and her staff accountable for the "heinous and catastrophic" injuries inflicted upon an infant in their care. Nine-month-old Owen Ryals, who arrived at the facility as a healthy child, left with multiple skull fractures, retinal detachment, and permanent brain damage after being subjected to blunt force trauma. The trial revealed a pattern of negligence and deception, including the Defendants' failure to seek timely medical intervention and the misrepresentation of the home as a safe, licensed environment. The resulting $110,000,000 verdict stands as one of the largest in Arkansas history, reflecting the jury's condemnation of the Defendants' "willful and wanton" disregard for human life. ## **Case Background** The Ryals family brought this civil action to seek justice for their son, Owen, who suffered catastrophic, life-altering injuries while in the care of an unlicensed home daycare in Mena, Arkansas. On February 16, 2016, nine-month-old Owen Ryals arrived at the daycare as a healthy infant with no physical or cognitive impairments. By the time a daycare worker transported him to the hospital later that afternoon, he had sustained multiple skull fractures and severe brain hemorrhaging. ### **Cause** The lawsuit alleged that one or more adults at the daycare committed extreme acts of physical battery upon Owen. The Plaintiffs further contended that the Defendants purposefully failed to seek immediate medical attention for the infant, which allowed his condition to deteriorate significantly. ### **Injury** Owen suffered heinous and permanent injuries, including total blindness in both eyes, extensive brain bleeds, and permanently impaired cognitive functioning. Medical evaluations identified non-accidental head trauma, traumatic brain injury, and retinal detachment, collectively referred to as "severe abusive head injury". ### **Damages Sought** The Plaintiffs sought compensatory damages for Owen’s lifelong medical care, lost earning capacity, and physical and mental pain and suffering. They also requested punitive damages to punish the Defendants for their roles in the abuse and to deter others from similar conduct. ## **Key Arguments and Proceedings** The trial took place over three days in the Polk County Circuit Court in November 2025. The proceedings focused on the nature of the injuries and the accountability of the daycare operators who had misrepresented the facility as a licensed and safe environment. ### **Legal Representation** **Plaintiff(s):** Daniel and Mandy Ryals - **Counsel for Plaintiff(s):** Joshua D. Gillispie | Joseph Gates | Caitlin Malott | **Defendant(s):** Wendy Jo Strother, Prairie Strother McBee (also referred to as Prairie Pate), and Angelia Nicole Lunsford. - **Counsel for Defendant(s):** Wendy Jo Strother | Derick A J Allison | Joshua D. Gillispie | Caitlin A Malott | Breean Walas | Ernest Wayne Witt ## **Key Arguments or Remarks by Counsel** Plaintiff's attorney Joshua Gillispie argued that the case centered on accountability and the inherent value of a child's life. He emphasized that the Defendants had betrayed the family’s trust by operating an illegal, unlicensed facility and failing to protect a vulnerable infant from devastating harm. ### **Claims** The Plaintiffs asserted claims of negligence, fraudulent misrepresentation, and intentional battery. They argued that Wendy Strother had negligently staffed her daycare with unqualified workers and falsely claimed the facility was licensed and safe. ### **Defense** In her answer, Wendy Jo Strother denied the allegations and raised several affirmative defenses, including lack of proximate cause and failure to state facts upon which relief could be granted. She specifically reserved the right to plead further after discovery. ## **Jury Verdict** On November 19, 2025, the jury returned a historic verdict in favor of the Ryals family. The jury found Wendy Strother and Prairie Pate at fault for the damages sustained by the Plaintiffs. - **Liability Apportionment:** The jury assigned 80% of the fault to Wendy Strother and 20% to Prairie Pate. - **Total Damages:** The jury awarded a total of $110 million in compensatory damages. - **Punitive Damages:** Additionally, the jury awarded $40,000 in punitive damages, finding by clear and convincing evidence that such recovery was appropriate from both Wendy Strother and Prairie Pate. 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