In a heart-wrenching turn of events, the relatives of a nanny in China, whose negligence resulted in the tragic death of a toddler, have filed a defamation lawsuit against the grieving family of the deceased child. This development adds a new layer of complexity to an already painful dispute between the two families, stemming from an incident that occurred three years ago.
In 2020, the nanny, surnamed Liang, was hired by Xie to care for her two-year-old daughter, Mili, in Zhejiang province. The tragedy unfolded on December 15 when Liang took Mili to visit her daughter, Zuo, in a 23rd-floor apartment. In a devastating oversight, Liang left Mili unattended in a room, leading to the child’s fatal fall from a window.
Xie, the mother of the deceased toddler, expressed her dismay and hurt over the fact that, instead of receiving an apology from Liang’s family, she is now faced with a defamation lawsuit. The lawsuit alleges that Xie’s family spread private information about Liang with the intent to tarnish her reputation, as reported by Star Video.
Initially, Xie had opted for an understanding agreement with Liang rather than pursuing legal action. However, the agreement collapsed, and in May 2022, a local court sentenced Liang to one year in prison, with a two-year probation, and ordered her to compensate Xie. Unsatisfied with the verdict and seeking full accountability for her daughter’s death, Xie appealed the decision.
Amidst the appeal process, Xie received a summons to court to respond to the defamation claims filed by Liang’s relatives. “Mili has been gone for three years. I have yet to receive an apology, but all I get is a lawsuit against me,” Xie lamented in an interview with Star Video.
The situation has sparked outrage on social media in China. Many online commenters have criticized Liang’s family for their actions, with one person labeling them as “shameless” and another insisting on legal liability for the nanny.
This incident is not isolated, as China has witnessed similar tragic cases involving childcare negligence. Earlier in the year, a 21-month-old child died after falling eight floors due to a nanny’s negligence. In another case, a two-year-old girl fell to her death from the eighth floor after being left unattended in a lift by her nanny.
These incidents underscore the critical importance of responsible childcare and the devastating consequences of negligence. The ongoing legal battle between Xie and Liang’s relatives not only highlights the complexities of such cases but also the profound emotional toll they take on all parties involved.
READ MORE: