Relatives of 4-year-old Noah Cuatro reached a proposed $20 million settlement in a wrongful death lawsuit alleging Los Angeles County social workers ignored repeated reports of abuse before his 2019 murder. The suit was filed in 2020 by his great-grandmother, Evangelina Hernandez, on behalf of Noah's sister and two brothers and has been dismissed pending settlement. The Los Angeles County Claims Board recommended the settlement and the Board of Supervisors will consider approval after Sept. 3. Kathryn Barger called Noah's death a profound tragedy and pledged to strengthen protections for vulnerable children. DCFS said it grieves every child death, reviews protocols, and found in its internal investigation that staff acted appropriately.
Noah Cuatro's death was a profound tragedy, and no settlement can ever atone for his suffering or undo the loss his relatives have experienced, Kathryn Barger, chair of the Board of Supervisors, said in a statement Friday, Aug. 29. While I cannot comment on the details of the pending settlement, I remain committed to ensuring that Los Angeles County continues to strengthen protections for vulnerable children.
The county Department of Children and Family Services, which employed the social workers who allowed Noah to stay in his home, said in a 2021 statement in response to media reports that Noah's murder remains a source of deep pain and mourning for Los Angeles County residents and its child welfare community.
Any time a child dies from suspected neglect or abuse, the Los Angeles County Department of Children and Family Services grieves, the statement said. DCFS honors the memory of each child by closely examining the complexities of the case and its protocols to identify systemic issues and by working closely with stakeholders to make impactful changes that enhance safety and service delivery. DCFS said it conducted its own internal investigation after Noah's death, which showed that staff acted appropriately.
#wrongful-death-settlement #child-abuse #los-angeles-county #department-of-children-and-family-services
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