Los Angeles to pay $20m to family of boy tortured to death by his parents

"Los Angeles county will pay $20m to the family of a four-year-old boy who was tortured to death by his parents six years ago in a case that brought scrutiny of the region's child welfare system. Noah Cuatro died in a hospital in 2019, days before his fifth birthday, after being found motionless at the family's apartment in Palmdale, north of LA. His parents, Jose Maria Cuatro Jr and Ursula Elaine Juarez, later pleaded no contest to murder and torture charges."

"The Los Angeles Times reported the department had ignored a court order giving it 10 days to get Noah away from his parents and seen by a doctor after multiple reports of neglect and abuse. The child welfare department said since Noah's death it has hired thousands of social workers to decrease caseloads and has retrained staffers on interviewing techniques and use of forensic exams."

"Brian Claypool, an attorney who represented Cuatro's family in the lawsuit, told the LATimes that Noah's death was a direct result of the county failing to follow the court order to remove him from his parents. Kathryn Barger, a county supervisor, whose district includes Palmdale, said she hopes the settlement announced Tuesday will provide some measure of support to help Noah's surviving siblings and other family members heal."

A four-year-old boy, Noah Cuatro, died in 2019 after being found motionless at his family’s Palmdale apartment; his parents later pleaded no contest to murder and torture. Noah had been under the county department of children and family services' supervision from birth after his mother was accused of fracturing a half-sister’s skull. A 2020 lawsuit alleged the agency failed to keep Noah safe and ignored a court order to remove him and have him seen by a doctor. The county says it has hired thousands of social workers, retrained staff, and seeks to learn from the case. Officials hope the $20 million resolution supports Noah’s surviving siblings and prompts ongoing child welfare reforms.

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