Justice for Kids®

Daytona

128 Orange Avenue, Unit 306 Daytona Beach, FL 32114 Phone: 844-4KIDLAW (4543529); 754-888-KIDS (5437)

“There can be no keener revelation of a society’s soul than the way in which it treats its children.”

– Nelson Mandela

Daytona Beach is centrally located between Orlando, Gainesville, and Jacksonville, FL where Florida’s privatization of child welfare services has struggled and, in many cases, failed the children. Because the Justice for Kids attorneys have seen many cases of children re-abused in foster care and mishandled adoptions causing catastrophic injuries to children and their families in the central to northeast-central region of Florida, we have opened a Daytona Beach office and located a veteran children’s rights attorney there to help children who are re-abused in care and injured in other settings.

Cases

Lawsuit for Wrongful Death and Survival Claims

Lawsuit filed in the Northern District of Florida against the lead community-based agency, subcontracted case management agency, and case manager for wrongful death and survival claims under state law and 42 U.S.C. § 1983 for failing to prevent the rapid mental-health deterioration of a foster child, ultimately resulting in her death by suicide after she ran away from the case management agency’s office while unsupervised despite a known history of running away and suicide attempts. The case resolved for undisclosed amounts.

Firm Sues Florida Dept. of Children & Families — $14.26 Million Settlement

Civil-rights complaint filed on behalf of 19 children against DCF employees responsible for adoptions and abuse investigations. Despite prior verified abuse reports, children were allowed to be adopted and suffered bizarre punishments and beatings. The State of Florida settled all claims for $14.26 million.

Negligent Investigation and Failure to Protect Two Young Children

Filed in Lake County, FL for failure to protect children despite clear risk factors. The sixteen-month-old boy died from abuse; his two-year-old sister witnessed his murder and suffered injuries. Resolved against DCF for sovereign immunity limits and undisclosed amounts against private agencies.

Child-On-Child Sexual Abuse in Group Home

Lawsuit on behalf of a former foster child against a therapeutic group home for failure to protect a 13-year-old from repeated sexual abuse by a known sexual predator. Settled for an undisclosed amount.

H.A.L. v. Foltz — Federal Precedent

Federal case establishing the constitutional right of foster children not to be sexually victimized. Resolved for $1.725 million.

Confidential Settlement — Student-Athlete Hazing

Minor student-athlete assaulted in a school-sanctioned hazing incident. Confidential settlement allowed the client to transfer and continue her education.

Wrongful Adoption Claim

Failure to disclose severe behavioral issues and prior adoption disruptions resulted in an undisclosed settlement, family stabilization, and preserved adoptions.

Settlement for Brothers Placed with Known Pedophile

Two brothers placed with a known pedophile were sexually abused. Settlement provided lifelong education and services.