WA. Failure to protect foster children from sexual abuse costs state $11 million

The state of Washington will pay six people a total of $11 million to settle claims they suffered horrible abuse as children at the hands of their state-appointed guardians.

Alexander Gonzalez, Michelle Harris, Elizabeth Tapia and Aurora Tapia filed suit against the state last year. Rebecca Miranda and Anthony Winton joined the suit later.

They complained DSHS was negligent in issuing a foster-care license to Jose and Juanita Miranda and then not heeding multiple reports that the Mirandas were mistreating children in their care.

Among other things, the plaintiffs said they were:

• Forced to have sex with Jose Miranda or with each other while he watched. Jose Miranda allegedly kept a locked room in the house where he had sex with his foster kids

• Made to eat expired food and then their vomit if they threw up.

• Beaten with a broomstick, cane, frying pan, electrical cord and stick with small nails in it.

The plaintiffs contended DSHS received multiple complaints about the Mirandas from teachers, neighbors, social workers, relatives, coaches and the children themselves from 1998 to 2005 but did nothing about them.

 

“We regret that these children suffered at the hands of adults they had trusted to love and keep them safe,” said Denise Revels Robinson, DSHS Children’s Administration Assistant Secretary.

Jose Miranda ultimately was convicted of sexually abusing some of the children. He died in prison in 2009 of congestive heart failure. His wife died three years prior to that of a drug overdose.

The case was scheduled to go to trial in U.S. District Court in Tacoma in February.  According to DSHS “By settling prior to trial, the plaintiffs and the department avoid the expense of a costly and complex trial and further stress for the plaintiffs,” DSHS said in a news release.  In reality DSHS was probably equally concerned at the media scrutiny a public trial would on DSHS, its employees and their jobs.

 

 

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