When a child is removed from their family, they have already suffered intense trauma from neglect and abuse. While removal from their parents may seem like a punishment, the idea is to place the child in a loving, structured home until their parents are fit to take care of them. That way, the child is safe and well-cared for, and if the parent is unable to take them back, they can be placed up for adoption.
There are county foster care agencies that are in charge of foster and adoption placements, and one of these is the Riverside County Children’s Services Division. To service the large population of Riverside County, there are numerous Riverside County Children’s Center locations that you can visit or contact.
Unfortunately, negligence by foster care agencies can lead to children being physically assaulted or sexually abused. We know that foster care abuse has been a systemic problem in California for many years, as evidenced by the current class action lawsuit against MacLaren Hall, a former LA County foster child residential group home.
Our legal team is committed to fighting for those who were exploited and abused due to inexperience, lack of supervision, hiding evidence, and other acts of negligence by a Riverside County Children’s Center. Call us today and learn how you can file a lawsuit during a free case evaluation.
Our Recent Verdicts and Settlements
$2.5 Million
$600,000
$1.5 Million
$54 Million
$525,000
$1.2 Million
Riverside County Children’s Center Locations
As we mentioned before, there are multiple locations throughout Riverside County that service children and families in the foster care system. These entities manage foster care placements, help biological parents reunite with their kids, and if necessary, find adoptive families for children who cannot reunite with their parents. But these agencies can also be the source of further abuse and trauma when they fail in their duty of care to a foster child.
The road to recovery won’t be easy, but please know that we are with you every step of the way. Reach out to us and find out about your rights if you are a victim of negligence by one of the following Riverside County Children’s Services locations:
- Banning – 901 E. Ramsey Street, Banning, CA 92220
- Blythe – 1267 W. Hobson Way, Blythe, CA 92225
- Desert Hot Springs – 14-320 Palm Drive, Desert Hot Springs, CA 92240
- Hemet – 547 N. San Jacinto Street, Hemet, CA 92544
- Indio – 48-133 Jackson Street, Indio, CA 92201
- Lake Elsinore – 1400 W. Minthorn Street, Lake Elsinore, CA 92530
- Mecca – 91-275 Avenue 66 Suite 100, Mecca, CA 92254
- Moreno Valley – 23119 Cottonwood Avenue Bldg. A, Moreno Valley, CA 92553
- Perris – 2055 N. Perris Blvd. Perris, CA 92571
- Riverside – 10281 Kidd St., Riverside, CA 92503
- Riverside – 11070 Magnolia Ave., Riverside, CA 92505
- Riverside – 2300 Market Street, Riverside, CA 92501
- Temecula – 27464 Commerce Center Drive, Temecula, CA 92590
Am I Eligible for a Lawsuit against Riverside County Children’s Services Division?
If you were abused in a physical or sexual manner while you were in a foster home or group home, you can file a lawsuit against the individuals that put you in harm’s way. Essentially, we are talking about the foster care agency that’s in charge of your placement, which is managed by the Riverside County Children’s Services.
Whenever we investigate allegations of foster care abuse, there is usually a clear case of neglect by the people in charge of monitoring how the child is doing in a foster home. On the one hand, we understand that many agencies are short on staff and have workers with unmanageable caseloads. But that is a problem that Riverside County needs to rectify, and in the meantime, it’s unacceptable that kids are left to deal with abuse in a foster home.
Even more appalling are the cases where you see abundant signs of physical and sexual abuse, yet all the reports by social workers say that the child is doing fine. In some of these cases, the social worker has not met the child, nor have they been to the home in several months. There’s’ no denying that administrators may be complicit in these cases, meaning they are aware that a child is, or may be suffering from abuse at a foster home. But workers are told to write up positive reports and get rid of anything that can be used to substantiate claims of child abuse.
Misconduct at the county level should never go unpunished when it results in the abuse of a child that is already coming from a troubled background. We have spoken with many adults throughout the years, who still have trust issues, sexual dysfunctions, trouble keeping a job, and many other problems that resulted from sexual and physical abuse when they were in foster care.
Some of these wounds may never fully heal, but it’s more than possible to move forward and live the quality of life you deserve. We hope you will allow us to be part of that journey by representing you in a lawsuit for abuse in a foster home by Riverside County Children’s Services.
Foster Care Abuse Lawsuit Values
Settlement awards on behalf of abused foster care children range greatly in value, though payments are generally in the 6 to 7 figure range. At our law firm, the average settlement is between $1,500,000 and $5,000,000. In cases of extreme, long term abuse and gross negligence by the foster care agency, the amount of compensation can be over $10,000,000. This is rare, but it goes to show you the variations that exist from one case to another. This is why we must speak with you in person and ascertain many details about your case, including:
- The acts of assault or abuse you suffered
- How long the abuse was allowed to continue due to negligence by Riverside County Children’s Center
- The extent of your injuries and how they have affected your life
- The monetary damages you are owed by Riverside County (medical expenses, emotional distress, pain and suffering, etc.)
Average Amount of Time to Settle a Foster Care Abuse Case
Settling a case for the abuse of a foster child can take anywhere from several months to over 3 years. All in all, we would say that 1 to 2 years is a realistic timeline, due to the complication of suing a government agency and proving that they are liable for the harm you suffered.
Sometimes, the negligent party is willing to put the incident behind them as soon as possible, and in that case, we may succeed in recovering your settlement within 6 months. But these agencies generally spend considerable time and resources fighting allegations of child abuse. That’s why 12 to 18 months is the average amount of time to settle a lawsuit for sexual abuse and physical assault by a foster parent. If a trial is needed, obtaining your payment can take several years, though it’s worth noting that over 95% of these cases are settled out of court.
How Long You have to File a Lawsuit
The amount of time you have to sue for negligence by a Riverside County Children’s Center depends on the type of lawsuit you are filing. As a victim of physical abuse, you must file a lawsuit within 2 years from your 18th birthday. If you are the parent of a child that was abused in a foster home, you can file a lawsuit immediately on your child’s behalf.
For cases of sexual abuse, the statute of limitations for a lawsuit is the age of 40, or 22 years after turning 18 years old. Or, you can file a lawsuit within 5 years of finding out about an injury that was caused by sexual assault, which includes mental health disorders as well as physical harm. We have helped many clients establish a case for the delayed discovery of injuries from child sexual abuse, thereby allowing them to sue for compensation even though they were older than 40. To see if you are eligible for a lawsuit or to verify the amount of time you have for a foster care child abuse claim, please give us a call.
Talk to a Riverside County Children’s Center Abuse Attorney
In theory, the foster care system is a safeguard for kids who are being abused and neglected in their homes. In reality, there is consistent failure by social workers, administrators, and other people in the system. As a result, children are placed in foster homes that are just as, if not, more dangerous than the ones they were removed from.
The child physical abuse and sexual assault lawyers of Normandie are here to fight for you and the justice you deserve by law. During a free case review, we will talk to you about the ways we can help, including a Zero Fee Guarantee if you decide to sue Riverside County Children’s Services. That means you pay us absolutely nothing, since we ask for legal fees to be included in your settlement award. To put it another way, we don’t make a cent unless you receive compensation from a foster care sexual abuse or physical assault lawsuit.
Just contact our law firm at your earliest convenience and schedule a free case review with one of our legal experts.
Other Pages on Our Website Related to This Topic
San Bernardino County – Gilbert Street Juvenile Hall Sexual Abuse Lawyer
LA Child Care Center Sex Abuse and Physical Abuse Lawsuit information
VCPAJF Commitment Services Sexual Abuse Attorney
