Five-year-old child is severely brain injured by guardian after social worker fails to perform a mandatory duty and closes investigation of child abuse.
Past Medical expenses: $602,625.66
Future Medical expenses: $9,900,000
Future loss of earning capacity: $2,900,000
Past: $15,000.000
Future: $85,000,000
The Vartazarian Law Firm by Steven Vartazarian and Matthew Whibley, Sherman Oaks.
Dolen, Tucker, Popka & Abraham by Raymond Dolen, Redlands.
San Bernardino County Counsel by Blakney Boggs.
Bruce Roseman, M.D., pediatric neurology.
Farbod Asgazardi, M.D., neurosurgery.
George Hanna, M.D., neurosurgery.
Damon Delbello, M.D., orthopedic surgery.
Leslie Green, M.D., ophthalmology.
Ivory Tifa, Lisa Sweeney, occupational therapy.
Katherine Kolesar, physical therapy.
Cheryl Rourke, speech therapy.
Joseph Carfi, M.D., life care planning.
Jean Lake, M.D., pediatric neurology.
Rhonda Renteria, life care planning.
Loren Sutor, child services.
David Fractor, PhD., economics.
Deanna Avey-Motikeit, child services
Stephanie Rizzardi, economics.
In October 2013, defendant’s employee, social worker Karen Perry, went out to the Yucca Valley home of Christopher Reed, Noah Reed (then aged 5) and Christopher Reed’s girlfriend Hannah Thompson, to investigate reports that Ms. Thompson was abusing Noah Reed. When Karen Perry went to the Reed home she spoke to Christopher Reed, Hannah Thompson, and Noah Reed. She identified that Noah Reed was at-risk for injury given the evidence and dynamics in the home, that Hannah Thompson had mental problems, and that the family was in need of help. She referred them to various Child Welfare Services. She then closed the file.
In May 2014, Hannah Thompson injured Noah Reed so badly that he sustained permanent brain damage to the entire left side of his brain, causing permanent, severe cognitive dysfunction, spastic quadriplegia, bowel dysfunction, and an ocular nerve injury.
That pursuant to mandatory duties, Karen Perry was supposed to open a “case plan” once she identified a risk and referred to Child Welfare Services. However, she closed the file. That defendant's employee failed to perform her mandatory duty, contributing to the future injury to plaintiff minor child.
That defendants did not violate a mandatory duty. That Noah Reed was not at risk of injury, and social workers appropriately closed the file. Finally, that the parties entirely responsible for Noah Reed’s injury were Hanna Thompson and Christopher Reed.
Permanent brain damage to the entire left side of his brain, causing permanent, severe cognitive dysfunction, spastic quadriplegia, bowel dysfunction, and an ocular nerve injury.
This is not an official court document. While the publisher believes the information to be accurate, the publisher does not guarantee it and the reader is advised not to rely upon it without consulting the official court documents or the attorneys of record in this matter who are listed above.
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