Pate & Brody files suit against a children’s group home alleging sexual abuse of foster children

Our firm recently filed suit against Turning Point Homes, a for-profit children’s group home in DeKalb County, for hiring and retaining an employee who molested at least three foster children over a two year period. Our complaint alleges that Turning Point Homes knew of the abuse and sexual exploitation, but failed to take any action which would have prevented future abuses.

This case presents allegations of abuse that are similar to issues raised in a recent Atlanta Journal Constitution article about other problems in foster homes in Fulton and DeKalb County.

As the article reports, independent inspectors have found a high rate of abuse among foster children in DeKalb and Fulton Counties. These findings were made in a report that was prepared as part of a settlement deal stemming from a 2005 federal lawsuit against Georgia which called for reforms in Georgia’s child welfare system. The lawsuit was brought by an organization called Children’s Rights, which has voiced much concern over DFCS failures to protect foster kids.

This report also expressed concern over DFCS’ lax monitoring of private homes that are contracted out by the state. In particular, DFCS has decreased the amount of staff which monitors such homes.

In the case of Turning Point Homes, our complaint alleges that the sexual abuse went on over a period of two years without any action being taken. Turrning Point Homes did not report any such incidents to the police, and the company did not counsel the children or tell their adoptive families of the alleged abuse.

Georgia law provides that foster homes, like Turning Point, generally have a duty to supervise, care for and protect the well-being of children while they are under the care of the home. Our complaint alleges that Turning Homes failed to live up to this duty and, therefore, violated the rights of these children and their adoptive family.

The complaint, filed in Dekalb County, requests damages, including punitive damages, and a jury trial.