Paul Galm represents Portland and Oregon’s most vulnerable kids – kids that come from broken homes or who have been in the foster care system all of their lives. These children are preyed upon by perpetrators who inflict physical, mental, and sexual abuse. Often, it is the vulnerability of children that attracts abusers because they know there is no one to protect or advocate for the kids.
Often it is the State of Oregon’s Department of Human Services [DHS], who run the state’s foster care system, that I file suits against.
Three Most Common Cases Against the Oregon DHS
There are three common scenarios that I have encountered that have caused me to pursue cases against the Oregon Department of Human Services:
- DHS’s failure to properly investigate reports of child abuse or child neglect
The DHS and its child protective services may receive one or more reports of abuse or neglect of a child by someone in the family or foster home in which the child resides, yet DHS fails to appropriately address and investigate the initial reports and subsequently, the child remains in said abusive environment. This allows the perpetrator to continue abusing the affected child which often results in the child ceasing to continue reporting abuse because:
- the child has lost faith and does not believe reporting abuse will have any positive effect
- the perpetrator is informed that the child has reported abuse and exercises power and punishment over the child, such that the child is too scared to ever report again
- DHS’s placement of a child into improperly certified foster family
The error by the DHS could be caused by something as simple as failing to do a proper background check of foster care candidates, or could be a result of ignoring red flags that come up during the certification process. As a result, a child in the foster care system is placed in a foster home where it is foreseeable that the child will end up abused and neglected.
- Abuse of a foster child by another foster child
The State of Oregon is strictly liable for any damages as a result of abuse of a foster child by a foster child. Even if the DHS properly vetted the foster family and had no notice or reason to believe a foster child would present a threat, DHS is nonetheless liable for any abuse perpetrated by that foster child.
Do You Have A Case?
Cases concerning child welfare deserve nothing but the best legal representation, however, timelines regarding child abuse and child neglect cases can be tight. The statute of limitations can cause issues with legal proceedings, so do not wait to contact Paul Galm with your questions.
Read more about negligence and answer pressing legal questions by checking out Paul Galm’s blog.
Contact Us
If you believe you or your child is suffering from child neglect or child abuse, please contact Paul Galm Law today. Paul Galm has years of experience with the Oregon DHS and is here to provide you with the legal guidance and expertise to navigate you through this challenging time.