Our Chicago Lawyers Aggressively Advocate For Our Clients

And Seek Justice For Their Injuries

Michael Kosner and Jay Paul Deratany
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Social Services Abuse And Negligence

Every child deserves a loving and supportive home. Social services agencies have a duty to make sure all children under their purview live in conditions that are safe and supportive of their physical and mental well-being. Failing to conduct proper investigations of a child’s home life has resulted in fatal consequences.

Disturbing headlines about abused or neglected children appear all too frequently: A social service agency fails to remove a child from a home where there is obvious neglect. A small child is injured after being placed in a home with a convicted felon who has a history of domestic violence. A child is sexually molested by a teenager living in a foster home. A parent or guardian is prosecuted because he left an infant alone to die in a hot car.

Social Services negligence and abuse can include:

  • The agency not completing background checks
  • The agency negligently placing children in unsuitable homes
  • The agency not monitoring foster care placements
  • The agency not investigating or acting on reports of child abuse or neglect
  • Physical abuse
    • Striking, kicking, or shaking a child
    • Burning or scalding a child
    • Throwing objects at a child
    • Holding a child underwater
  • Emotional/psychological abuse
    • Constant criticism of a child
    • Belittling a child
    • Making threats of punishment or physical harm
    • Withholding love, support, or guidance
  • Sexual abuse
    • Sexual intercourse
    • Fondling
    • Indecent exposure in front of a child
    • Forcing a child to undress
    • Showing a child pornography
    • Talking about sex with a child

Facts About Social Services Negligence

Our attorneys are dedicated to helping victims of neglect and abuse get justice. Our legal team will conduct an investigation into what happened, reviewing every piece of evidence. We will seek copies of agency records to find out what information they knew and what information they shared. Did the agency follow all federal and state laws? Were they aware of any potential issues and if so, what did they do about them?

At Deratany & Kosner, we will not rest until we find the answers to these questions. Our past work on behalf of victims of social services neglect has resulted in changes to laws in two states. While we are based in Chicago, we accept cases nationally. Visit our results and verdicts page to learn more.

If you or a loved one have been victims of (or have questions about) foster care negligence, contact a Chicago foster care negligence lawyer today at 312-815-6231 to set up a free case consultation to discuss your legal options.