Months after news broke that the Department of Child Safety placed a foster child in a home with a convicted, registered sex offender, Robert Pastor and Tiffani Lucero filed a lawsuit against the State of Arizona. The suit, which also names several employees within the Department of Child Safety, alleges gross negligence for their actions.
Robert Pastor, of Montoya, Lucero & Pastor, P.A., who is representing the child-victim said, "Although it's a civil suit for negligence, they're still libel also under the criminal statutes that would normally charge people with child abuse or neglect."
According to Pastor, the then 7-year-old foster child was placed in a home where Jose Egurrola, a registered sex offender, was on the record as living. The lawsuit says that the DCS failed to conduct an investigation of the foster home, including checking the state’s sex offender registry.
"Just like a parent, the State of Arizona had a responsibility to protect this child to make sure that she was safe"
The child was molested by the sex offender.
The Department of Child Safety says it runs a background check on every adult who lives in a home before they approve foster placement.
Sexual Abuse Attorney in Phoenix
At Montoya, Lucero & Pastor, P.A., we have a thorough understanding of wide range of personal injury cases, including those involving sexual abuse. With over 60 years of combined experience, we have represented victims who have been sexually abused by foster care parents, priests, family members, teachers, coaches, police officers, medical providers and more.
If you have questions about taking legal action for sexual abuse, please contact our Phoenix sexual abuse lawyers today. We work on a contingency fee basis, which means we don’t charge you unless we win your case. Se habla Español.
Call (602) 483-6869 or contact us online to get a free consultation.