Foster Care Sexual Abuse Lawsuits

Financial Compensation for Victims of Sexual Abuse in Foster Care

Across the country, foster care sexual abuse lawsuits claim that foster parents have failed to protect foster children from sexual predators, while state child welfare agencies turn a blind eye to abuse. Injury Lawyer Team is committed to helping sexually abused children heal while preventing future abuse by holding foster care agencies accountable for their grievous failures.

If you have suffered from sexual, emotional, or physical abuse in the foster care system, you’re not alone. Contact us today for a free, confidential consultation about a personal injury lawsuit.

Notable Foster Care Sexual Abuse Lawsuits

The foster care system is filled with vulnerable children who lack fundamental support, leaving them vulnerable to severe sexual abuse at the hands of those meant to protect them. Thousands of sex abuse claims have been filed throughout the country, demonstrating the serious scope of this tragic problem. Examples of foster care system failures and state lawsuits include:

California

A Northern California jury awarded $25 million to three siblings who were sexually abused by their foster father, Mark Zapata Martinez. The primary blame in these California foster care sexual abuse lawsuits was placed on Alternative Family Services, a placement agency in Santa Rosa, for failing to properly vet and supervise the foster home.

In October 2022, shocking allegations of abuse in foster care arose from San Bernardino County’s failure to supervise foster homes and the agency’s vicious retaliation against a whistleblower.

According to reports, four civil lawsuits have been filed against the San Bernardino County Department of Children and Family Services for placing 54 foster children with serial child molester Leonardo Rodriguez.

Additionally, the county refused to investigate an older foster child’s abuse of a younger sibling before placing both with the same adoptive parents, who were completely unaware of the sexual abuse.

This was not the first time that the County of San Bernardino was accused of negligent placements. In November 2016, the agency was forced to pay $4 million after two grade-school foster kids were forced to live with a sexual predator with a history of molesting young boys.

Riverside County settled with two former foster children in October 2018 for $11 million. In one of the negligence claims, the Department of Public Social Services closed an investigation into one foster home, only for the foster parent’s live-in boyfriend to rape and impregnate the child.

Another plaintiff was forced to live in horrific conditions, enduring physical and sexual abuse, but the department refused to remove her.

In 2010, the foster agency, Gioretto Institute, was sued by an adult survivor of sexual abuse after being placed with John Hardy Jackson, a serial sex offender who had a history of violence. Despite having molested and sexually assaulted both children and adults, he was allowed to register a foster home.

He was eventually arrested and sentenced to 220 years in prison for over 600 acts of sexual abuse on one foster child.

Illinois

Martha’s Integrated Care Center was touted as a safe group home where children with troubled pasts could heal. Instead, it became a living nightmare for multiple children in foster care, with two separate sexual predators using the home as a hunting ground.

There were at least 170 open investigations into the center when Trulon Henry was arrested for sexually abusing a foster child in his care. Antonio Hopkins, another employee at the center, allegedly groped a 14-year-old girl multiple times.

The Integrated Care Center had been the defendant in another Illinois foster care sexual abuse lawsuit back in 2000, when Cook County Public Guardian Patrick T. Murphy filed a claim for $1.5 million. According to the lawsuit, the center had violated state child welfare agency regulations by failing to monitor foster children who were the victims of severe neglect and domestic violence.

In April 2023, it was reported that the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services placed a teenage sex trafficking victim with Erick Johnson, a foster father with a history of violent offenses. Johnson reportedly had previous convictions for robbery, unlawful use of a firearm, and domestic violence. He was allegedly running a prostitution business from his foster home.

Massachusetts

In 2023, four former foster children filed civil lawsuits against the Massachusetts Department of Children and Families for failing to protect them from Raymond and Susan Blouin, who sexually abused them between the late 1990s and 2004. According to the survivors, the department refused to investigate multiple allegations of mistreatment in the home.

Michigan

The corruption and mistreatment in the Michigan Department of Human Services have been ongoing for almost two decades, dating back to 2008, making solid grounds for Michigan foster care sexual abuse lawsuits.

A 2008 report found that five children in foster care had died from maltreatment, but the department refused to investigate. This led to the system having a maltreatment rate over 2.5 times higher than the national average.

Eight years later, in 2016, the system had still failed to address its shortcomings. Former Macomb County Adoption Board member and foster parent Jackie Lee Pittman was charged with inappropriate sexual conduct with a child in her care.

Despite clear evidence of corruption, more allegations of sexual abuse have continued to emerge. In March 2018, William Easterling Jr. was charged with sexual abuse for forcing two children to produce child pornography for his personal gratification. One of them, a minor aged 13 to 15, was his foster son at the time.

Mark Sorensen, another foster parent, was charged in 2019 for sexually assaulting a child in his care. In December 2024, four foster parents were charged with child abuse for mistreating eight children in their care.

New York

Judith Leekin exploited the foster system to secure new victims, resulting in multiple multi-million-dollar New York foster care sexual abuse lawsuits.

In 2012, the City of New York settled with 10 children with disabilities who were placed with Leekin and subjected to years of abuse. Two were placed by a city-run adoption unit, while the eight others were placed through three private, city-contracted adoption agencies.

Nonprofit agency SCO Family Services, along with other agencies, was forced to pay $17 million in 2014 after placing children with Leekin, where they were subjected to starvation, restraint, and torture. One child placed in her care disappeared and is presumed dead.

SCO Family Services also placed children with serial offender Cesar Gonzalez-Mugaburu, who took in over 140 boys between 1996 and 2015 despite being accused of child abuse at least 18 times. Gonzalez-Mugaburu was only stopped when two brothers reported the child sexual abuse in January 2016.

A grand jury accused the New York child welfare agency of protecting foster parents from accusations of sexual abuse to the detriment of their victims.

In February 2022, former foster parents Sharice and Kareem Mitchell were arrested for forcing eight young girls into prostitution. Two of the women were placed in Sharice Mitchell’s care as foster children, unaware that the foster father was already a registered sex offender.

Later that year, in August 2022, foster parent John Olson was arrested for child sexual abuse at foster care homes and daycares in Orange and Delaware Counties. Social worker Joan Parks was allegedly aware of the abuse but failed to report it, leading to separate charges.

Warren County and the United Methodist Church settled a lawsuit in June 2024 for charges of child sexual abuse against former minister and foster parent Richard Reynolds. A month later, in July 2024, an investigative report found that over 800 civil lawsuits had been filed under the New York Child Victims Act against private foster care agencies, with the majority filed in New York City.

In January 2025, Ronald Chilson was arrested for allegedly abusing children he was fostering or had adopted between 2022 and 2023.

Pennsylvania

In a Pennsylvania foster care sexual abuse lawsuit, social welfare agency Turning Points for Children paid $6 million to three girls who were returned to their abusive father despite multiple allegations of molestation. According to the girls’ attorney, the agency knew of the abuse and failed to initiate protocols that would have protected the children.

Just one week later, another agency, Carson Valley Children’s Aid, paid an additional $4.6 million to one of the girls for its role in her abuse. She was removed from her father’s care in 2015 after a report of abuse, and lived in foster care for several months. After being transferred to Carson Valley, she was returned to her father and again abused.

The man was convicted in 2018 of abusing his daughters and is now serving a 37-year sentence in prison.

What Constitutes Child Sexual Abuse in Foster Care?

Child sexual abuse affects millions of children regardless of their race, religion, or socioeconomic background. According to the Centers for Disease Control, child sexual abuse includes any completed or attempted sexual act, contact, or exploitation of a minor.

Sexual contact can include:

• Rape or attempted rape
• Sexual penetration with a body part
• Sodomy (penetration with an object)
• Fondling, inappropriate touching, and kissing
• Forcing a child to touch an adult in a sexual way

Non-contact sex abuse can include:

• Masturbation or exposing oneself to a child
• Forcing a child to masturbate or touch themselves
• Taking explicit pictures and photographs of a child
• Talking about sex to a child to groom them
• Prostitution and sex trafficking

The damaging effects of child sexual abuse come from the fact that a child cannot developmentally comprehend what sexual activity is or what it means. As such, they cannot provide informed consent, even if they agree to the activity for fear of punishment or to please the caregiver.

How Common Is Childhood Sexual Abuse in Foster Care?

Child sexual abuse statistics reveal that 81% of girls in the foster care system were sexually abused, with 68% abused by more than one individual. However, statistic includes abuse prior to placement. A separate study found that 19.5% of girls report sexual abuse while in foster care, with 10.4% of boys experiencing abuse.

Sadly, this form of abuse is common both in and outside of the system. According to the CDC, 1 in 4 girls and 1 in 13 boys experience some form of sexual abuse during childhood, and over 1 billion children worldwide are victims of sexual violence.

What Damages Can Victims of Foster Care Abuse Recover?

Our experienced attorneys will fight hard to ensure that you receive maximum financial compensation for mistreatment in foster care. This can include:

• Medical bills
• Future medical treatment
• Loss of future income
• Behavioral health services and counseling
• Physical pain and suffering
• Emotional distress
• Loss of normal life

How Much Are Foster Care Abuse Settlements?

The average payout for sexual abuse in foster care is $28,818,347, with a range between $197,500 and $485,000,000.

In one case from New Jersey, two children were severely sexually abused by a foster parent while the state did nothing to protect them. They were ultimately awarded $19,500,000.00 in pain and suffering damages.

One Pennsylvania girl was trafficked by her foster parents, forced to perform sex work in local hotels by her father. She sued both the state foster care system and the local hotel for failing to identify the abuse or protect her from the mistreatment. The organizations settled with her for $9,380,000.00.

Who Can Be Held Liable in Foster Care Child Abuse Cases?

Our team will carefully investigate your case to identify all individuals and organizations that can be held liable for the harm caused by negligent foster placements. This can include the following parties.

• Individual Perpetrator: The individual offender is typically the first party named in a lawsuit. If the person is deceased, then the claim can move forward with other named defendants.
• Foster Care Agency: Private agencies are responsible for performing thorough background checks on all potential foster or adoptive parents. Each prospective parent should undergo a training process to help them identify signs of abuse. The agencies also must carefully monitor all placements to ensure that the children are receiving the care they need. When they fail to uphold these duties, they can be liable for negligence.
• Social Workers: Many children in foster care are assigned a support team that is meant to ensure that they are being cared for and that any previous trauma is addressed. Sadly, some workers do not check in with the children or report potential abuse, which can make them liable.
• Other Mandated Reporters: Educators and healthcare professionals are mandated reporters, legally required to report suspicions of abuse to the proper authorities. However, some fail to uphold this duty or ignore clear signs of distress. They can also be accountable for their failure to intervene.
• State Departments: While foster agencies are often private or non-profit, they are licensed by the state, which should maintain sufficient oversight and investigate any allegations of abuse. When they fail to do so, these agencies can be held liable.

What Laws Protect Children in Foster Care From Abuse?

While state laws may vary, every state is required to uphold federal statutes around foster and adoption care. Laws protecting foster care children’s rights include:

• Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act (CAPTA): States that receive federal funding must have procedures for mandatory reporting, investigation, and prevention of child abuse, including in foster care (42 U.S.C. §§5101 et seq).
• Adoption and Safe Families Act (ASFA): This law affirms that child safety is the paramount concern in foster placements and that states must take action if children are in danger (42 U.S.C. §§671 et seq.).
• Title IV-E of the Social Security Act: By governing funding for foster systems, this law requires licensing and oversight of foster homes or group homes (42 U.S.C. §§670–679c).

How Long Do Victims of Sexual Abuse in Foster Care Have to Take Legal Action?

The statutes of limitations for child sexual abuse vary by state, but many states have passed laws to extend the statute of limitations for child victims. Some survivors may have unlimited time to file a lawsuit, while others may have more than the typical two or three years for personal injury that adult survivors of foster care abuse may receive.

How Injury Lawyer Team Can Help

Our compassionate, trauma-informed attorneys will guide you through every step of the legal process involving foster care abuse and the justice system, ensuring that your rights and privacy are protected. You can rely on our experienced attorneys for the following needs:

• Case Evaluation: Using other cases and injury multipliers, we will determine a fair sum for your case based on factors like injury severity, length of abuse, and available evidence.
• Investigation: Our team will gather medical records, police reports, foster records, and witness statements.
• Negotiation: We will handle all third-party communications on your behalf, including with state governments and foster agencies.
• Trial Representation: While many cases are settled out of court, it’s sometimes necessary to go to trial, where we will share your story with a jury.

FAQs

What puts children in foster care at risk of sexual abuse?

Sexual abuse in foster care is often the result of institutional failures, including the following.

• Inadequate Background Checks: Foster parents may not be properly screened or provided with adequate oversight.
• Broken Systems: The federal government funds foster care systems, but the organizations themselves are non-profit, state-registered agencies. They may not receive enough funding to properly screen, train, and monitor parents.
• Understaffing: Foster agencies may not have enough social workers and other support staff to monitor placements.
• Abuse of Power: Foster families have control over every aspect of the child’s life and may use this to exploit victims.
• Access to Vulnerable Youth: Foster homes should be a sanctuary that is free from substance abuse and physical harm. Unfortunately, many children are exploited by live-in partners of foster parents or by relatives who enter the home.

What are the signs of child sexual abuse?

Warning signs of sexual abuse in children include:

• Inappropriate sexual behavior in young children
• Behavioral changes, including fear of certain people
• Unexplained bruising or STIs
• Changes in personal hygiene
• Bedwetting, nightmares, and insomnia

If you note these issues in foster children or other children, alert social services as soon as possible.

Why are foster children less likely to report abuse?

While the foster system is meant to protect children from mistreatment by biological family members, it unfortunately often contributes to further harm to vulnerable youth. Foster kids may be less likely to report abuse because they do not have trusted adults in their lives who will take them seriously. When the abuse occurs in group homes, the residents may be afraid of retaliation.

What are the long-term effects of child sexual abuse?

The long-term effects of foster child sexual abuse include:

• Substance use
• Depression
• Challenges with intimacy and interpersonal relationships
• Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder
• Self-esteem and identity issues
• Risky sexual behaviors and risk of revictimization
• Chronic pain and stress-related diseases
• Entering the foster care to prison pipeline

Consult Our Law Firm Today

Injury Lawyer Team is committed to holding negligent institutions accountable and ensuring that children can live free from abuse. Our experienced sexual abuse attorneys represent survivors on a contingency fee basis: no fees unless we win. Contact us today for a free consultation on suing for abuse in foster care.

All content undergoes thorough legal review by experienced attorneys, including Jonathan Rosenfeld. With 25 years of experience in personal injury law and over 100 years of combined legal expertise within our team, we ensure that every article is legally accurate, compliant, and reflects current legal standards.