State settles suit by abused foster kids for $11M
SEATTLE -- The state has agreed to pay $11 million to a group of children who were sexually and physically abused while in foster care.
The six children filed suit against the Department of Social and Health Services for putting them in the home of Jose and Juanita Miranda, who the children say raped and tortured them for years.
Jose later pleaded guilty to child rape, molestation and physical abuse of the children -- both boys and girls -- who came to live with them at their Tacoma home from 1997 to 2003.
An attorney representing the foster children described Jose as "a foster parent forcing kids to engage in just graphic sexual acts with him, and forcing the kids to engage with each other in graphic sexual acts."
The lawsuit was scheduled for trial in February, but the state announced Tuesday that it was settling the case to "avoid the expense of a costly and complex trial and further stress for the plaintiffs."
"We regret that these children suffered at the hands of adults they had trusted to love and keep them safe," said DSHS Children's Administration Assistant Secretary Denise Revels Robinson.
Both foster parents are now dead. Jose died in prison several years ago of heart failure and Juanita died of a drug overdose in 2006.
The six children filed suit against the Department of Social and Health Services for putting them in the home of Jose and Juanita Miranda, who the children say raped and tortured them for years.
Jose later pleaded guilty to child rape, molestation and physical abuse of the children -- both boys and girls -- who came to live with them at their Tacoma home from 1997 to 2003.
An attorney representing the foster children described Jose as "a foster parent forcing kids to engage in just graphic sexual acts with him, and forcing the kids to engage with each other in graphic sexual acts."
The lawsuit was scheduled for trial in February, but the state announced Tuesday that it was settling the case to "avoid the expense of a costly and complex trial and further stress for the plaintiffs."
"We regret that these children suffered at the hands of adults they had trusted to love and keep them safe," said DSHS Children's Administration Assistant Secretary Denise Revels Robinson.
Both foster parents are now dead. Jose died in prison several years ago of heart failure and Juanita died of a drug overdose in 2006.
These children deserve a settlement but it is so unfortunate that the taxpayers are the one paying it, not those that screwed up. These people aren't helping anyone, they are hurting them by being neglectful and should be canned. Imagine how much money we'd save in the long run if they just fixed the system.
KOMO: What has DSHS done to make sure this type of abuse never happens again? $11 million in taxes gone. Will DSHS fix the problem or just keep up the same sloppy screening of foster parents? There needs to be a follow up article.
DSHS is such a joke, and nothing but a huge liability for tax payers.
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And yes, I do have sympathy for the children, but I don't think taxpayers should be on the hook for 11 million dollars. If the state is liable for things like this, while trying to help the needy, then my response would be to let them rot in the streets. Harsh, perhaps, but if we're damned either way, then what's the point of trying to help?
And what will that 11 million do for those people?? Â Other than take more money away from kids in the system that need it. Â No amount of money is going to fix anything, in fact that kind of windfall usually destroys people. Â America is a weird place... we think that money solves everything.Â
@DT It will put a smile on their face even if it's only temporary!! and most important it will make their life a lot easier. These kids went thru pure hell.
 @DT The lifelong therapy these kids will need will cost a lot. I don't think $11 million is nearly enough for what they've suffered.Â
Not even any sympathy for these victims?Â
How do such losers become foster parents? Raped kids for six years and DSHS couldn't figure it out?
Another question, will these kids have to pay taxes on their settlement??? If so then that really sucks.
@Papa983 No taxes on legal settlements unless lost wages were a part of the settlement. But for them, no taxes.
As if the kids in the Foster System don't have it bad enough, they get placed with monsters??? It seems that since kids can't vote then the Govt doesn't want to spend the time protecting them. If Child Protective Services was as big as the IRS then maybe kids would be safer.
So the state gets to choose who's a foster parent, and then they get sued for their choices?
Then the rest of us get to pay for it? Got it. That's pretty messed up.
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Many voters have blood on their hands, but I guess that's ok. Hey! It wasn't my kid...
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People SUCK!
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The only good part of this story was the last sentence, what a couple of lowlife bastards.
A liberal state government... Bad people doing bad things to good people. I am not surprised.Â
 @Tolly371 Are you really shallow enough to think that these things only happen in liberal states? Hah! How ignorant can you be?
I hope this money will help the victims get the counseling they need. They can heal from this pain and can learn to trust again. These kids were already so vulnerable and then for there people to take advantage of that makes me sick.
 @taxpro 11 million dollars? Yeah.. I guess you could get a lot of counseling for them with that. Otherwise, that kind of money will pretty much destroy their lives.Â
@DT @taxpro Destroy their life?? Are you kidding me these kids went thru hell everday of their life and now for once they can smile and have an easier life. They deserve it.
@DT @taxpro.....Sure wouldn't destroy MY life.Â
 @DT  @taxpro Their attorney will take most of it.  A few million distributed among 6 won't be all that much.
 @sundancer  @DT  @taxpro Soooo untrue!!  Know what you are talking about before you say it.  These kids are set for life now.  Of course everyone jumps to the conclusion that the attorney makes it about themselves. It is about helping these poor people that went through hell.