KLAS-TV Channel 8 News Las VegasLawsuit Filed Against Nevada Over Child Welfare
A class action lawsuit was filed Wednesday against the state of Nevada and Clark County for failing to protect abused and neglected children in the child welfare system.
The National Center for Youth Law filed the lawsuit, which also personally names Governor Kenny Guinn, state Health and Human Services Director Michael Willden, and Clark County officials.
The suit charges the defendants with causing serious harm to child in the system. The suit does not seek money, it asks for system-wide reform.
The suit points out that at least 79 children have died of abuse of neglect at the hands of their parents, foster parents, or other caregivers while under the watch of the Clark County Department of Family Services.
The suit also claims there has been much documentation of the county's failure to protect children in the foster care system and that the system hides "behind a veil of confidentiality meant to protect children and families, but which the county has used to shield itself from oversight and criticism."
Mike Willden, who is named in the lawsuit, spoke recently with Eyewitness News about the possibility of a lawsuit.
"A lawsuit on the other hand may be the best thing that happens because it'll ultimately help get services to kids sorely needing services. But it pulls away a lot of resources to go to the lawyer up mode," he said.
The lawsuit had Clark County officials scrambling for a response. About three and half hours following Wednesday afternoon's news conference, Assistant County Manager Darryl Martin talked about the lawsuit.
He says an overall plan for recommendations for improvements will be presented to the board of county commissioners sometime next month.
Send feedback to Investigative Reporter Colleen McCarty at cmccarty@klastv.com
