Suing for Foster Home Abuse
Las Vegas, Nevada

Foster care abuse & neglect

If you or somebody you know suffered foster home abuse and want to sue, call us at 702-432-1000.

We represent clients in Las Vegas and Nevada.

What is a foster care home?

Foster care or foster care home is a temporary living arrangement provided to children and youth who cannot live with their biological parents or guardians for various reasons.

Who owns the foster care home?

Foster care homes, also known as foster homes or group homes, are typically owned and operated by licensed foster care agencies, non-profit or private organizations.

The primary focus of foster care is to provide a safe and nurturing environment for children who cannot live with their biological families.

Occasionally, they fail to do so, and children suffer physical and emotional abuse or neglect in the foster care system.

Why does foster home abuse happen?

There could be different reasons for abuse in the foster care system. It involves:

• Inadequate screening,
• Limited resources and support for foster parents,
• High caseloads and no oversight, or
• Previous trauma and the child's behavioral issues.

There is no excuse for the abuse and neglect, and if you suffered physical or emotional abuse while in a foster home, call us at 702-432-1000 to discuss your case.

We don't charge for consultations.

Who is liable for foster home abuse?

When the foster parent fails to adequately supervise and protect the child from harm or prevent dangerous situations, they are negligent and fail to fulfill their duty of care towards the child.

Under Nevada law, a negligent party (or multiple negligent parties in some cases) is financially responsible for all damages to their victims.

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What evidence do you need to file a lawsuit?

To build a strong case, you need evidence. It may include:

• Medical records,
• Photos and videos,
• Witness statements,
• Documentation of the foster home's history or previous incidents,
• Other relative information.

Who can file a lawsuit?

• A victim of abuse who left a foster care home at the age of 18,
• Parent, guardian, or appointed legal guardian,
• Biological parents,
• Relatives or extended family,
• An attorney can file a lawsuit on behalf of a victim.

Time limits to file a lawsuit for foster care abuse

In Nevada, after the victim reaches 18, they have two (2) years to file a lawsuit for foster care abuse and neglect.

Is foster home abuse a personal injury or a criminal case?

Foster home abuse can involve personal injury and criminal aspects, depending on the abuse's specific circumstances and nature.

From a personal injury perspective, if a child in foster care has suffered harm or injury due to abuse or neglect in a foster home, it can be considered a personal injury case. In such situations, the focus is on seeking compensation for the child's damages, including medical expenses, therapy costs, pain and suffering, and other related losses.

However, if it involves criminal behavior, such as physical assault, sexual abuse, or severe neglect, foster home abuse can also be a criminal case. In criminal cases, the focus is on prosecuting the individuals responsible for the foster home abuse and potentially securing criminal penalties, such as imprisonment or fines, if found guilty.

Foster home abuse vs. neglect

Foster home abuse and foster home neglect are two different things.

Foster care abuse refers to any act or behavior that causes physical or emotional harm to a child. It involves the mistreatment or cruelty of a child by a foster parent, caregiver, or anyone involved in the foster care system. Examples of foster care abuse include physical violence, sexual abuse, and emotional abuse (such as constant belittling or humiliation).

On the other hand, foster care neglect refers to the failure of a foster parent or caregiver to meet a child's basic needs and provide adequate care and supervision. Neglect can take various forms, such as failure to provide sufficient food, clothing, shelter, medical care, education, emotional support, or protection from harm.

Both abuse and neglect in foster care are serious concerns as they can have long-lasting detrimental effects on a child's physical, emotional, and psychological well-being.

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When multiple victims involved

Foster home abuse cases usually include numerous victims and can be very complex. Under Nevada law, the at-fault party (or multiple at-fault parties) must compensate ALL victims who filed a claim.

Should all victims have the same attorney in foster home abuse cases?

No, it is not required. Often different attorneys will represent different victims. However, it is common for multiple victims of foster home abuse to be part of a larger legal action, such as a class-action lawsuit or a coordinated investigation.

What compensation to expect

Each case is unique and different; the result depends on many factors. Compensation for foster care abuse cases is usually millions of dollars.

How long does it take to settle a foster home abuse lawsuit?

In general, foster home abuse lawsuits involving multiple victims take very many years to settle, in some cases over 10 years.

It all depends on the circumstances of your case and on the willingness of all involved parties to negotiate.

We can help

Foster home abuse cases can be very complex. They often involve government agencies, non-profits, and many private corporations that own those foster homes.

You want your voice to be heard. You want to stop that foster home from abusing other children. You want to be financially compensated for the abuse you experienced.

We are here to help.

Call us at 702-432-1000 to discuss your case.

Consultations are free.

We take all foster home abuse cases on a contingency basis, which means - you pay us only when we settle your case or win at trial.

We serve clients in Las Vegas and Nevada.

Also, we are licensed in four states - Nevada, DC, California, and Utah. Call us. If we cannot help, we will find someone who can.

Last updated on January 31, 2024.

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