Washington State Pays $16.95 Million in Landmark Child Abuse Settlement
Washington State has reached a landmark settlement in a child abuse case, agreeing to pay $16.95 million. The lawsuits, filed against the state, alleged that 12 boys suffered physical and sexual abuse at the J Bar D Boys Ranch, a facility that is now closed in Ione.
The abuse took place during the late 1970s to the mid-1980s when the boys, aged between 10 and 15 years old, were placed at the ranch. According to the attorneys representing the victims, the boys faced immediate and rampant sexual and physical abuse from both staff and older residents known for their deviant behavior.
The lawsuits claimed that the child welfare officials should have been aware of the abuse experienced by the children at J Bar D. The officials were accused of failing to protect the children’s basic human and social rights, including providing necessary counseling, love, affection, and guidance. The state, however, argues that they are not responsible for the abuse as it was perpetrated by the operators of the ranch.
The lead attorney for the 12 plaintiffs, Darrell Cochran, maintains that the state still maintains custody of the child during their dependency and has the authority to control their placement, ensure their welfare, and determine when they are removed from a group home or placed with a new foster family. Cochran’s team found that the state failed to investigate repeated reports of child abuse and neglected to carry out mandatory licensing investigations, verify staff qualifications, and assess the conditions at J Bar D to ensure a safe environment for the children.
The boys involved in this case suffer from permanent emotional, physical, and mental damage, according to Cochran. Nevertheless, he sees this trial and settlement as a significant step towards their healing and hopes it will bring them some closure.
During the trial, it was revealed that officials at the Washington State Department of Social and Health Service (DSHS) had not taken the abuse complaints seriously until 1984, more than five years after the initial reports. Additionally, DSHS staff were implicated in conspiring with J Bar D leaders to ignore the complaints due to financial motives. Roy Harrington, a former DSHS regional administrator, expressed disbelief at the agency’s lack of action, saying, It ran contrary to everything an agency responsible for children should be paying attention to.
One of the J Bar D staff members involved in the abuse was psychologist Dave Goodwin, who knowingly overcharged the state for services not provided to the children. It was further alleged that DSHS staff refused to speak with the children or investigate the complaints, regularly alerting Goodwin to their actions. Goodwin embezzled a significant sum of money, spending it on personal luxuries like vacations, vehicles, and even an airplane.
It wasn’t until the demands from Pend Oreille County Sheriff Tony Bamonte, who had been hearing complaints for years, that the state finally took action. Sheriff Bamonte reached out to the governor’s office as early as 1981, urging an investigation. Ultimately, J Bar D and its affiliated facility, Reynolds Creek Boys Ranch near Cusick, had their contracts revoked in 1984 after a judge found evidence of widespread substandard care and abuse, leading to the company’s closure.
In conclusion, the victims of the J Bar D Boys Ranch abuse experienced tremendous suffering due to institutional neglect. The lawsuits against Washington State have shed light on the state’s failure to protect these vulnerable children and their basic rights. The $16.95 million settlement marks an important step towards justice and healing for the victims, and it is hoped that this case will serve as a catalyst for greater attention and improvements in child welfare systems to prevent such abuse in the future.
