A recent claim filed against Los Angeles County alleges that a woman appointed by the Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS) to supervise visits between a mother and her 17-month-old son had a history of abusing her own children. The monitor is accused of physically abusing her three daughters, ages 3, 8, and 10, by whipping them with belt buckles, administering sleeping pills, and providing inadequate nutrition.
This same monitor was present during a supervised visit in February 2024 when the toddler died from fentanyl exposure after his grandfather smoked the drug nearby and then fell asleep. Both the mother and grandfather have been charged with murder, while the monitor faces child abuse charges. The family of the monitor's daughters intends to file a $75-million lawsuit against the county, highlighting concerns about DCFS's approval process for selecting visit supervisors.
Attorney Brian Claypool is representing the family of three children who allege that Los Angeles County DCFS approved an abusive mother to supervise visits for another abusive parent—an oversight that tragically ended in a toddler’s fentanyl-related death. “DCFS approved an abusive mother to monitor an abusive mother,” said Claypool. “It’s almost like putting gasoline on a match.” Known for advocating in high-profile child abuse cases, including that of the 10-year-old child, Claypool is also representing the child’s father in a separate $65 million lawsuit against the county.