$166 Million Verdict Assessed Against NJ Child Protection Agency in Essex County, NJ Child Abuse Case

On December 13, 2013, a jury in Essex County, NJ handed down a landmark $166 million verdict in favor of an infant who was been beaten to the point of brain damage and permanent blindness by a parent who the NJ child welfare agency allowed to keep custody of the child. The suit alleged that the state agency had received notice of the abusive nature of the parent on multiple occasions and violated at least 17 of its own policies in negligently failing to remove the child from custody. As a result of the agency's failure to act, the child was left in a dangerous environment and suffered severe and permanent injuries at the hands of the abusive parent.