PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — Tabor Community Partners, a Philadelphia nonprofit, is agreeing to pay $11 million to settle allegations that it failed to protect an infant in its care.
The baby was abused and neglected by her biological parents – who are also responsible for their other child’s leg fracture – from 2017 through 2018. All of this led to a DHS Near Fatality Review and Report.
"The child was beaten badly and sustained severe brain injuries and was rendered quadriplegic and catastrophically injured for life,” said Shanin Specter with the Law Firm Kline & Specter.
“It's just a terrible tragedy that a child welfare services agency would not undertake to do their responsibilities appropriately.
The lawsuit, filed by her adoptive mother, alleges Tabor Community Partners provided “inadequate in-home safety and case management services” to the baby, as they were responsible for providing child welfare services for her through its contract with the Philadelphia Department of Human Services.
They allegedly failed to complete required weekly visits to ensure the infant’s safety, obtain the child’s medical records, and ensure that the child was attending well-baby visits.
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Specter says it's crucial to go after institutions who fail to protect the most vulnerable.
“It's vitally important to hold responsible the child welfare services agencies, and when they don't do so, it's important for there to be accountability through the court system on those failings.”
The girl is now in the care of her adoptive parents. Her biological mother was sentenced to a maximum of seven years in prison in 2019 for the abuse.
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Two CHOP workers are being accused of failing to report signs of abuse or neglect before the baby suffered the traumatic injuries.
CHOP told KYW Newsradio it does not comment on pending litigation.
DHS and Tabor Community Partners did not return our request for comment.