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Riverside County in California has agreed to pay more than $4.2 million to two siblings who alleged they were sexually abused in a foster home after county social workers failed to disclose another foster child’s documented history of sexual abuse and concerning sexual behavior, The Press-Enterprise reported.
The lawsuit centered on a 9-year-old boy who was placed in the same foster home as an 8-year-old boy and his 4-year-old sister in October 2021.
According to the complaint, social workers told the foster parent about some of the boy’s behavioral and family history but did not fully disclose records showing that he had previously been sexually abused and had displayed sexually inappropriate behavior.
The siblings later alleged that he sexually abused them repeatedly before being removed from the home in January 2022.
Foster Parent Had Asked for the Child to Be Removed
The lawsuit alleged that the foster parent quickly became concerned about the placement.
Within weeks, the boy reportedly made threatening and sexually inappropriate comments toward other children in the home.
Three weeks after he arrived, the foster mother gave notice that she wanted him removed.
According to the complaint, she repeatedly contacted the assigned social worker and the foster care agency about finding another placement, but the boy remained in the home for more than two months.
Records cited in the lawsuit allegedly continued to document escalating behavior during that period.
In January 2022, the older sibling disclosed that the boy had sexually assaulted him repeatedly while the foster mother was asleep or elsewhere in the home.
His younger sister later reported inappropriate touching and other sexual behavior during a forensic interview.
The boy was removed from the foster home three days after the disclosure.
The lawsuit, filed in 2023, accused Riverside County and others involved in the placement of negligence and failure to carry out mandatory duties designed to protect children in foster care.
County Did Not Admit Liability
The settlement agreement was signed in September 2026.
Riverside County did not admit liability as part of the resolution.
The county said it remains committed to preventing abuse and protecting children in its care.
The two siblings have since been adopted.
Riverside County Has Faced Similar Foster Care Abuse Claims
The case is not the first multimillion-dollar foster care sexual abuse settlement involving Riverside County.
Since 2019, the county has paid nearly $7 million to resolve separate lawsuits brought by foster children who alleged they were sexually abused after being placed with another youth who had a documented history of sexual violence.
One of those cases settled for nearly $4 million in 2024. Another earlier case resolved for nearly $3 million.
Those lawsuits similarly alleged that social workers failed to adequately warn foster families about known risks before placing children together.
Case Focuses on What Social Workers Knew Before the Placement
The central issue in the Riverside County case is not only the abuse itself, but whether county officials had information that should have changed the placement decision.
Foster care sexual abuse lawsuits often examine whether agencies disclosed known risks, responded to warning signs, removed children quickly enough and took reasonable steps to protect vulnerable children already in the home.
Related News:
California Foster Care Failures Lead to $13.5 Million Settlement for Six Abused Turpin Siblings
Survivors may have legal options when a county, foster care agency or other institution failed to protect a child from known risks.
Learn more about California sexual abuse lawsuits, deadlines and legal options.
