A proposed $10 million settlement could resolve a lawsuit stemming from the death of 14-year-old David Almond, who died after he and one of his triplet brothers were returned to their biological father’s home following time in Massachusetts DCF custody.
New tonight, a teen's death has led to a $10 million settlement.
The 14-year-old, who was once
in DCF custody before being returned to his father's home,
starved to death in Fall River.
Boston 25's Lisa Greshy reveals how the decision was made.
It led to some horrific, horrific, just pain and suffering.
Two of the attorneys behind the motion, Kim Daugherty and Paula Bliss,
from the Justice Law Collaborative,
are continuing to fight for just that,
justice for David Almond and his two brothers they were abused
and neglected they say the teen
triplets living with special needs had all
been in the custody of the Department of Children and
Families when two of the three brothers
were reunited with their biological father despite
the state later finding out
that DCF missed clear warning signs filing the original lawsuit three
years ago alleging how DCF
and its employees were repeatedly told about signs of physical abuse
neglect and exposure to drugs it was a systemic failure
um all across the board um it wasn't you
know it was DCF it was a number of case workers
this these poor boys were just just dropped every
every time they turned around um they
were just failed according to a report from the Office of
the Child Advocate first responders went
to the Fall River apartment six years ago to the day
October 21st 2020 where they found 14 year old David emaciated
and lifeless he was pronounced
dead at the hospital the motion years
in the making filed on the anniversary of that horrific
discovery asked the Suffolk Superior Court
to approve a 10 million dollar settlement arising
from the allegations surrounding David's death
and the abuse and neglect of his two siblings
It also seeks approval of two special needs trusts,
one for each brother, and a memorial scholarship fund
to help neurodivergent children in foster care.
His two surviving brothers have now been set up
for the rest of their life to have the best care possible,
to be able to see each other as often as they want,
to have a case manager in place to make sure their needs are being met,
unlike the way that they were throughout
the time they were in the foster care system.
And though this proposed settlement can't correct how David
and his brothers were cared for,
Daugherty and Bliss feel it can put necessary change further in motion.
It means that David's legacy is not anymore about how he died
and the litigation that we went through over all the failures
that resulted in his death over the past six years.
It is now about how his life will live
on and help others in the future.
