WA agrees to $8M settlement in Pierce County neglect, abuse case of developmentally disabled woman
Jun 30, 2025, 1:05 PM
Exterior of the Washington State Department of Social and Health Services. (Photo courtesy of DSHS)
(Photo courtesy of DSHS)
Washington has announced it will pay $8 million to settle a Pierce County case after a developmentally disabled woman was abused and neglected for years while under her family’s care.
The settlement comes after the woman’s court-appointed guardian filed a lawsuit against the Washington State Department of Social and Health Services (DSHS) and the Washington State Department of Children, Youth, and Families (DCYF). According to The Tacoma News Tribune, the guardian claimed the state ignored more than a dozen warnings, dating back to when the woman, now 25 years old, was just a toddler.
Multiple referrals to the state agencies in question expressed concerns that the woman was being neglected, sexually abused, and exploited for disability benefits while living in a run-down home that social workers refused to visit without law enforcement, the lawsuit, obtained by The Tacoma News Tribune, said.
The developmentally disabled woman was under the care of her mother until her death in 2022. Her mother had a history of drug addiction. Other people on the mother’s property allegedly looked after her once her mom died. These people were residing in vehicles on the property, had drug abuse issues, and were armed with various weapons.
When her court-appointed guardian removed her from the property, they found the woman was underfed and weak, and had physical wounds described as “branding” from the other people on the property.
The state, which denied allegations of wrongdoing, entered into the agreement without admitting liability.
“We hope that this settlement will provide support and assistance as (the plaintiff) continues her journey toward healing from the abuse and neglect she endured,” DSHS spokesperson Adolfo Capestany said in a statement. “DSHS remains committed to serving the health, well-being, and protection of vulnerable adults, and assisting them with living in safe and supportive environments.”
The trust funds will ensure that the woman will have lifelong access to adult care, the victim’s attorney stated.
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