LaPorte Superior Court Judge Richard Stalbrink Jr. approved a $15.1 million settlement for families who filed a class action lawsuit against the Indiana Department of Child Services (DCS) for its failure to pay adoption subsidies for special needs children adopted out of the foster care system.
This lawsuit was filed earlier this year alleging DCS failed to pay millions of dollars of promised adoption subsidies to more than 1400 Hoosier families. The approval of this settlement means that these families will receive lump sum checks as back payment for the subsidies.
“This is an awesome result for the families on the waiting list. Now, for the first time in five years, their voices are going to be heard and they are going to be paid,” said attorney Lynn Toops of Cohen & Malad, LLP.