Massachusetts Circuit Court Finds No Civil Rights Violations In Foster Care Class Action

On December 17, 2014, a three-judge panel of the Massachusetts First Circuit Court ruled that although flaws exist in the state’s foster care system, the plaintiffs in the Connor B. v. Patrick class action lawsuit had not proved that the system violated their civil rights. The Circuit Court decision supported an earlier District Court decision. The three-judge panel said that improvements to the foster care system must come through the legislature, not through the courts.

The Connor B lawsuit was filed in 2010 by Children’s Rights on behalf of six named plaintiffs. The plaintiffs alleged that . . .