Main Line Child Care Agency Must Pay $5.35 Million In Child Sex Abuse Case

A Montgomery County foster care agency must pay $5.35 million in damages for repeatedly placing a young girl in a foster home where she was sexually assaulted, according to litigators.

Lawyers with Kline and Specter, P.C. said that Presbyterian Children's Village, based in twice placed the child, who was seven-years-old at the time, in a home where she was sexually abused.

A Philadelphia jury ruled in a civil trial Friday that Presbyterian must pay $5 million in compensatory damages and $350,000 in punitive damages to the victim.

“This verdict is a message that child safety must be protected," said Nadeem Bezar, who tried the plaintiff’s case with Emily Marks, both attorneys with Kline & Specter, PC, of Philadelphia. "This is a message from the jury to PCV and all foster care agencies that they must be diligent."

In November 2012, the child was placed in the care of Deborah and Walter Scott for three days, litigators said. When she was moved to a new foster home, she reported the abuse to her new foster mother.

Despite knowing about the report, Presbyterian continued to place children with the Scotts, even after hearing another child make the same allegations. They then placed the original child with the Scotts for a second time in late February of 2013.

The child reported abuse for a second time, and officials soon were able to identify several more victims.

Walter Scott has since pleaded guilty to sexual abuse.

Patch file photo.