Washington Victory! Bruce Wolf, et al. v. State of Washington (Amicus, Published) – Foster Care Abuse

Sexual Violence Law Firm (SVLF) Response: “We are thrilled by the Washington State Supreme Court’s decision in Wolf v Washington, which unanimously decided to broaden access to civil remedies for child sexual abuse victims. SVLC, along with our partners at Washington Defender’s Association, Family Violence Appellate Project, and Legal Voice, submitted an amicus highlighting the higher rates of abuse young girls of color experience in the foster care system and the need for services and support for children to process and recognize past traumas before they can identify possible legal remedies.” We are pleased to report the Washington State Supreme Court agreed the broad avenues of civil redress under RCW 4.16.340 as the Washington State Legislature intended mean that a negligence claim against such a third party doesn’t accrue until the victim recognizes the connection between the third party’s wrongful conduct and the victim’s resulting injury. This opinion makes it possible for survivors who experienced childhood sexual abuse in foster care, predominantly Black and Indigenous dependent children and youth, to draw causal connections between their caretakers’ negligent actions and the promise and duty of the State to protect them. WA Supreme Court Opinion and Amicus Brief