Ohio Amish lawsuit over child’s rape can proceed
COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — A federal judge has refused to dismiss a lawsuit filed by an Ohio Amish couple against a county children’s service agency that claims workers there are responsible for their adopted child being raped by her biological parents during a partially unsupervised visit.
The decision by Judge Benita Pearson says neither Trumbull County Children Services nor workers sued individually are entitled to immunity sometimes granted public employees or entities.
Pearson’s 19-page ruling on Tuesday didn’t directly address the merits of the complaint against the county agency but allows the lawsuit to proceed.
Messages were left Wednesday for attorneys for the county agency and the couple.
The lawsuit seeking $3 million in damages was filed in April on behalf of the couple who live in West Farmington, north of Youngstown.