Mom sues state social workers over son's death in foster care

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. -- The death of a 2-year-old Springfield child in foster care has prompted another lawsuit, this one by the boy's biological mother.

Stephanie Ford's federal lawsuit, filed this month claims that social workers Alysha Friend, Kristy Hardy and Charlene Valade used poor judgment by leaving her son, Dominic James, in a foster home where he suffered fatal abuse.

Dominic died in August 2002, shortly after he was returned to his foster father from a Springfield hospital. Officials believe he died after being severely shaken.

His former foster father, John W. Dilley Jr. of Willard, was convicted of assault and child abuse resulting in a death. He is now serving a 15-year prison sentence.

The three social workers are already defendants in a separate action filed by Dominic's biological father, Sidney James.

Sidney James has also gone to state court, filing suit this month against Cox South hospital, where Dominic was treated.

Scott Holste, a spokesman for Missouri Attorney General Jay Nixon, said he had not seen the petition and could not comment on it.

However, in responses filed last year to Sidney James' lawsuit, Nixon's office denied that the three social workers were liable for Dominic's death.

Ford's attorney, Stephen M. Ryals of St. Louis, said her case was not inspired by Sidney James' lawsuits, which were filed by Kansas City attorneys.

Friend was Dominic's assigned caseworker and Hardy was Friend's supervisor. Valade is an inspector for the hot line operated by the state Department of Family services.

The lawsuit claims Valade did not properly follow up on a call from the Willard Fire Department, reporting bruises on Dominic's back. It also claims that after telling Ford that Dominic would not be returned to the Dilley home, Friend and Hardy later met and decided not to remove him.