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Commonwealth agrees to $10M settlement in death of David Almond under DCF care
The agreement would create $2.9 million trusts for each surviving brother and fund memorial grants for neurodivergent children, attorneys said.
- On Wednesday, the Commonwealth of Massachusetts proposed a $10 million settlement to resolve a lawsuit over the 2020 starvation death of 14-year-old David Almond under the Department of Children and Families.
- The lawsuit alleged that DCF ignored repeated warnings and returned David to his father, John Almond, and girlfriend, Jaclyn Marie Coleman, despite a juvenile court finding the father was "unfit to care" for the children.
- Each of David's two surviving brothers will receive a $2.9 million trust, while $750,000 will establish two memorial funds at the SouthCoast Community Foundation to support neurodivergent children in foster care.
- Justice Law Collaborative attorney Paula Bliss stated the resolution holds the Commonwealth and DCF accountable for "systemic failures," while DCF said it subsequently strengthened evaluation policies and created a Disability Services Unit in 2022.
- A judge must now approve the settlement, which includes an additional $3.4 million for attorneys' fees, concluding a case the Office of the Child Advocate described as a "multi-system failure.
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Mass. agrees to $10M settlement in boy's starvation death
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts has proposed a $10 million settlement to resolve a lawsuit over the 2020 death of a 14-year-old boy who starved to death while under the care of the Department of Children and Families.On Oct. 21, 2020, David Almond was discovered unresponsive at the Fall River apartment of his biological father. Almond, who had been returned to his father’s home after time in state care, was found emaciated, bruised and living …
·Springfield, United States
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Proposed $10M settlement aims to help David Almond’s brothers, other children in foster care
The lawsuit was filed three years ago and alleges DCF and its employees were repeatedly alerted to signs of physical abuse, neglect and exposure to drugs before David’s death.
·Boston, United States
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Total News Sources11
Leaning Left1Leaning Right0Center7Last UpdatedBias Distribution87% Center
Bias Distribution
- 87% of the sources are Center
87% Center
13%
C 87%
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