Archive | June 4, 2020

Verdict for Mother DCFS Removed Child From Without First Obtaining a Warrant

2016 WL 8200383 (Cal.Super.) (Verdict, Agreement and Settlement)
Superior Court of California,
Central District.
Los Angeles County
Rafaelina DUVAL, Plaintiff,
v.
COUNTY OF LOS ANGELES; Susan Pender, Kimberly Rogers Muzeyyen Balaban, Candis Nelson Tika Smith, Victoria Scheele, Elba Pinedo, Defendants.
No. BC470714.
November 3, 2016.
Verdict Form # 1
We, the jury, answer the questions submitted to us as follows:
42 U.S.C. § 1983 (Unwarranted Seizure)
1. As to each defendant listed below, answer the following question: Did defendant(s) remove, or participate in making the decision to remove Rafaelina Duval’s child from her care without first obtaining a warrant?
Defendant Susan Pender
12 Yes
_____ No
Defendant Kimberly Rogers
12 Yes
_____ No
If any of your answers to question 1 is “yes,” as to any defendant, then answer question 2. If you answered “no,” to all defendants then skip to question number 13.
Defense of Exigency
2. Have Defendants proven that, at the time they seized the child, they possessed specific and articulable facts to show that RafaelinaDuval’s son was likely to experience serious bodily harm in the time it would take to obtain a warrant?
Defendant Susan Pender
2 Yes
10 No
Defendant Kimberly Rogers
2 Yes
10 No
If any of your answers to question 2 is “yes,” as to any defendant, then answer question 3. If you answered “no,” to all defendants then skip to question number 4.
3. Have Defendants proven that the removal of Rafaelina Duval’s son from her care without first obtaining a warrant was reasonably necessary to avert a specific injury on November 3, 2009.
X Yes
_____ No
If your answer to question number 3 is “yes,” then skip to question number 13. If you answered “no,” then answer question number 4.
4. Was the removal of Rafaelina Duval’s child from her care without first obtaining a warrant a substantial factor in causing harm to Rafaelina Duval?
12 Yes
__________ No
If your answer to question 4 is “yes,” then answer question 6. If you answered “no,” then skip to question number 13.
Malice, Oppression, Fraud
5. As to any defendant as to whom you answered “yes” to question number 1 did that defendant engage in the conduct with malice, oppression, or fraud?
Defendant Susan Pender
12 Yes
_____ No
Defendant Kimberly Rogers
12 Yes
_____ No
Answer question number 6.
County of Los Angeles Custom, Practice and/or Lack of Policy
(Unwarranted Seizures)
6. Did the County of Los Angeles Department of Children and Family Services (hereafter “DCFS”) have an official custom and/or practice of seizing children from their parents without a warrant?
12 Yes
__________ No
Answer question number 7.
7. Did DCFS fail to enact an official policy or procedure when it should have done so?
12 Yes
__________ No
If your answer to question 6 or 7 is “yes,” then answer question 8. If you answered “no” to both 6 and 7, then skip to question number 10.
8. Did DCFS know, because of a pattern of similar violations, or should it have been obvious to it, that its official customs or practices, or failure to enact an official policy or procedure was likely to result in the violation of a parent’s right to be free of unwarranted seizures of their children?
12 Yes
__________ No
If your answer to question number 8 is “yes,” then answer question number 9. If your answer to question number 8 is “no,” then skip to question number 10.
9. Did either Susan Pender or Kimberly Rogers act because of this official custom or practice, or lack of policy or procedure.
12 Yes
__________ No
Answer question # 10.
County of Los Angeles Training/Supervision
(Unwarranted Seizure)
10. Was DCFS’s training program and/or supervision of its employees inadequate to train and/or supervise its employees to properly handle usual and recurring situations?
12 Yes
__________ No
If your answer to question 10 is “yes,” then answer question 11. If you answered “no,” then skip to question number 13.
11. Did the DCFS know because of a pattern of similar violations, or should it have been obvious to it, that its inadequate training program and/or supervision of its employees was likely to result in the removal Rafaelina Duval’s child from her care without first obtaining a warrant?
12 Yes
__________ No
If your answer to question 11 is “yes,” then answer question 12. If you answered “no,” then skip to question number 13.
12. Was the failure to provide adequate training and/or supervision a substantial factor in causing harm to Rafaelina Duval?
12 Yes
__________ No
Proceed to question number 13.
Intentional Infliction of Emotional Distress
13. Was the conduct of Victoria Scheele outrageous?
1 Yes
11 No
If you answered “yes,” then answer question 14. If you answered “no,” But answered yes to question number 4, then skip to question number 18. If you answered “no” both this question and question number 4 then sign and return this verdict form.
14. Did Victoria Scheele intend to cause Rafaelina Duval emotional distress, or act with reckless disregard of the probability that RafaelinaDuval would suffer emotional distress?
_____ Yes
_____ No
If you answered “yes,” then answer question 15. If you answered “no,” but answered yes to question number 4, then skip to question number 18. If you answered “no” to both this question and question number 4 then sign and return this verdict form.
15. Did Rafaelina Duval suffer severe emotional distress?
_____ Yes
_____ No
If any of your answers to question 15 is “yes,” then answer question 16. If you answered “no,” then skip to question number 18.
16. Was Defendant Victoria Scheele’s conduct a substantial factor in causing Rafaelina Duval’s severe emotional distress?
_____ Yes
_____ No
If your answer to question 16 is “yes,” then answer question 17. If you answered “no,” then skip to question number 18.
Malice, Oppression, Fraud
17. Did Victoria Scheele engage in the conduct with malice, oppression, or fraud?
_____ Yes
_____ No
Answer question number 18.
18. If you answered “yes” to question number 4, then answer questions A and B. If you answered “yes” to question 16 then answer questions C and D. If you answered “yes” to both questions then answer questions A through D.
What are Rafaelina Duval’s damages?
A. Past Non-Economic Damages: Enter the amount below that you find that either Defendant Kimberly Rogers or Susan Pender or County of Los Angeles DCFS are liable for the unwarranted seizure of baby Ryan.
$ 1,650,000
B. Future Non-Economic Damages: Enter the amount below that you find that either Defendant Kimberly Rogers or Susan Pender or County of Los Angeles DCFS are liable for the unwarranted seizure of baby Ryan.
$ 1,290,000
Subtotal for Unwarranted Seizure
$ 2,940,000
What are Rafaelina Duval’s damages?
C. Past Non-Economic Damages: Enter the amount below that you find that Defendant Victoria Scheele is liable for intentional infliction of emotional distress.
$ —
D. Future Non-Economic Damages: Enter the amount below that you find that Defendant Victoria Scheele is liable for intentional infliction of emotional distress.
$ —
Subtotal for Intentional Infliction of Emotional Distress
$ —
TOTAL DAMAGES: $ 2,940,000
Signed: <<signature>>
Presiding Juror
Dated: 11/3/2016
(After all verdict forms have been signed, this verdict form must be delivered to the Court attendant.)