Children & Youth / Adoption
Children & Youth / Adoption
Settlement brings new hope for Oregon children in foster care
After five years of litigation — including over 2,700 hours donated by DWT lawyers and legal professionals — Andrew McStay and William D. Miner achieved a landmark settlement agreement that promises to improve the lives of thousands of children in foster care in the state of Oregon. Working in partnership with co-counsel at A Better Childhood, Disability Rights Oregon, and Rizzo Bosworth Eraut PC, the team challenged the state of Oregon’s ongoing failure to provide proper care and placement for children in the foster care system.
Settlement brings new hope for Oregon children in foster care
After five years of litigation — including over 2,700 hours donated by DWT lawyers and legal professionals — Andrew McStay and William D. Miner achieved a landmark settlement agreement that promises to improve the lives of thousands of children in foster care in the state of Oregon. Working in partnership with co-counsel at A Better Childhood, Disability Rights Oregon, and Rizzo Bosworth Eraut PC, the team challenged the state of Oregon’s ongoing failure to provide proper care and placement for children in the foster care system.
They first won certification for a class that included all children currently in the system. Then, on the eve of trial, an agreement was reached that subjects the Oregon Department of Human Services to higher levels of accountability. The state will be required to work with an outside expert over the next decade to improve its performance in placing children in appropriate settings, curtailing bad treatment and abuse, and ensuring quality medical and mental health care for the children in its care.
The presiding federal judge also ruled that the state of Oregon must pay more than $11 million in legal fees and costs to the plaintiffs. The judge, quoting Nelson Mandela, stated that “'There can be no keener revelation of a society’s soul than the way in which it treats its children.’ . . . Measured by that metric, Plaintiffs’ case has been a resounding success.”
DWT LEGAL TEAM
Jennifer Logan Davis | David MacKenzie | Andrew McStay | William D. Miner | Malinda Quirante | Renee Robillard
The most important outcome of this case will be improving how the state of Oregon cares for its most vulnerable youth. We are proud to have worked hard, along with our talented co-counsel, to achieve a settlement that advances that goal. We are also proud that the Court recognized the strength and importance of our work by awarding nearly all of the legal fees and costs we requested. We look forward to using the award to support future work that furthers our longstanding commitment to social impact and pro bono service.
Andrew McStay
DWT PARTNER
They first won certification for a class that included all children currently in the system. Then, on the eve of trial, an agreement was reached that subjects the Oregon Department of Human Services to higher levels of accountability. The state will be required to work with an outside expert over the next decade to improve its performance in placing children in appropriate settings, curtailing bad treatment and abuse, and ensuring quality medical and mental health care for the children in its care.
The presiding federal judge also ruled that the state of Oregon must pay more than $11 million in legal fees and costs to the plaintiffs. The judge, quoting Nelson Mandela, stated that “'There can be no keener revelation of a society’s soul than the way in which it treats its children.’ . . . Measured by that metric, Plaintiffs’ case has been a resounding success.”
DWT LEGAL TEAM
Jennifer Logan Davis | David MacKenzie | Andrew McStay | William D. Miner | Malinda Quirante | Renee Robillard
The most important outcome of this case will be improving how the state of Oregon cares for its most vulnerable youth. We are proud to have worked hard, along with our talented co-counsel, to achieve a settlement that advances that goal. We are also proud that the Court recognized the strength and importance of our work by awarding nearly all of the legal fees and costs we requested. We look forward to using the award to support future work that furthers our longstanding commitment to social impact and pro bono service.
Andrew McStay
DWT PARTNER
Conrad Wilton, Brad Miller, and Sam Turner volunteered with nonprofit partner Public Counsel to assist families with the adoption of their children. Wilton finalized paperwork with lightning speed to assist a family seeking to expedite an adoption as the adopting parent needed to care for her mother who has a terminal illness. While finalizing an adoption, Miller helped a family obtain retroactive and future adoption assistance benefits to support the child’s developmental needs. In celebration of Adoption Day 2024, Turner helped a family finalize the adoption of their daughter. “These cases are always the best,” he says. “Everyone wins.”
Conrad Wilton, Brad Miller, and Sam Turner volunteered with nonprofit partner Public Counsel to assist families with the adoption of their children. Wilton finalized paperwork with lightning speed to assist a family seeking to expedite an adoption as the adopting parent needed to care for her mother who has a terminal illness. While finalizing an adoption, Miller helped a family obtain retroactive and future adoption assistance benefits to support the child’s developmental needs. In celebration of Adoption Day 2024, Turner helped a family finalize the adoption of their daughter. “These cases are always the best,” he says. “Everyone wins.”
DWT's Pro Bono & Social Impact Department made a difference in the lives of children and families during many different service days nationwide:
Prepared 5,000 bags for Page Ahead to distribute books to pre-K and elementary school students in under-resourced schools throughout Washington state.
Helped Project Sunshine build 500 sensory play kits for children ages 5 to 10 who are hospitalized or have other acute medical needs.
Joined KABOOM!, Eat. Learn. Play. Foundation, and the Oakland Unified School District to build new play structures, plant a garden, and beautify a new play space at Piedmont Avenue Elementary School, which serves a diverse population of students from low-income families.
Decorated and assembled 40 care bags containing blankets, stuffed animals, and hygiene products, which were donated to the DC Child and Family Services Agency for children in foster care.
Volunteered at the Food Lifeline warehouse to sort and repackage food donations, which were distributed to local food banks, shelters, and meal programs in Western Washington.
Assembled about 100 backpacks filled with necessities for school-age and preschool children at Casa Marianella, a migrant shelter in Austin, and created personalized notes, translated into five different languages commonly spoken there.
Made and donated more than 1,000 sandwiches to help Martha’s Table provide meals to community members in Washington, D.C., who otherwise would not have access to healthy food.
DAVIS WRIGHT TREMAINE LLP
Ability, integrity, and service to others – these are the three pillars on which Davis Wright Tremaine was built. As our founding partner once famously said, “…unless we are serving mankind to the top extent of our ability and putting our best talent into that service, what good is life?”
Learn More at DWT.COM
CONTENTS
What We Do and Why >
The Power of Partnerships >
Civil Rights and Social Justice >
- Voting Rights
- Journalists/First Amendment
- Women’s Rights
- LGBTQIA+
- Prisoner/Civil Rights
Advocacy for Underserved Communities >
- Veterans
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Awards and Recognition >
Our Pro Bono & Social Impact Team >
CONTENTS
What We Do and Why >
The Power of Partnerships >
Civil Rights and Social Justice >
- Voting Rights
- Journalists/First Amendment
- Women’s Rights
- LGBTQIA+
- Prisoner/Civil Rights
Advocacy for Underserved Communities >
- Veterans
- Homelessness Prevention
- DV Protection
- Immigration
Awards and Recognition >
Our Pro Bono & Social Impact Team >
DAVIS WRIGHT TREMAINE LLP
Ability, integrity, and service to others – these are the three pillars on which Davis Wright Tremaine was built. As our founding partner once famously said, “…unless we are serving mankind to the top extent of our ability and putting our best talent into that service, what good is life?”
Learn More at DWT.COM
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