The law firm A Better Childhood (ABC) has initiated a class action lawsuit to force Minnesota to improve its child protection and foster care programs. While the state is a named party, ABC’s focus is primarily on Hennepin County. Legal challenges by ABC and its predecessor organizations have jolted numerous states and counties into making child welfare reforms.
But ABC should justify this particular lawsuit. The estimated $25 million in legal costs will likely come out of programs. And while Hennepin hasn’t yet turned the corner, it is already implementing many of the remedies that other jurisdictions have agreed to only after years of legal wrangling.
We hope ABC will pursue a quick settlement that defers further court action if Hennepin keeps making progress on an agreed-to set of reforms.