Los Angeles County has agreed to pay $20m to the family of four-year-old Noah Cuatro, who was tortured to death by his parents in 2019. The settlement resolves a lawsuit filed by his great-grandmother, Eva Hernandez, who alleged that the county's Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS) failed to protect the boy despite multiple reports of abuse.
Noah died in hospital days before his fifth birthday after being found motionless at the family's home in Palmdale. His parents, Jose Maria Cuatro Jr and Ursula Elaine Juarez, pleaded no contest to murder and torture charges. The boy had been under DCFS supervision since birth after his mother was accused of fracturing his half-sister's skull.
The lawsuit claimed that the department ignored a court order requiring it to remove Noah from his parents within 10 days and have him examined by a doctor. The Los Angeles Times reported that social workers failed to act despite multiple reports of neglect and abuse.
In a statement, DCFS said it hopes the resolution brings Noah's family peace and that it has since hired thousands of social workers, reduced caseloads, and retrained staff. County Supervisor Kathryn Barger said the case reinforced the need for stronger child welfare oversight and partnerships with schools.
Brian Claypool, the family's attorney, stated that Noah's death was a direct result of the county failing to follow the court order. The settlement was announced on Tuesday.
