A jury has awarded $2 million in damages to a Northern Kentucky social services worker who alleged in a whistleblower lawsuit he suffered extensive retaliation for reporting problems at the state's child protection agency.
Among his claims: Nearly 100 cases of child abuse and neglect were misplaced and languished for months, leaving some children stuck in abusive or neglectful situations with no investigation.
Friday's verdict in Boone Circuit Court comes seven years after Tim Williams, a social services supervisor, first reported in early 2015 that children suffered as a result of serious mismanagement of cases amid chronic staffing shortages.
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Williams, who was back on the job Tuesday after last week's trial, said he's just grateful the jury heard and believed him.
"All 12 jurors heard the evidence," Williams said. "All 12 believed it happened."
Kelly Wiley, Williams' lawyer, said the retaliation included incessant harassment by supervisors who focused on silencing him rather than looking to the needs of children, including those affected after 93 cases of alleged neglect or abuse were misplaced.
"He blew the whistle on 93 children who were left in pretty dire situations for months," Wiley said.
The Cabinet for Health and Family Services, which includes social services, provided a statement saying that officials "disagree" with the jury verdict.
"We are reviewing the record of...
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