Lawsuits, settlements raise questions about DCF accountability in Connecticut

A string of high-profile cases involving Connecticut’s Department of Children and Families is raising questions about whether warning signs were missed and whether more could have been done to prevent harm.

One way families try to get answers is through the courts.

NBC Connecticut Investigates examined how often the state has faced claims tied to DCF, focusing on allegations of negligence in wrongful death and personal injury cases.

In May, a judge heard arguments in a civil lawsuit over the death of 7-month-old Aaden Moreno, who was killed in 2015 after being thrown from the Arrigoni Bridge in Middletown. His father is serving a 70-year sentence for murder.

The lawsuit alleges DCF workers did not attend a court hearing where Aaden’s mother sought to extend a restraining order against his father. It also claims there was no follow-up after that order expired.

Attorneys are seeking $15 million in damages. The state maintains DCF followed protocol and said its investigation remained active when Aaden was killed. The judge has not yet issued a ruling.

In another case, the state agreed to a $2 million settlement following the 2016 death of 15-month-old Michael Citron, who died in foster care after being given a type of over-the-counter cold and allergy medication.

A 2017 case involving 17-year-old Matthew Tirado also led to a settlement. Tirado died from starvation and dehydration after DCF had been involved with his family for more than a decade, closing the case just weeks before his death. A report from the Office of the Child Advocate later called his death preventable. The state settled for $1.6 million.

The largest payout involving DCF came in 2023, when Connecticut agreed to a $12 million settlement in a personal injury case involving a child known as “Baby Dylan.”

An OCA investigation found that during multiple visits to his foster home, a caseworker was told the child was sleeping and left without seeing him. When he was later removed, he was severely malnourished and had untreated injuries, some of which still affect him today.

Before a lawsuit can be filed against the state, it must first be approved by the Office of the Claims Commissioner, a process that can take years.

Records show the claims commissioner has approved at least four additional wrongful death claims involving DCF since 2017. Several others remain under review.

One pending case involves 11-year-old Jacqueline “Mimi” Torres-Garcia, whose body was found in October 2025 behind an abandoned building in New Britain.

Records show DCF had prior contact with her family. During an earlier investigation involving a sibling, a social worker conducted a video call with someone investigators now believe was impersonating the child. Police say Mimi may have already been dead at that point.

Another case that has come under scrutiny involves a Waterbury man who alleges his stepmother held him captive for decades. He claims DCF made multiple visits to the home but did not identify abuse or neglect. His attorneys have started the claims process as a step toward a potential lawsuit.

A woman from Bristol alleges she was sexually assaulted thousands of times and impregnated as a child by a man who had been granted guardianship through probate court. DCF reported investigating the family dozens of times but said it did not place her in the home. She has filed a claim seeking permission to sue, which has not yet been approved.

Being granted permission to sue does not mean the state is liable. Each case must still be proven in court.

In response to NBC Connecticut’s questions, DCF Commissioner Susan Hamilton provided the following statement:

“In the aftermath of any tragedy involving a family known to DCF, whether it results in litigation or not, the Department conducts a critical review of the circumstances to determine what, if anything, could be improved to reduce the likelihood of similar outcomes in the future. These reviews may lead to changes in policy, practice, training, supervision, quality assurance measures, or resource allocation. Our goal is not simply to respond to individual incidents, but to continuously strengthen the child welfare system through thoughtful analysis and evidence-based improvements.

However, we recognize the complexity of child welfare work. We are continually striving to enhance our services and support for children and families while remaining mindful that unnecessary or overly intrusive government intervention can itself cause trauma and have long-lasting consequences for families. The challenge is to strike the appropriate balance between protecting children from harm and respecting the rights and autonomy of families.

Public perception of the Department’s work is often shaped by the relatively small number of cases that end in tragedy. Those cases deserve scrutiny, and we deeply understand that the loss of even one child is one too many. The public is rightly concerned when an agency entrusted with protecting children is perceived to have fallen short of that responsibility.

However, it is important to recognize that DCF works with thousands of children and families each year, many of whom experience improved safety, stability, and well-being through the services and support provided by the Department and its community partners. Those successes often receive far less public attention than the most tragic outcomes.

For that reason, DCF approaches all cases through a continuous quality improvement framework rather than a reactionary one. While tragedies must be examined carefully and lessons learned, meaningful reform is best achieved through thoughtful, data-informed analysis. We remain focused on learning, improving, and strengthening our ability to protect children and support families across Connecticut.”

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