Lawsuit: Fresno County,California CPS-Seth Ireland case-Child Death UPDATED
“December 2008, 10-year-old Seth Ireland was sent to the hospital after his mother’s boyfriend punched and kicked him repeatedly. Seth died about a week later. Authorities say just days before Seth’s death, his mother and her boyfriend asked authorities to take Seth and his half-brother to protective custody. They were denied. Lebaron Vaughn was sentenced to 15 years to life in prison for beating Seth to death. Seth’s mother, Renae Ireland was sentenced to six years for child endangerment.
Next week, Fresno County’s child protection program will stand trial. Seth’s father, Joseph Hudson is accusing county social workers of failing to stop the violence they knew was happening. He spoke about it, several years ago. He told KSEE24, “There were a lot of steps that could have been taken by the courts, by CPS, and on and on, in which they could have protected my son, in which they didn’t do.
The civil case will focus on social workers and if they did their jobs when receiving reports of Seth’s abuse, before his death. Hudson claims CPS employees failed to take necessary actions to protect his son. But the county is denying the allegations claiming social workers conducted investigations after receiving reports of abuse. A jury will hear from about 30 witnesses, including Hudson, CPS workers, school teachers, and police officers.
Hudson is seeking an undisclosed amount of money for damages.
Both Hudson and the county’s attorneys refused to comment.
Jury selection is expected to begin Wednesday. Opening statements in the trial will start early next week.”
Fresno County’s Child Protective Services Will Stand Trial
[KSEE24 1/22/13 by Audrey Asistio]
2009 Story
“Child protective services released the complete case file Tuesday and the paper trail of possible child abuse started 4 months before Seth Ireland’s tragic death. The one inch thick report shows cps was contacted at least 6 times about possible child abuse against Seth Ireland and his 7-year old half brother, from August to December of 2008.
The caseworker wrote there is “possible physical & emotional abuse & neglect” in the home. Another report shows “the children had been allowed to use alcohol or other drugs.”
On October 12th, a neighbor called C.P.S. and was quoted saying she “can hear fighting, and believes it may be physical. Also can hear yelling at children, kids are often heard yelling “stop” and is concerned the kids may be being abused.”
Yet the case worker wrote “the allegations appeared to be unfounded and that the kids deny any abuse or neglect.”
“Going back and looking forward I think there were red flags there that had we had some information it could have been helpful to us,” said C.P.S. Director Cathi Huerta.
The most chilling details are in the December 29th report when a neighbor called C.P.S. to report that Seth had major head injuries, bruising all over his 10 year old body, and was in the trauma center.
Police said his mother’s boyfriend, Lebaron Vaughn, beat and stomped on the little boy while his mother watched. It was at that point that C.P.S.’s assessment of Seth’s safety risk in his own home went from none to severe.
But by then it was too late for Seth. He died a week later.
“It’s the information you know, have available to you,” said Huerta.
C.P.S. Director Cathi Huerta said Seth’s social worker followed protocol. “My department has responsibility to ensure children are safe, and for me to say we did everything we could, I just can’t humanly do that, I can’t do it.”
Fresno Police records show they were called to the Ireland home for various reasons 12 times between August and December. The chief said he’s already making policy changes on how and when officers deal with Child Protective Services. ”
Chilling Details in Seth Ireland Death
[KFSN 1/20/09]
REFORM Puzzle Piece
Update: “It’s been four years since Seth Ireland was brutally beaten and killed by his mother’s boyfriend. Lebaron Vaughn is now behind, sentenced to 15 years for murder.
Seth’s father believes other people are at fault as well.
Joe Hudson is accusing CPS of failing to protect his only son. He claims if social workers would have done their job, Seth might still be alive.
In civil court on Tuesday, Hudson’s attorneys tried to prove CPS ignored many warning signs and let Seth fall through the cracks.
Fresno Police officer Michael Aguilar was called to the stand. He investigated a case of abuse four months before Seth was beaten to death. He testified that all child abuse reports are sent to CPS.
Hudson’s attorney Warren Paboojian asked, “Did anybody from Child Protective Services, in three months after the incident occurred, contact you?”
Aguilar responded: “No sir.”
Hudson’s attorneys also referred to pictures of bruises on Seth’s body, suggesting abuse had been going on for awhile.
Seth was Dr. Lawrence Sue’s patient at Community Regional Medical Center. During questioning, he testified, “Some of the bruises appeared to be older bruises.”
In cross examination, the trauma surgeon admitted it’s difficult to determine the age of a bruise through photographs. He did say Seth’s injuries raised the suspicion of abuse.
The county is denying the allegations, claiming social workers did exactly what the law requires them to do.
Hudson is seeking an undisclosed amount of money for damages. In order to win the lawsuit, his attorney’s must prove CPS failed to follow legal guidelines.”
CPS Accused of Overlooking Abuse Before Seth Ireland Was Killed
[KSEE 24 1/29/13 by Angela Greenwood]
Update 2: “A neighbor and friend of Rena Ireland, whose son was beaten to death by her boyfriend four years ago, said Monday she called Fresno County Child Protective Services at least 10 times to report abuse in the Ireland home. But the agency never got back to her, she said.
Fresno resident Cynthia Potts described hearing the screaming of Ireland’s two children through the walls of the duplex she shared with the family. She said 10-year-old Seth Ireland left the home badly bruised on several occasions.
“I was concerned about the kids’ well-being,” she told jurors in Fresno County Superior Court.
Potts is the latest witness called by attorney Warren Paboojian, who is alleging on behalf of Seth’s father that county social workers did not do their job of protecting Seth.
Paboojian has been trying to build a case against the county over the past week that CPS should have acted to remove Seth from his southwest Fresno home.”
“Attorney James Weakley, who represents the county, was quick to poke holes in Potts’ testimony. He pointed out that she gave conflicting dates for her calls to CPS, noting that they were sometimes months apart. He also contended that the calls were far fewer than Potts alleged.
“I can’t remember months and years. It’s been awhile,” Potts acknowledged.
Weakly also has said that both CPS and police visited the home to investigate reports of abuse — though they might not have contacted Potts.”
“A decision in the civil case likely will hinge not on whether social workers made the right decisions, but whether they followed protocol.
Social workers are largely immune from lawsuits that challenge their discretion, an effort to prevent unfair second-guessing. Paboojian alleges that CPS didn’t comply with mandated duties to investigate reports of abuse.
Seth’s father Joseph Hudson is suing for an undisclosed amount of cash.”
Seth Ireland’s neighbor called Fresno County CPS several times
[Fresno Bee 2/4/13 by Kurtis Alexander]
“Seth Ireland’s next door neighbor knew he was in danger, not long after the boy’s mother let her new boyfriend move in back in the summer of 2007.
Within a year, Cynthia Potts started hearing banging on her shared wall while Lebaron Vaughn screamed at Seth and his half-brother.
“They were stupid, crazy, and they were going to die,” Potts said she heard Vaughn screaming. “What do you mean?” asked Warren Paboojian, who represents Ireland’s father, Joe Hudson. “Did he say they were going to die soon?”
“He said both of them were going to die soon,” Potts said.
Potts says she saw bruises on Seth, like the black eye he had in his school picture in 2008, but the boy seemed terrified to talk to her.
So, she says she called police and Child Protective Services repeatedly over the course of a few months.
“How many times do you think you called?” Paboojian asked.
“I called numerous times,” Potts said.
“More than 10?” Paboojian asked.
“About that many,” Potts said.
But CPS says its records show only one such call — from an anonymous reporter, even though Potts says she would’ve identified herself.
The CPS hotline call taker says her notes show there was a threat of physical abuse and behavior that was dangerous, but not extremely dangerous.
Her report made no mention of a specific death threat.
“Did the reporting person ever tell you specifically or words to the effect of ‘I can hear the man telling them they’re not going to live long?'” Paboojian asked call taker Melinda Garvey. “No,” she said.
“Or they’re going to die soon. Anything like that?” Paboojian asked.
“No,” Garvey said.
Two and a half months later, Lebaron Vaughn killed Seth Ireland.
He’s now serving a life sentence.
CPS reviewed its actions in the case and changed some policies, but eventually determined they didn’t do anything wrong.
The jury in Ireland’s father’s lawsuit against the county will decide if they should’ve done more. ”
Neighbor says several calls made to CPS before Ireland murder
[KFSN 2/5/13 by Corin Hoggard]
Update 3: “The social worker went through almost three hours of often heated questioning Thursday. Her main contention is that she believed Seth and his half-brother when they told her — on two occasions — they were safe at home.
Reports of abuse to Seth Ireland and his half-brother brought CPS to his school two times in the fall of 2008.
Katie Wettlaufer investigated those reports and both times, she decided to leave the boys in their mother’s home. The social worker says the entire family convinced her the home was safe, although Seth cast a bad light on his father’s home.
“He told me his dad and his dad’s wife used drugs in their home, but there was no drug use at his mother’s home,” Wettlaufer said of her conversation with Seth Ireland.
Seth’s father is now suing the county. His attorney says CPS ignored warning signs and left Seth in danger.
Warren Paboojian accused Wettlaufer of failing to follow up on two abuse reports — from a school principal who had concern of abuse, and from a next-door neighbor, who heard it happening.
Cynthia Potts warned CPS that Lebaron Vaughn was controlling Rena Ireland and her two sons and reported abuse in progress at least twice. But Wettlaufer says she checked on one of those reports and Vaughn again convinced her nothing was wrong.
“The reporting person that reported this to you is telling you that the boyfriend, the same person that’s giving you this information, is threatening the children, yelling and screaming at Seth and you’re believing what he’s telling you on that day, is that your testimony?” Paboojian asked her.
“Yes,” Wettlaufer said.
And she said Carla Manning’s report didn’t seem to merit significant follow-up, because the principal reported the Ireland boys always had an explanation for the injuries — like this black eye in Seth’s school picture.
“Did you have any reason to believe that the reasons the children were giving to the principal were not true?” asked Leslie Dillahunty, who represents Fresno County in the trial.
“No,” said Wettlaufer. “I didn’t have any reason.”
Wettlaufer admitted she never contacted the principal or the neighbor herself. She’ll be back on the witness stand on Monday when the trial enters its third week.”
CPS worker grilled over Seth Ireland case
[KFSN 2/7/13 by Corin Hoggard]
Update 4: “The former head of Fresno County’s Social Services Department said in court Wednesday that the beating death of a boy four years ago might have been avoided if the agency had done things differently.
Her comments came as the county child protection program faces a challenge that it botched the handling of 10-year-old Seth Ireland, who was killed by his mother’s boyfriend despite multiple opportunities for the county to intervene.
“I’m not saying it couldn’t have been (prevented),” said Cathi Huerta, who retired from the county in 2011. “I thought there needed to be further investigation” of Seth’s case by her department after his death.
Still, attorneys for Seth’s father, who are pursuing a wrongful death suit against the county, have more to prove before winning any damages in the Superior Court civil case.
Child social workers are largely immune to challenges about their decisions (to prevent second-guessing in difficult situations).
County attorneys have underscored that the case isn’t about whether social workers could have or should have acted differently.Warren Paboojian, the attorney for Seth’s father, Joseph Hudson, is attempting to show that social workers simply did not perform their state-mandated duties.During Wednesday’s hearing, Huerta spent most of her brief time on the witness stand reliving her role as a champion of the oft-criticized agency, saying social workers consistently follow their job guidelines.
Huerta was employed by the county for 37 years.
Specifically, she told jurors that workers follow state rules for following up on reports of child abuse, even when it’s difficult to get hold of the parents.
In the Ireland case, Seth’s mother and boyfriend — both jailed for Seth’s death — reportedly tried to avoid social workers.
Social workers “are to do whatever they can do to make contact and complete the investigation,” Huerta said.
Paboojian, however, countered that the social worker assigned to Seth’s case did not do enough to contact Seth’s mother and boyfriend.
The social worker made three unsuccessful attempts to reach the couple at their Fresno home shortly before Seth’s death on Jan 6, 2009, according to the suit.
The social worker then filed her report, the suit says, essentially concluding there was no problem.
The suit also says the social worker failed to complete a case plan.
This failure to complete the plan is one of several missteps that Paboojian alleges of county social workers, any of which he says might have prevented Seth’s death.
Child Protective Services has long taken heat for not doing enough to safeguard children, a criticism that mounted during Huerta’s oversight of the program. Ireland’s death was among three in as many years that took place while social workers were looking into problems.
Huerta has long stood by her department’s performance.
Attorneys for the county have argued that social workers, at the least, have met the standards for doing their job.
Testimony in the three-week trial is expected to wrap up early next week.”
Seth Ireland’s death could have been avoided, former CPS chief says
[The Fresno Bee 2/13/13 by Kurtis Alexander]
Update 5:”On Tuesday [February 19, 2013], Paboojian asked jurors to award his client $6 million for emotional suffering. The attorney for Seth’s half-brother asked for an additional $3 million for his client.
County attorneys closed their arguments saying the death of the boy was tragic, but social workers who investigated Seth’s home did all that can be expected of them to prevent it.
“In order to judge the conduct of people, you have to look at what they knew at the time they were making decisions,” said attorney James Weakley, with the law firm Weakley & Arendt.
Weakley argued that social workers had little reason to believe that Seth was in imminent danger. Those interviewed in the investigation, from school teachers to police officers to Seth himself, did not identify Vaughn as an immediate threat, he told jurors.
Child protection employees are largely immune from lawsuits challenging their decisions (to prevent second-guessing of complex situations).
Paboojian has attempted to distinguish that he is challenging the county not because of its decisions but because social workers did not follow their mandated duties. Had social workers investigated the case properly — taken reports, for example, and followed up more quickly — they would have seen problems and addressed them, he argued. He has tried to paint a culture of indifference at CPS.
“This is complacency at its worst,” Paboojian said. “We can’t have that as a community.”
Closing arguments begin in Seth Ireland CPS trial
[The Fresno Bee 2/19/13 by Kurtis Alexander]
“Total damages were set at $8.5 million in Seth Ireland civil case on Friday.
A verdict was reached against Fresno County Child Protective Services (CPS) in connection with the death of Seth Ireland. The verdict stated that Fresno County did violate its mandatory duties by not protecting the 10-year-old boy.
Fresno County will take 65 percent of the blame in the death of Seth Ireland. Convicted murderer Lebaron Vaughn will take 25 percent and mother Rena Ireland 10 percent of the blame.
Damages of $5 million were awarded to Seth Ireland’s father Joe Hudson, and $3.5 million was awarded to Seth’s younger brother Jervon Ireland.
Lebaron Vaughn murdered Seth Ireland four years ago and he’s now serving a life sentence. Child Protective Services got several calls reporting abuse against Seth Ireland and his half-brother Jervon. Seth’s father say the agency missed at least four chances to step in and save the boy’s life.”
Verdict: Fresno County CPS violated duties in Seth Ireland case
[KFSN 2/22/13 by Corin Hoggard]
Update 6: “Attorneys for Fresno County are asking a judge to throw out a verdict that holds Child Protective Services responsible for the fatal beating of 10-year-old Seth Ireland.
In documents filed last month in Superior Court, law firm Weakley & Arendt argues that the county had immunity from legal action because California law largely protects social workers from critics who second-guess their decisions.
The law firm also argues that the $8.5 million of damages awarded to Seth’s father, Joseph Hudson, and Seth’s stepbrother, Jervon Ireland, is excessive.
The county’s court filings ask the judge to reverse the jury’s decision or hold a new trial.
“This case was very ,very complex both legally and factually,” said attorney James Weakley
The jury’s Feb. 22 verdict found that county social workers did not fulfill their state-required duties to investigate child abuse when they received reports of violence at Seth’s home.Seth was punched and stomped to death by his mother’s boyfriend LeBaron Vaughn four years ago. Vaughn is serving 15 years to life in prison after confessing to the killing in a criminal court.
Seth’s father pursued a civil case against the county, maintaining that county social workers had multiple opportunities to step in and protect his son before the fatal blow.
The high-profile decision against the county was a major repudiation of Child Protective Services.
The county, which was found to be 65% at fault for Seth’s death, must pay $5.5 million of the total award to Hudson and Jervon.
Weakley’s push to get the verdict overturned rests on state law that protects social workers from being sued for discretionary decisions. Weakley alleges that the jury convicted the county not for ignoring their required duties but for not making the right decisions.
Hudson’s attorney says otherwise.
“We feel the county got a fair trial and the jury spoke,” said Warren Paboojian, with the law firm Baradat & Paboojian.
A hearing is set for the court to take up Weakley’s arguments April 19.”
Fresno County asks judge to toss $8.5 million Seth Ireland verdict
[The Fresno Bee 4/1/13 by Kurtis Alexander]
Update 7:”Climaxing a legal battle that has spanned more than six years, Fresno County finally turned over an investigative report that details why Child Protective Services failed to prevent the death of 10-year-old Seth Ireland, who died in 2009 after he was beaten by his mother’s boyfriend.
It took some arm twisting from Judge Jeffrey Hamilton to make it happen.
On Wednesday, Hamilton issued a tentative ruling that said the county must turn over the report without redactions to the lawyers representing Seth’s family in a multimillion-dollar lawsuit against the county. Hamilton also sanctioned the county $4,500 for failing to hand over the report and denied the county’s request to prohibit releasing it to the public.
Hamilton’s ruling was in response to a motion filed by Fresno lawyers Warren Paboojian and Jason Bell. They said a Fresno County Superior Court judge and the 5th District Court of Appeal had already ordered county officials to turn over the Child Welfare Quality Assurance report to Seth’s father, Joseph Hudson, but the county’s lawyers had failed to do so.
On Thursday, Fresno attorney James Weakley, who represents the county, asked Hamilton to reconsider his ruling, which the judge did – slightly.
Hamilton ordered the county to immediately give an unredacted copy of the report to Paboojian in court Thursday. The judge then ordered the county to make another copy, with names of the social workers and other county employees redacted. Redactions are necessary, Hamilton said, for the privacy and safety of the social workers and county employees linked to Seth’s death.
Once the redactions are done, that copy will be available to the public, Hamilton said.
Afterward, Paboojian, who did not agree to any protective order or redaction, said Hamilton’s ruling was a win for open government.
“There should be transparency in government, but that has not been the case with Fresno County,” said Paboojian. “This is the first step in the right direction for the county.”
After reading the report, Paboojian said: “The county of Fresno ought to be ashamed. It’s shameful.”
IT’S TIME FOR THE COUNTY TO PUT THE ISSUE OF THIS REPORT BEHIND US AND FOCUS OUR ATTENTION ON CONTINUING TO IMPROVE THE CPS SYSTEM FOR THE CHILDREN OF OUR COUNTY.
Fresno County Supervisor Henry Perea
In past court appearances, Weakley has declined to release the report, commonly known as a QA report, saying it would have a chilling effect on social workers and others who investigate a child’s death under CPS care. On Thursday, Weakley said Hamilton did “a very good job of working through this issue” to protect county employees.
In receiving the unredacted report, Paboojian cannot reveal its contents to the public, but he can give it to his legal experts, Hamilton said. The judge also said his ruling only applies until the start of trial, which is to begin in October. Once the trial starts, names of the social workers will likely be revealed, the judge said.
Meanwhile, the judge gave Weakley until Jan. 26 to have the redacted copy in the court file for public viewing. He also ordered Weakley to prepare a declaration from county supervisors who will swear that the QA report that was given to Paboojian is authentic.
Authorities say Seth’s death has statewide implications because child social workers are largely immune from lawsuits that challenge their discretion due to the complex nature of their work.
Legal wrangling
Police say Seth was hospitalized on Dec. 29, 2008, after being punched and kicked by Lebaron Vaughn. He died Jan. 6, 2009. Vaughn is serving a prison term of 15 years to life. Seth’s mother, Rena Ireland, was sentenced to six years in prison for enabling Vaughn.
After the boy’s death, Fresno County officials promised the public would learn the truth about what happened. But Paboojian said that has never happened.
Though lawyers are required to turn over evidence, Paboojian said in court Thursday that he didn’t even know the QA report existed until he started deposing a CPS supervisor nearly three years after the lawsuit was filed in September 2009.
Even without the report, Paboojian was able to prove his case against CPS. In February 2013, a Fresno County Superior Court civil jury ruled that CPS was partly responsible for Seth’s death because social workers did not properly investigate the boy’s situation.
In awarding $8.5 million in damages, the jury assigned the county 65 percent of the blame for Seth’s killing (or $5.525 million in damages); Vaughn was given 25 percent blame; and Seth’s mother, was assigned 10 percent.
The county, however, appealed the judgment, and in September, the 5th District Court threw out the $8.5 million verdict and ordered a new trial. But in its Sept. 30 decision, the appellate court also ordered the county to release the report to Hudson’s attorneys.
In his ruling, Hamilton said the trial judge, M. Bruce Smith, ordered the county on Sept. 6, 2012, to produce the QA report within 20 days. The county, however, filed for a writ, and on Sept. 30, 2015, the 5th District Court of Appeals in Fresno declined to reverse the order compelling the county to produce the QA report, Hamilton wrote in his ruling.
Hamilton said the trial court’s order also did not authorize any redactions or require production of the report pursuant to a protective order. Smith also ordered the county to turn over the report to Paboojian before the beginning of a jury trial in 2013, but the county’s lawyers refused to comply with his order.
TO DATE, FRESNO COUNTY HAS PAID FRESNO ATTORNEY JAMES WEAKLEY $631,837.37 FOR THE FIRST TRIAL AND APPEAL.
Weakley, however, told Hamilton on Thursday that the court record said Smith wanted some redactions of the report and that the judge also implied a protective order was needed.
To date, the county has paid Weakley $631,837.37 for the first trial and appeal, said County Counsel Daniel C. Cederborg.
“But remember Weakley got a $5.5 million judgment against the county reversed,” Cederborg said.
Watching the legal battle unfold Thursday was Hudson and Fresno County Supervisor Henry Perea.
Afterward, Hudson told supporters that he will never give up in getting justice for his son.
Perea, the lone member on the Board of Supervisors who wants the report made public, said the county position didn’t make sense since most of the details of the boy’s death were revealed in the first trial.
“Withholding the report made us look like we have something to hide,” Perea said.
Learning that the report will be released to the public, Perea said: “It’s time for the county to put the issue of this report behind us and focus our attention on continuing to improve the CPS system for the children of our county.”
Judge orders county to turn over report about Seth Ireland’s death
[The Fresno Bee 1/14/16 by Pablo Lopez]
Update 7:“At a press conference Wednesday Fresno County officials released the full report regarding the death of 10-year-old Seth Ireland.
Seth Ireland investigation released [Your Central Valley 2/4/16]
Update 8: “The Fresno father who sued the county after his son’s death has now settled the case.
Joseph Hudson claimed Child Protective Services mishandled the case and allowed his son to die.
It took seven years to get to this point, and Hudson said it’s taken a toll on him beyond just what he suffered when his son was killed. Now, he intends to use the money he’s getting to create a place where they’ll train mandatory reporters to prevent child abuse.
Seth Ireland’s last school picture is emblematic of the last years of his life. The obvious signs of abuse are right there in the picture to see– a swollen left eye and a bruise on his forehead. But even though his principal called CPS in November 2008, the last time his CPS case worker saw him alive was a month earlier, when a neighbor reported abuse.
In December, his mother’s boyfriend beat Seth to death.
His father, Hudson, sued CPS and the county and won an $8.5 million verdict at trial three years ago. But the county appealed and until now, hadn’t paid a dime.
“Its been a lot of years,” Hudson said. “I’ve been up and down mentally. Its traumatized my life. I’m on disability now. It’s a struggle daily because I miss him so much. I can’t hold him any longer. Now, he’d be a senior in high school, graduating.
The case finally settled for $1.35 million, and although the county doesn’t admit fault in the agreement, Hudson’s attorney tells Action News the long fight should make an impact at CPS, and not just in Fresno County.
“I’m hopeful that the publicity this case has generated puts an awareness on our children and the safety of our children,” said Warren Paboojian, Hundson’s attorney.
And Hudson plans to keep pushing. He wants the settlement to mean Seth’s name is always associated with preventing child abuse.
“We’re all pleased with the outcome and you know, it was a tragedy that took place, but my son is saving other children’s lives and I’m going to continue that legacy for him,” Hudson said.
Seth’s younger brother witnessed a lot of the abuse. He’ll also receive a portion of the settlement.
The county did not return our messages looking for comments from them.”
MURDERED BOY’S FATHER SETTLES WITH FRESNO COUNTY IN CPS LAWSUIT [ABC 30 5/5/16 by Corin Hoggard]
Fresno CPS has not changed! It’s sad, I am going through same type thing. My 3 year old daughter is coming to me with busted lips bruises. I took her into cps office to show them the marks gave pictures. They do nothing at all. They only ever talk to my daughter’s mother. Her boyfriend has been arrested for domestic violence and court put restraining order. Knowing this workers have gone out there while he is there and told me it’s not their place to do anything. My daughter could be the next child to suffer this fate and Fresno county CPS treat me poorly hang up on me when I call. Something needs to be done!