Lopez
Lopez v. County of Los Angeles CA2/1
Opinion
Opinion
Klatchko, J.
BACKGROUND
A. Introduction The County Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS) received an anonymous referral about Lopez and Rodriguez getting into an argument with SLD present. DCFS filed reports and a petition with the juvenile court, which ordered SLD detained and suitably placed away from the parents. DCFS placed SLD in a foster home where, four months later, she asphyxiated on a peanut and died. Lopez and Rodriguez represent that when the foster parents were not watching, another foster child gave SLD trail mix, and she asphyxiated in her sleep. They sued the foster parents and foster agency for wrongful death, and that litigation is concluded. The foster parents and foster agency are not part of this appeal. Lopez and Rodriguez also sued the County and three of its employees for statutory and civil rights violations. The primary
2 thrust of their complaint against the County and its employees is not that they caused SLD’s death, but that they caused her wrongful detention, which ultimately led to her death.
B. Referrals and Reports 1. Prior Incidents Lopez had three other children, M.C., A.P., and H.P., with two other fathers. Lopez lost parental…