Fired Arizona CPS workers mulling lawsuit
May 7, 2014, 11:43 AM | Updated: 3:39 pm
PHOENIX — Five former employees of Arizona’s embattled child welfare system are considering suing the state for wrongful termination.
“We are contemplating the possibility of a lawsuit for wrongful termination,” said attorney Terry Woods, who represents the five women who were fired after an investigation of the agency.
Despite the investigation revealing more than 6,500 reports of child abuse going uninvestigated, one former senior employee said she and others were disappointed with their firings.
“We spent our lives, we devoted our lives to Arizona CPS and this is the repayment that we get,” said Jenna Line-Webber.
The women said they did everything they could to deal with the cases but were not given enough resources.
The former Arizona Child Protective Services was dissolved after the findings were released.
In a statement, Clarence Carter, director of the Department of Economic Security, the agency that oversaw CPS, has maintained that he had no knowledge of the uninvestigated reports. He is no longer in charge of the state’s child welfare department.
KTAR’s Martha Maurer contributed to this report.
