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Dominic James Memorial Foster Care Reform Act of 2003
Dominic James died of ill-treatment on August 21, 2002, while in foster care.
Two year old Dominic James was ill-treated to death in a Springfield, Missouri foster home. His foster father was charged and convicted for his death. The little boy was removed from the care of his parents and placed in the foster home between June 18, 2002 and August 21, 2002, where he died of severe ill-treatment.
Following the death of little Dominic James, the General Assembly of the state of Missouri has enacted a law to reform foster care making officers or employees of the division of family services who intentionally or through gross negligence violate any stated or written policy of the division, any rule promulgated by the division, or any state law relating to the activities of the division to be personally held civilly and criminally liable for any damages resulting from such violation.
In Sweden, on April 24, 1992, 14 year old Daniel Sigström died of a grand mal in his foster home far away from his mother because of lack of care. No officer or employee of the social services in Uppsala nor judges in the administrative courts have been prosecuted or even held responsible for Daniel Sigström's death. His mother, Marianne Sigström, sued the municipality of Gottsunda and she lost. The court in Uppsala decided that she should pay the municipality of Gottsunda's legal fees of 880 000 Swedish Crowns. Marianne Sigström appealed to the Svea Court of Appeal, that also delivered a negative verdict. In that case Marianne Sigström was held liable to reimburse municipality of Gottsunda's legal fees of 550 000 Swedish Crowns. The Supreme Court refused her leave to appeal. The European Court of Human Rights declared Marianne Sigström's complaint inadmissible. And we have yet to see a Daniel Sigström Memorial Foster Care Reform Act.
Dominic James Memorial Foster Care Reform Act of 2003, with penalty provisions
The Dominic James Case. Two year old boy ill-treated to death in foster home
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The Dominic James Case
Two year old boy ill-treated to death in Springfield, Missouri foster home. He had been in the foster home between June 18, 2002 and August 21, 2002 when he died of severe ill-treatment.
A series of articles in the Springfield Newsleader.com
August 21 - September 8, 2002 and later
Dominic James died of ill-treatment on August 21, 2002, while in foster care.
By Ryan Slight
Sidney James sued Cox Medical Centers this week, claiming the Springfield hospital system was negligent in his 2-year-old son Dominic's death.
Ellen Jervis, a Kansas City attorney who represents the father, said the petition was filed Monday in Greene County Circuit Court after months of investigation by her firm.
"We've been taking a look at this issue for some time," said Jervis, who also represents James in a related federal civil lawsuit against Division of Family Services employees.
News-Leader Staff. Aug. 11, 2004
Foster care bill signed into law by Holden
Dominic James Act to overhaul state system.
By James Goodwin
Nearly two years after the death of Springfield toddler Dominic James, Gov. Bob Holden signed into law Tuesday an overhaul of the foster-care system.
The Dominic James Memorial Foster Care Reform Act includes changes already under way and grants new protections to children and guardians accused of harming them.
News-Leader June 30, 2004
For the first time in Missouri, records regarding a child in DFS custody have been released, setting a precedent for other cases where a child dies or is seriously injured.
After a six-month court battle, the News-Leader has won a lawsuit with the Missouri Division of Family Services, obtaining the complete DFS file on 2-year-old Dominic James. The release of more than 800 pages of records includes DFS files and caseworkers' notes, and some medical records. It also includes the hotline investigation of alleged abuse, which became the green light for the toddler being put back into the home where prosecutors say he was fatally injured by his foster father, John Dilley.
News-Leader. Apr. 15, 2003
By Laura Bauer
Willard rescue workers, who helped Dominic James the first time he was rushed to the hospital, feared the toddler had been abused and called the agency in charge of protecting him.
But the hotline call to the Division of Family Services on Aug. 10 didn’t prevent the child from being returned four days later to the foster care home where prosecutors say he was later fatally injured.
News-Leader. Sept. 8, 2002
Pleas to move Dominic unheeded
Questions remain as to why child was allowed to stay in Willard home.
By Laura Bauer
Two officials responsible for the welfare of Dominic James — his court-appointed guardian and his juvenile officer — didn’t want the 2-year-old returned to the foster home in Willard where prosecutors say he was later fatally injured, a News-Leader investigation shows
News-Leader. Sept. 1, 1002
Foster parents keep giving in wake of tragedy
By Laura Bauer
Within days of Dominic James being rushed to the hospital, the phone at Diane Schoeller’s house began ringing.
Other foster care parents were calling, worried and wondering what was going to happen as a family in their small group was under scrutiny. They prayed for Dominic, who had turned 2 in June and had died just two months later of what prosecutors say was abuse inside a foster home.
News-Leader, Sept. 1, 2002
Charges expected in boy’s death
Probe into Dominic James case will take a few more days, authorities say.
By Laura Bauer
Now that a Greene County toddler has been buried, officials say an arrest and charges in his death will come later this week after more detailed investigation.
Authorities say it’s going to take a few more days, insisting that it isn’t easy getting all the records they need. Dominic James died last Wednesday while in the custody of the Missouri Division of Family Services; his abuse reportedly occurred while living in a foster care home in Willard.
News-Leader, Aug. 27, 2002
Vigil pays tribute to youth’s spirit
Dominic Raynell James remembered for his energy, enthusiasm
By Ryan Slight
The Rev. LeRoy Gilbert gazed out on
, remembering when Dominic Raynell James sat near him by the road, waving at passing trucks.
As dozens of individuals lit candles Sunday evening in the 2-year-old’s memory, the pastor of Integrity Community GeneralBaptistChurch expressed confidence that Dominic now viewed the vehicles from a different perspective.
For the News-Leader, Aug. 26, 2002
2-year-old dies; shaking suspected
Dominic Raynell James was in custody of family services at time of injuries.
By Laura Bauer
Dominic Raynell James died early Wednesday morning shortly after he was taken off life support, a machine that had kept him alive for nearly two days. He turned 2 on June 4.
Authorities hope today’s autopsy of the GreeneCounty toddler who was living in a foster home will give them more answers on how the child was injured.
News-Leader, Aug 22, 2002
Abuse by foster parents a rarity
Statewide, less than 1 percent of all hotline investigations of abuse and neglect concern foster parents.
Instances of abuse in foster families are not the norm, state officials said.
News-Leader Staff, Aug. 22, 2002
Abuse of toddler in foster care alleged
Willard police, state investigating the cause of 2-year-old’s severe head injury.
By Laura Bauer
A 2-year-old boy who has been living in a Willard foster-care home was in critical condition at a Springfield hospital Tuesday night as authorities investigated allegations of child abuse.
Willard police detectives are conducting the probe and have interviewed people close to the toddler, Sgt. Ron Killingsworth said.
As of Tuesday night, no one had been arrested and charges had not been filed.
News-Leader, Aug. 21, 2002
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