McFetridge Family Loses Civil Lawsuit Against County of Orange After Being Placed on CACI List

On Wednesday a jury ruled in favor of the County and against Bette and George McFetridge closing a lawsuit that they filed after being placed on the Child Abuse Central Index. The case stemmed from an incident in which Bette McFetridge snipped her daughter’s hair as punishment after she ran away in 2008. The social worker handling the case listed their finding as “Inconclusive” and the McFetridge’s were placed on the Index for a period of 11 months.

The McFetridges sued claiming that their reputations had been damaged and asked for money that they spent to send their daughter to a residential program as well as $1 per month in which they were listed on the index. At the time of filing their lawsuit, any findings that were listed as “Inconclusive” had to be added to the Child Abuse Central Index for the Department of Justice for the State of California.  After the passing of AB 717, the law has now changed and beginning January 1, 2012, all persons listed on the CACI as “Inconclusive” will be purged and social workers will either need to conclude that the abuse allegation was “Unfounded” or “Substantiated”.  If found to be “Substantiated”, then that person’s name will remain on the Child Abuse Central Index for the rest of their life.

Here at the Law Offices of Michael S. Carrillo, Child Abuse Central Index lawyer Michael S. Carrillo can help fight for your rights to make sure that you’re not placed on the Child Abuse Central Index. Whether you’re being charged with child abuse or you’ve received notice that you will be placed on the Index unless you request a Grievance Hearing, Michael S. Carrillo can fight to keep your record clean. Give us a call today at (626) 799-9379 or (323) 657-5954 for a free consultation.