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Marko Law Firm

Michigan Foster Care Abuse Attorney: Protecting Vulnerable Youth

Michigan Foster Care Abuse Attorney: Protecting Vulnerable Youth

Foster care is supposed to be a safe haven. A place of healing, structure, and support for children who’ve already endured too much. But when that promise is broken—when the very system meant to protect becomes the source of harm—the betrayal cuts deep.

At Marko Law, we represent children, teens, and families shattered by abuse within Michigan’s foster care system. We've seen the consequences: kids who flinch at every raised voice, teens who’ve stopped speaking because no one ever listened, young adults left navigating trauma with no help and no justice.

This kind of pain doesn’t fade. It lingers in courtrooms, hospital rooms, and therapy sessions long after the abuse ends. And when the abuser is a foster parent, a group home staffer, or a state agency that looked the other way—someone must be held accountable.

Marko Law doesn’t flinch from that fight. We know how to take on MDHHS, private foster agencies, negligent supervisors, and the bureaucracies that protect them. We know the law, we understand trauma, and we are relentless when children’s lives are on the line.

Types of Abuse in Michigan Foster Care

Physical Abuse

This includes:

  • Hitting, slapping, punching
  • Unlawful restraint or confinement
  • Withholding food or water as punishment
  • Excessive or inappropriate discipline

These acts leave bruises, broken bones—and psychological scars that can last a lifetime.

Sexual Abuse

One of the most devastating violations of trust. Victims are often children placed with:

  • Abusive foster parents or relatives
  • Other children in group homes or shared placements
  • Staff at residential treatment centers

Sexual abuse may involve physical acts, grooming, exploitation, or exposure to explicit material. It’s a clear civil rights violation, and we pursue these cases with absolute intensity.

Emotional and Psychological Abuse

Not all wounds are visible. Psychological abuse can involve:

  • Verbal attacks and constant criticism
  • Threats of abandonment or violence
  • Isolation from friends, siblings, or school
  • Gaslighting or blaming the child for their trauma

This kind of treatment chips away at identity and self-worth—and it is absolutely actionable under Michigan law.

Neglect

Neglect is often overlooked but incredibly harmful. It includes:

  • Failure to provide adequate food, clothing, shelter
  • Ignoring medical or mental health needs
  • Not enrolling the child in school
  • Leaving children unsupervised for long periods

Neglect isn’t just poor parenting—it’s a violation of the child’s right to care and dignity. We hold foster parents and agencies accountable.

Institutional Abuse in Group Homes

Group homes and residential treatment facilities are hotspots for systemic abuse. Children here are often:

  • Overmedicated or restrained
  • Denied therapy or education
  • Physically or sexually assaulted by staff or other residents
  • Ignored when they report abuse

These are the cases where systems have failed repeatedly—and where Marko Law shines in exposing deep-rooted negligence.

Who Can Be Held Liable

Foster Parents or Guardians

When licensed foster parents use their position to abuse, neglect, or exploit a child, they are directly liable—and can also face criminal charges. We pursue civil lawsuits to ensure they face full financial accountability for:

  • Physical and sexual abuse
  • Neglect of medical and emotional needs
  • Violating care standards required by law

Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS)

As the agency responsible for placing children in homes and overseeing their welfare, MDHHS can be liable when:

  • It ignores abuse reports or warning signs
  • It places children in homes with a history of complaints
  • Caseworkers fail to conduct mandatory safety checks
  • The agency prioritizes speed or numbers over safety

Private Foster Care Agencies & Social Workers

Many foster placements are outsourced to private agencies under contract with the state. When these for-profit or nonprofit organizations:

  • Cut corners
  • Fail to train staff
  • Hire unqualified foster families
  • Ignore red flags in background checks

…they can and should be held legally responsible.

Group Home Employees and Contractors

Group homes are notorious for abuse and cover-ups. Liability may rest with:

  • Direct care staff who inflicted harm
  • Supervisors who ignored it
  • Contractors or third-party providers who failed to intervene

We use depositions, subpoena records, and demand transparency from organizations that profit off vulnerable children.

Background Check Failures & Licensing Negligence

In many cases, the person who hurt a child never should have been allowed near them. If the system:

  • Approved foster parents with a criminal history
  • Skipped required home inspections or renewals
  • Ignored prior CPS reports or complaints

 …then it’s not just an oversight—it’s negligence. And we will prove it in court.

Legal Protections for Children in Michigan Foster Care

Michigan Child Protection Law

This law requires anyone—including foster parents, agencies, and social workers—to report suspected abuse or neglect immediately. If they fail to do so, and a child is harmed, they may be:

  • Criminally charged
  • Civilly liable for damages

Marko Law uses this statute to hold both individuals and institutions accountable for silence or inaction.

Federal Civil Rights (42 U.S.C. §1983)

Under Section 1983, victims of abuse in foster care can sue state actors—including MDHHS and its employees—for violating their constitutional rights:

  • Right to bodily integrity
  • Right to be free from cruel and unusual punishment
  • Right to due process and equal protection

If a foster child was abused due to government negligence or indifference, we pursue federal civil rights litigation—a powerful tool for justice.

Foster Youth Rights (MDHHS Policy)

Michigan law guarantees specific rights to every foster youth, including:

  • The right to be safe and free from abuse
  • The right to medical care, education, and mental health support
  • The right to be heard and have input in their placements

When MDHHS or a private agency violates these rights, we use their own policies and procedures as legal ammunition in court.

Mandated Reporting and Duty to Investigate

All professionals involved in child welfare—including teachers, doctors, and agency staff—are mandated reporters. This means they must:

  • Report signs of abuse or neglect immediately
  • Cooperate in investigations
  • Take immediate protective action when needed

When they fail to act—or worse, cover up the abuse—they open the door to serious legal consequences.

Trauma-Informed Care Standards

Michigan’s foster system is supposed to operate under trauma-informed principles—meaning:

  • Children must be treated with respect and understanding of their trauma
  • Restraints, punishments, and placements must be appropriate
  • Children should have access to therapy, medical care, and consistent adults

When institutions fail to provide this level of care, we argue not just negligence—but a violation of state-enforced standards of treatment.

Damages You Can Recover

Medical and Psychological Treatment

Abused children often need years—or lifetimes—of care. We pursue compensation for:

  • Emergency and hospital care
  • Long-term psychological therapy
  • Psychiatric treatment and medications
  • Trauma-informed specialists and support services

No child should be denied healing because of cost. We make sure the people responsible pay for every treatment needed.

Pain and Suffering

From physical pain to emotional anguish, the suffering endured by foster youth is deeply personal—and legally compensable. We fight to quantify:

  • Ongoing physical pain
  • Sleep disturbances, anxiety, and PTSD
  • Developmental and behavioral impacts
  • Shame, fear, and isolation

Emotional Distress and Psychological Trauma

In many cases, the emotional fallout is even worse than the physical injuries. We aggressively pursue damages for:

  • Nightmares and flashbacks
  • Self-harm or suicidal ideation
  • Attachment disorders
  • Lifelong struggles with trust and relationships

Punitive Damages

If the abuse involved intentional harm or gross negligence—such as sexual assault, willful neglect, or a cover-up by a state agency—we seek punitive damages. These aren’t just about compensation. They’re about punishment and deterrence.

Civil Rights Violations

Under federal law, children harmed by state actors or government negligence may receive damages for constitutional violations (such as under 42 U.S.C. §1983). These claims can include:

  • Denial of due process
  • Cruel and unusual punishment
  • Violations of bodily integrity

Wrongful Death (MCL 600.2922)

In the most devastating cases, abuse or neglect leads to the death of a child. Under Michigan’s Wrongful Death Act, families may seek:

  • Funeral and burial costs
  • Loss of companionship and future support
  • Pain and suffering of the child before death
  • Emotional anguish for surviving family members

Call Marko Law—Because No Child Deserves to Be Hurt

Abuse in foster care isn’t just a legal issue—it’s a moral failure. It’s a system that promised protection and delivered pain. And when the people responsible walk away while children suffer, someone needs to step up and fight back.

That’s where Marko Law comes in.

We know how hard it is to speak up. To trust another adult. To relive trauma. But we also know this: healing begins with justice—and justice starts by calling a team that’s ready to listen, investigate, and hold every negligent agency, foster parent, or institution accountable.

Whether the abuse happened last week or years ago—whether your child is still in care or finally out—you are not powerless. We’ll walk you through every step. And we do it with care, with urgency, and with zero tolerance for excuses.

Contact Marko Law for a Free, Confidential Case Evaluation

📞 Phone: +1-313-777-7777
📍 Office: 220 W. Congress, 4th Floor, Detroit, MI 48226
🌐 Website: www.markolaw.com

Marko Law Will Give You A Voice

At Marko Law, we don’t just take cases — we take a stand. Whether you're facing an injury, injustice, or outright negligence, our team fights like it’s personal — because to you, it is.

  • Over $500 Million recovered for our clients
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