There’s been a new development in a NewsChannel 3 investigation—a new lawsuit against Virginia Beach in the death of Baby Braxton.
The attorney for Braxton Taylor’s mother has filed a new lawsuit that could let a jury consider how much Baby Braxton suffered before he died.
It is similar to a pair of previously filed lawsuits, all accusing Virginia Beach social workers and leaders of failing to protect Braxton. A NewsChannel 3 investigation revealed social workers either missed or ignored signs that a foster mother was abusing Braxton in 2010. That foster mother, Kathleen Ganiere, eventually killed the baby boy. She was sent to prison, and because of our investigation, the state is demanding wholesale changes to how Virginia Beach cares for foster children.
Related:
Experts tell Beach City Council how to fix problems that led to Baby Braxton’s death
Baby Braxton Investigation: Beach council members discuss leader of social services
Beach city manager names task force to address issues at child-welfare agency
View the Baby Braxton Task Force letter
Baby Braxton Investigation: Councilman calls for firing of Beach human servicesdirector
NewsChannel 3 gets big results in Baby Braxton investigation
Va. Beach Child Welfare “in crisis”, says state report after WTKR Baby Braxtoninvestigation
This new lawsuit also names the social services leader, Bob Morin. A pair of state reports singled him out for being ineffective and out of touch. The lawsuit also names as a defendant Tamara Scurry, the case worker who most closely monitored Braxton and his foster family.
The lawsuit claims Morin, Scurry and others …
“Simply ...ignored what they were seeing, ignored what they were being told, and did absolutely nothing to investigate further or to protect the infant (Braxton) Taylor.”
After the NewsChannel 3 investigation, some social service workers were reassigned or fired. The city is still reorganizing the agency to meet the state’s demands. Braxton’s biological mother and father are suing for more than four million dollars.
