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Goforth mother sues Sask. government after child’s death in foster care

Jan 16, 2013 | 3:57 PM

The Saskatchewan government is being sued over the death of a little girl that resulted in manslaughter charges against her foster parents.

A statement of claim was filed Wednesday on behalf of Natasha Goforth, as well as the mother of two other children who were previously in the care of Tammy and Kevin Goforth.

Natasha's four-year-old daughter June died last summer after she and her two-year-old sister were hospitalized. While few details have emerged, the foster parents have been charged with manslaughter and criminal negligence causing bodily harm.

During the bail hearings for the foster parents, relatives of the little girl were speaking out against what they called the failures of Social Services in protecting the child.

Regina-based lawyer Tony Merchant is handling the case. He said the statement of claim alleges the death and abuse were preventable and that social workers failed to protect the children or respond to numerous complaints of potential physical and sexual abuse.

“Social services didn’t red flag the home and had they red flagged the home, when exactly the same things arose for Natasha Goforth’s children, surely then social services would’ve said this is an atrocious situation we’ve got to get Natasha Goforth’s children out of the house,” Merchant said.

He said if social services had done something about the home earlier, this could have been avoided.

“The facts are clear. If social services had put those facts together and acted on them, then the wrong doing wouldn’t have continued for the children.”

Merchant said the plaintiffs are seeking compensation, but couldn’t offer an amount.

A statement of claim contains allegations that are not proven in court.

Edited by CJME's Adriana Christianson with files from Kevin Martel and Murray Wood

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