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March 20, 2017
Melissa Etehad and Richard Winton
Los Angeles Times
Posted with permission from Tribune Content Agency
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LOS ANGELES — A Los Angeles County judge ruled Monday that four social workers accused of criminal negligence in the death of an 8-year-old Palmdale boy they were charged with protecting should stand trial, allowing prosecutors to push ahead with a case that has sent a chill through the ranks of child protection workers nationwide.
Some defendants broke down in tears after Superior Court Judge Mary Lou Villar announced that the case would move forward. One of the social workers, Patricia Clement, placed her head in her hands in disbelief.
"When the judge announced it I wanted to throw up," she said later.
Clement said a range of failures led to the boy's death, including by her agency, where she worked as a social worker.
"The department doesn't do a good job. They don't understand," she said.
Her attorney, Shelly Albert, expressed surprise at the judge's ruling.
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4 LA County social workers to face trial in death of 8-year-old boy