Kansas, contractor to pay $412,000 settlement in death of 4-year-old boy

A bipartisan council of top legislative leaders and Gov. Sam Brownback on Friday approved payment of $100,000 of a total $412,000 settlement inspired by a lawsuit against a state agency and a subcontractor alleging culpability in child-custody decisions leading to the beating death of a 4-year-old boy.

The State Finance Council voted unanimously to authorize the payment to the mother of Mekhi Boone, who was killed by his father in 2013. The deal between lawyers for Naomi Boone and the Kansas Department for Children and Families was reached in July, but DCF declined to reveal financial details.

“It’s just a tragic case,” Brownback said. “Just everything about it makes you sad. Hope there can be some resolution as the families move forward.”

Boone accused DCF in the federal lawsuit of not doing enough to prevent TFI Family Services, one of the state’s foster care contractors at that time, from placing the boy with his father, Lee Davis, despite the man’s history of domestic violence.

Read more: http://cjonline.com/news/state/2016-09-30/kansas-contractor-pay-412000-settlement-death-4-year-old-boy#