A Washington state toddler showed up at day care with black eyes and other injuries, including bite and burn marks, that were “indicative of repeated, prolonged abuse” that her mom’s boyfriend was unleashing upon her — but the workers did not report it as required by law, a local jury ruled this week. The child later died from the abuse.

Sarai Brooks’ estate filed a lawsuit against the Washington State Department of Children, Youth and Families (DCYF) and Love and Laughter Learning Centers in December 2024, claiming the agencies and a Puyallup day care that Sarai attended "ignored clear warning signs of abuse and failed to take basic steps that would have saved Sarai's life," according to a press release sent out by the Dearie Law Group.

A Pierce County jury returned a $130 million verdict this week following a five-week trial, finding that "systemic failures" across both the child welfare system and the day care directly contributed to Sarai's death. 

"The jury apportioned liability between the State of Washington and the day care center," the Dearie press release says.

Jury awards family $130 million after state-run day care saw signs that slain 2-year-old was being beaten, burned and bit repeatedly by mom’s boyfriend but refused to report it…