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Fresno County Department of Social Services ignored signs of sexual abuse in foster home, new lawsuit says

SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA RECORD

Wednesday, April 16, 2025

Fresno County Department of Social Services ignored signs of sexual abuse in foster home, new lawsuit says

State Court
Fresno

Fresno County Courthouse

FRESNO - An anonymous California woman sued Fresno County Department of Social Services and 25 other unidentified defendants for alleged sexual abuse that occurred while she was a minor in the foster care system, according to documents filed on Feb. 16 in the Fresno County Superior Court. 

The plaintiff, AA, was in foster care from 2005 to 2016, where she was in the custody of foster parent Lucy Salas. 

Salas' grandson lived in the home as well; AA accuses the grandson of repeatedly sexually abusing her, including groping of genitalia, forced oral sex and sodomy. AA contracted a sexually transmitted disease as a result of the abuse, the symptoms of which made the abuse apparent, but no action was taken by the defendant, the lawsuit says.

The lawsuit says that multiple people including Salas' neighbors and AA's school were suspicious of potential abuse, but calls to the defendant went ignored. 

AA sued Fresno County DSS for negligence and seeks compensation for her economic, psychological, emotional and physical damages. She is represented by Herman Law. 

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