A group consisting of 40 moms, who allegedly committed child abuse, have banded together to file a class-action lawsuit against Colorado social worker Robin Niceta, who made false reports about their parenting with the local child protective services.
The moms accused of child abuse could not believe that they were subjected to investigations and were at risk of losing their kids because of accusations that they sexually or physically abused their children.
Mom Danielle Jurinsky told Daily Mail that her heart dropped and she cried when she got a call from child protective services about her investigation. Jurinsky is a local councilor and a restaurant owner who spearheaded a $1 million class-action lawsuit after she found out who was behind the accusations.
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The social worker had a vendetta against the mothers
Jurinsky commented about Aurora Police Chief Vanessa Wilson in January on a radio show. She publicly criticized the law enforcement officer as the crime rate in their community was becoming worrisome. Wilson was then Niceta's girlfriend.
After public criticism, Jurinsky's problems with child protective services started. She eventually found out that Niceta was behind the report. Apparently, this was her vendetta for publicly shaming her girlfriend.
The police, however, determined that the child abuse accusation against Jurinsky was not true. They then filed a case against Niceta for her false allegations, per The Gazette.
While under investigation, Niceta quit her job as a social worker because accusations about her started piling up with the Department of Human Services when word of her police investigation got out. Mothers came forward to out Niceta's behavior towards them. They said she threatened to take their kids after they rejected her sexual demands.
Jurinsky then enjoined the moms accused of child abuse to file a class-action lawsuit, especially after some kids were separated from their parents due to Niceta's false claims. Some of these mothers are still trying to get custody back.
Niceta stood in court to recount incidents of child abuse to the judge, which turned out to be made up. She was allowed to lie on the stand without concrete proof of her accusations.
"Niceta essentially turned on [the women] and did everything in her power to make sure [their children were] permanently removed," the lawsuit claimed.
"The wrong people in a position of power"
Niceta, the county's Department of Human Services manager, and the local Board of County Commissioners were named as respondents in the class-action lawsuit as they failed to verify Niceta's claims before taking the kids from their mothers. The councilwoman said that this is a systemic issue involving years of having "the wrong people in the position of power," per The Denver Post.
Luc Hatlestad, the spokesperson for the county's Department of Human Services, said that they are also appalled by the alleged criminal actions of Niceta against the moms accused of child abuse and are reviewing all the claims against her. However, he defended the department and stated that the system has many checks and balances.
Separately, the councilwoman also filed a defamation lawsuit against Niceta. She is due to be arraigned in court at the end of August. The FBI also investigates Niceta for her claims against a former partner in a child custody battle.
