Washington State pays $6.5 Million to six brothers allowed to live in “horrific” abusive home

The state of Washington has agreed to pay $6.5 million to settle a lawsuit brought by six brothers who suffered eight years of physical abuse at the hands of their parents despite repeated complaints to social services officials.

At age 4, one brother had pulled out his hair with pliers. Three brothers attempted suicide -- one at age 7, one at 11 and a third at 14. Several were sexually abused and others were also starved and locked in closets.

The attorney representing the boys called the situation they lived in a "horrific environment."

"Those six children endured unimaginable acts," said attorney Blaine Tamaki. "The physical and psychological damage is almost incomprehensible."

Tamaki said troubling signs emerged in 1992, when the mother married an abusive man and the boys' grandmother witnessed signs of heavy drinking, drugs and physical abuse in the home.

During the next eight years, the grandmother contacted state authorities and enlisted the help of numerous counselors and therapists. Thirty-three complaints were filed with the state's Child Protective Services, but none were meaningfully investigated, the Yakima Herald-Republic reported.

The abuse continued until 2000 when all six brothers were taken from the mother and placed with a relative.
The suit identified the brothers, now 14 to 22 years old, only by their initials.

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