Maria Gonzalez, the grandmother of Nixzmary Brown, the Brooklyn girl's who died under the care - and abuse - of her parents, will sue the city over its "carelessness, recklessness, gross negligence, wanton disregard and willful misconduct." The Administration for Children's Services were alerted to signs of abuse by Brown's teachers, but did act as urgently as they should have. The Daily News says Gonzalez's planned $150 million is but one of three lawsuits so far - Brown's biological father plans to sue, as well as one of Brown's sibling's father. The last we heard, Gonzalez was planning on raising her daughter, Nixzliaz Santiago's other children. Santiago's husband, Cesar Rodriguez, is blamed for dealing Brown the fatal blows; both Santiago and Rodriguez were indicted in Brown's murder.
The city's procedure for handling abuse cases has now changed after Brown's death and just yesterday the Mayor announced the appointment of a "family services coordinator" in ACS. We hope that works out - these stories about abuse and unfit parenting are heartbreaking.
