Baby Neal v. Casey
United States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit
43 F.3d 48 (1994)

- Written by Deanna Curl, JD
Facts
In 1990, 16 children (plaintiffs) in the custody of the Philadelphia Department of Human Services (DHS) (defendants) filed a lawsuit alleging systemic failures in the administration of the child-welfare system and seeking declaratory and injunctive relief. Specifically, the children alleged that DHS had failed to provide various services and appropriate placements for children in care, in violation of their rights under federal laws, state laws, and the First, Ninth, and Fourteenth Amendments to the Constitution. The children sought class-action certification of a class consisting of all abused and neglected children in Philadelphia, and those known to DHS. The district court ultimately denied the class certification, finding that the children failed to meet the requirements for certification under the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure (FRCP). The children subsequently appealed the denial of their class certification.
Rule of Law
Issue
Holding and Reasoning (Becker, J.)
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