Missouri Court of Appeals, Southern District / Nov 22, 2022
CHRISTINA FORESTER, Appellant vs. CHRYSTAL MAY, Respondent
Christina Forester filed a wrongful death lawsuit against Chrystal May, a Children's Division caseworker, after Forester's 22-month-old grandchild died from a fentanyl overdose. The trial court dismissed the petition based on official immunity and lack of causation. The appellate court reversed and remanded, holding that the caseworker's duty to complete and submit a SAFE CARE referral form was a ministerial act not subject to official immunity, and that causation was not a proper ground for dismissal as it was not raised in the motion to dismiss.