Missouri Court of Appeals, Western District / Jul 21, 2020
Aaron M. Dougherty, Sr., et al vs. The Missouri Department of Social Services/The Children's Division, et al
Aaron and Kelsey Dougherty appealed a summary judgment granted to individual employees of the Children's Division, whom they sued for negligence. The Doughertys alleged the employees failed to comply with the Missouri Child Welfare Manual regarding Family Support Team meetings and preferential child placement after their children were taken into temporary custody. The appellate court affirmed the summary judgment, holding that the duties outlined in the Manual were discretionary, not ministerial, and thus the employees were entitled to official immunity.