Father files lawsuit against county for son's death
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RJ Arrington's biological father is suing the Department of Family Services over RJ's death. Video by ktnv.com
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Las Vegas, NV (KTNV) -- A desperate father wants answers about his son's death late last year and he hired a local lawyer to sue the Department of Family Services.
7-year old Roderick "RJ" Arrington died in November after police say his mother and stepfather beat him to death.
"This is a child that nobody cared enough about to respond in a timely fashion to save his life from a violent violent death," attorney Matthew Callister said. Callister is representing RJ's biological father, Roderick Devon Arrington Sr. in a lawsuit filed Thursday.
The lawsuit names several agencies including the Department of Family Services and the Clark County School District. It alleges both departments failed to protect RJ even though there were multiple reports of abuse.
"This is such a failure that he wants answers," Callister said. "He wants to know how it occurred and make certain it never happens again."
After RJ's death, Child Protective Services admitted to wrongdoing in a statement that said, "some staff failed to apply policies correctly."
Callister said the lawsuit was in the works before CPS made that statement, the department said it's policy not to talk about pending litigation.
The lawsuit claims RJ even reported the abuse himself and told his school he was beaten with a "TV cord, broom handle, spatula or belt." CPS later fired an employee.
"I'm glad someone got fired, at least at the minimum someone should have got fired," child advocate Donna Coleman said. She knows not every child death is preventable, but something needs to change.
"When we have this much information and clearly we could have prevented it then there is no excuse." Coleman said.
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