Mattawa, WA: (May-28-08) The state Department of Social and Health Services were sued by Latino-owned day-care centers in Mattawa, who claimed that the federal department performed unauthorized searches and wrongly seized property. The suit was granted class action status in 2005, representing about 4,000 day-care providers in Washington and a subclass status for all non-English speaking day-care providers in the state.
The lawsuit sought systemic changes within the state Department of Social and Health Services and unspecified monetary compensation for nine Mattawa day-care providers. The class alleged that Judy Esser, who they called the "white mayor of Mattawa," and members of the "all-white Mattawa Police Department" urged a state investigation into day-care providers working in the community of 3,000, which in 2001 was about 95 percent Hispanic. Under that order, and resulting investigation, they faced inappropriate searches and confiscation, unnecessary immigration inquiries, intimidation, and legal documents that were never translated into Spanish, the primary language of many of the providers.
In a settlement agreement tentatively agreed upon by both sides, the plaintiffs will receive $45,000 each and the state will revise its manual on handling home child-care inspections. The plaintiffs legal counsel will receive $350,000 in legal fees.
WA Dept. of Social and Health Services in the News
[YAKIMA HERALD: WA Dept. of Social and Health Services]Search for: Tentative settlement reached in Mattawa day-care lawsuit
