Rees v. STATE, DEPT. OF HEALTH AND WELFARE

BURDICK, Justice.

This case involves an issue of first impression for this Court: whether the Idaho Department of Health and Welfare (the Department) and its employees can be liable for negligently investigating a reported case of child abuse. Tegan Rees (Tegan), a two-year old child, was beaten to death by his mother’s boyfriend. His father, Justin Rees (Rees) had previously reported suspected child abuse to the Department. After conducting an investigation, licensed social worker Nichole Ott Aldinger (Ott) returned Tegan to his mother’s custody. Less than two months later, Tegan died. Rees…