Willis S. Sheldon, Individually and as Administrator of the Estate of Dezirae Sheldon v. Nicholas Ruggiero

¶ 1. Plaintiffs Willis S. Sheldon, individually as the father of Dezirae Sheldon, and as administrator of the Estate of Dezirae Sheldon, appeal from the grant of summary judgment to defendant Nicholas Ruggiero, an administrative reviewer with the Vermont Department for Children and Families (DCF). Plaintiffs argue that defendant negligently failed to report an allegation that Dezirae's stepfather Dennis Duby (Duby) had abused Dezirae, eventually leading to Dezirae's murder at Duby's hands. Plaintiffs present alternative theories for defendant's liability under: (1) Vermont's mandated-reporter…