Covell v. Department of Social Services

After a hearing officer affirmed the decision of the Department of Social Services (department) to “support” an allegation of child abuse (see G. L. c. 119, § 5IB; 110 Code Mass. Regs. § 4.32 [2000]) and to list the plaintiff’s name on the department’s registry of alleged perpetrators (see G. L. c. 119, § 51F; 110 Code Mass. Regs. § 4.36 [1996]), the plaintiff, Wayne E. Covell, sought judicial review of that decision. A judge in the Superior Court affirmed the department’s decision; the Appeals Court reversed, ordering that Covell’s name be removed from the registry,1 Covell v. Department of…