Catt v. Department of Human Services

This civil dispute arises from a failure by the Department of Human Services (DHS) to secure permanent legal residency status and, consequently, United States citizenship for plaintiff Blanca Catt while she was in DHS’s legal custody, and from DHS’s false representations to Blanca’s adoptive mother, plaintiff Lisa Catt, regarding Blanca’s citizenship.1 As relevant to this appeal, plaintiffs brought two claims against DHS and several of its employees2 under the Oregon Torts Claims Act, one based on preadoption conduct by DHS — primarily the failure to process Blanca’s permanent residency…