Israel Ivan Ramirez v. Missouri Department of Social Services, Children's Division

The Missouri Department of Social Services, Children’s Division (“Division”) appeals from a trial court judgment which held that Israel Ivan Ramirez (“Ramirez”) did not sexually abuse a student, and which declared that the Division’s definition of “sexual maltreatment” in its Child Welfare Manual is an invalid rule, authorizing Ramirez to prosecute a claim for attorney’s fees in accordance with section 536.050. We reverse that portion of the judgment from which the Division has taken this appeal.

Factual and Procedural Background

Prior to June 2014, Ramirez was employed as an art teacher in the…