An 11-year-old Philadelphia girl who was raped seven years ago while living in a foster home under contract with the city was awarded $2.8 million by a federal jury
The eight-member civil-court jury deliberated about five hours before returning the verdict in favor of the girl – identified as “M.B.” – and her aunt and guardian, “T.B.”
The verdict and damages were against the North Philadelphia-based Women’s Christian Alliance and two of its officials, social work supervisor Sandra Lewis and caseworker Marva Rountree; Mary Barksdale, the WCA foster mother with whom the girl was placed in 1995; and Irving Ford, Barksdale’s boarder, who pleaded guilty to raping the girl.
