By the Editorial Staff | Updated June 2026 | No Fee Unless You Win

If you are a survivor and need support: RAINN’s National Sexual Assault Hotline is available 24/7 at 1-800-656-4673 or at rainn.org. If you are in crisis, call or text 988 to reach the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline.

Survivors of sexual abuse in the Oregon foster care system may have legal options. Lawsuits allege that child welfare agencies and foster care providers failed to protect children in their care. Attorneys are reviewing claims from survivors who were sexually abused while in the foster system.

Case at a Glance

• What’s Alleged: Child welfare agencies and foster care providers across the state of Oregon failed to protect children in their care, allowing sexual abuse to occur and continue
• Who May Qualify: U.S. citizens under age 38 who were sexually abused while a ward of the state or in the foster care system
• Who the Abuser Must Be: Someone the survivor was brought into contact with through the Oregon foster system, such as a foster parent or social worker
• Cost to You: $0 upfront. Contingency fee only.

What Is the Oregon Foster Care Abuse Lawsuit About?

The foster care system exists to protect children who cannot safely remain with their birth families. When it works, it provides vulnerable children with stability and safety. When it fails, the harm can be devastating and last a lifetime.

Foster care abuse lawsuits in Oregon allege that child welfare agencies, counties, and private foster care providers placed children in unsafe homes, ignored warning signs, failed to investigate abuse reports, and in some cases allowed abuse to continue long after it should have been stopped. These cases are not just about the individuals who committed abuse. They are about the institutions that were responsible for the children’s safety and allegedly fell short of that responsibility.

Each case in this litigation is still treated individually. Survivors have different experiences, different placements, and different documented harms. What links the cases is the shared question of whether the system that was supposed to protect these children failed in its duty to do so.

Who May Qualify?

General Eligibility Requirements

• Must be a U.S. citizen
• Must be under 38 years of age at the time of signing
• Must not currently be represented by another attorney for this matter, and must not have previously filed a lawsuit against the state for this matter
• Was sexually abused while a ward of the state or in the foster care system in the state of Oregon.
• The abuser must be someone the survivor was brought into contact with through the foster system, such as a foster parent, social worker, or other foster system contact
• Can provide information about their foster placement at the time of abuse and the specific location where the abuse occurred
• Can identify the abuser by name or visually, or filed a report or grievance at the time of the assault that could be used to identify the abuser

What Does “Ward of the State” Mean in Oregon?

In Oregon, a child is considered in the foster system until one of three things happens: they are reunified with their birth family, they are adopted (and remain a ward of the state for two additional years post-adoption unless they turn 18 first), or they age out (typically at age 18, though some individuals may extend foster care to age 21 to receive education or employment support). Abuse that occurred during any of these periods may qualify.

What the Lawsuits Allege

• Negligent Placement: Plaintiffs allege that agencies placed children in homes or facilities where abuse was foreseeable and failed to conduct adequate background checks or home evaluations before and during placement.
• Failure to Supervise: Lawsuits claim that agencies failed to adequately monitor foster placements, allowing abuse to continue without detection or intervention.
• Failure to Respond to Complaints: Some complaints allege that reports of abuse were ignored, minimized, or not properly investigated, leaving children in dangerous situations.
• Institutional Negligence: Plaintiffs argue that systemic failures, including understaffing, inadequate training, and lack of oversight, created conditions that enabled abuse to occur and continue across multiple placements and facilities.
• Long-Term Harm: Lawsuits seek compensation for the psychological, emotional, and physical harm caused by abuse that occurred while children were under the state’s protection, including trauma that has persisted into adulthood.

Subject to Change: The legal theories being pursued, the agencies and entities named as defendants, age limits, and eligibility criteria may all change as the litigation develops. Liability laws affecting foster care agencies vary by state and are still being debated in some legislatures. This page will be updated regularly. A legal review is the best way to get current information specific to your situation.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I file a lawsuit if I was sexually abused while in an Oregon foster care as a child?

You may qualify if you are a U.S. citizen currently under age 38, were sexually abused while a ward of the state or in the foster care system, and the abuse was committed by someone you were brought into contact with through the foster system, such as a foster parent or social worker. The abuse must match one of the qualifying types listed on this page. A case review can help assess whether your specific situation may qualify.

Do I have to live in Oregon to participate in the Oregon Foster Home Abuse lawsuit?

No, you do not have to currently live in Oregon to participate in the Oregon Foster Home Abuse Lawsuit. In order to qualify, the abuse must have occurred in the state of Oregon, and the abuser must be affiliated with the Oregon Foster Home system, such as a foster parent or social worker.

Is there an age limit for filing an Oregon foster care sexual abuse lawsuit?

Yes. Under current intake guidelines, the claimant must be under 38 years of age at the time of signing. This age limit is subject to change as the litigation develops. If you are close to or over this age limit, reaching out for a case review as soon as possible is strongly recommended to preserve your options.

What if I do not remember or cannot identify the name of the person who abused me in foster care?

You may still qualify even if you cannot recall the abuser’s full name. You must be able to identify the abuser either by name, visually, or by confirming that a report or grievance was filed at the time of the assault that could be used to help identify the abuser. You must also be able to provide information about the foster placement where the abuse occurred and the location where it happened. An attorney can help you work through what you remember.

Can a family member file a foster care abuse lawsuit on behalf of a survivor who has died?

A claim may still be available if a survivor passed away and the cause of death is listed as suicide on the death certificate, and the death is linked to sexual abuse experienced in the foster care system. The person filing must have documented authority to act on behalf of the deceased. A case review can help determine whether your family’s specific situation may qualify. We are deeply sorry for your loss.

How much does it cost to find out if I qualify for a foster care sexual abuse lawsuit?

Nothing. The case evaluation is free and confidential. If a case is accepted, attorneys work on a contingency fee basis, meaning there are no upfront costs and no legal fees unless the case results in a settlement or verdict in your favor. No outcome or recovery can be guaranteed.

Do I have to have records at the time of my call?

You do not need everything organized before reaching out. A case review is free and confidential and can help identify what information may be needed to move forward. For a claim involving attempted suicide, the attempt must be present in a medical or therapy record. For a claim involving death by suicide, the cause of death must be listed as suicide on the death certificate. A case review can help determine whether the available records meet the current standard of evidence.

Think You May Have a Case?

Our team works with survivors of sexual abuse in the foster care system. A case review is free, completely confidential, and comes with no obligation. You will be treated with care and respect throughout the process.

• A private, confidential conversation about what happened and whether it may qualify
• No documents needed before we talk
• No fees unless your case results in a recovery

See if Your Situation Qualifies →

Age and eligibility criteria may change. The sooner you reach out, the more options you may have.