$2.25 Million Settlement in Wrongful Death Lawsuit

In a heart-wrenching wrongful death case, attorneys Andrew Davick and Josh Tuchscherer achieved a $2.25 million settlement on behalf of Tori Hart, a father mourning the tragic loss of his 6-year-old son, Eli Hart.

The lawsuit alleged that Dakota County and three social services employees acted negligently by ignoring repeated warnings about Eli’s safety while in the custody of his mother, Julissa Thaler. 

Despite concerns about her history of drug abuse and mental health issues, such as paranoia and hallucinations, social workers recommended that a judge grant her full custody. Tragically, Thaler murdered Eli on the evening of May 19, 2022. 

The settlement includes compensation for Mr. Hart and other family members, including Eli’s grandparents, while holding Dakota County accountable for its failures in child protection.

As attorney Andrew Davick stated, “This was a truly tragic situation, but this resolution holds the County accountable for its child protection failures. This was a challenging two years of litigation, and this case should lead all counties to reflect on its procedures and processes in protecting our young people.”