$130M Pierce County Wrongful Death Verdict

A Pierce County jury has returned a $130,000,000 verdict in favor of the estate of Sarai Brooks, a 2-year-old girl who died on March 11, 2022, after suffering prolonged abuse. Jurors found that the Washington State Department of Children, Youth and Families (DCYF) and Love and Laughter Learning Centers, Inc., a South Hill daycare, failed to act on repeated, visible warning signs that could have saved her life. The verdict, reported April 8, 2026 following a five-week trial, is believed to be the largest wrongful death award of its kind in Washington state history.

Case at a Glance

Verdict: $130,000,000
Case Type: Wrongful Death / Government Liability / Negligence
Court: Pierce County Superior Court
Case No.: 24-2-12689-4
Verdict Date: April 2026
Plaintiff: Estate of Sarai J. Brooks
Defendants: State of Washington (DCYF); Love and Laughter Learning Centers, Inc.
Plaintiff Attorney: Ray Dearie, Dearie Law Group
Sarai's Death: March 11, 2022; cause of death: blunt force trauma to the head (ruled homicide)

What Happened to Sarai Brooks

Sarai Brooks had been removed from her home by Child Protective Services in April 2021 after Auburn police suspected her mother, Jharmaine Baker, of physically abusing her children. She was returned to the home approximately three months before her death, while state supervision remained in place.

Sarai's abuser, Augustino Maile, was Baker's boyfriend. A court order prohibited him from having contact with the children. According to trial testimony and court records, DCYF returned Sarai to a home where Maile remained present, in violation of that order. The agency then failed to follow up on repeated warning signs, including missed daycare attendance and visible injuries documented on the child.

Maile was later convicted of first-degree manslaughter in Sarai's death. Pierce County Superior Court Judge Angelica Williams sentenced him to just over 16 years in prison. Baker was sentenced to 6 years. The Pierce County Medical Examiner documented a history of injuries consistent with prolonged abuse.

How the State and Daycare Failed Sarai

The trial record established failures across two separate institutions.

At the state level, DCYF workers placed Sarai back in a home with an active abuser, then did not follow through on monitoring obligations. Warning signs, including missed daycare appearances and observable injuries, went without documented follow-up.

At the daycare level, staff at Love and Laughter Learning Centers observed visible injuries on Sarai, including a black eye and other concerning marks, according to court documents. Under Washington law, daycare workers are mandated reporters, legally required to report suspected child abuse to authorities. The jury found the daycare failed to fulfill that obligation.

"The most painful part of this case is how profoundly preventable it was," said attorney Ray Dearie of Dearie Law Group. "All it took to save this child's life was for one person to do their job: a call to a social worker, a report from a mandated reporter, or any attempt at follow-up by the state. Any one of those actions could have saved Sarai's life."

Why Did the Jury Return a $130 Million Pierce County Wrongful Death Verdict?

Following a five-week trial, the jury apportioned liability between the State of Washington and the daycare. The specific breakdown between defendants was not reported in available sources.

Plaintiff attorneys argued that systemic failures across both the child welfare system and the daycare directly contributed to Sarai's death. The evidence included a history of prior abuse, a documented court order that was ignored, visible injuries that went unreported, and a pattern of missed opportunities for intervention.

“This verdict gives Sarai a voice," Dearie said. "The jury had the very difficult burden of hearing in graphic detail exactly what Sarai endured, and how many opportunities there were to save her.”

What This Pierce County Wrongful Death Verdict Means for Child Welfare Accountability

Washington abolished sovereign immunity in 1961 under RCW 4.92.090, making the state liable for damages arising from its wrongful conduct to the same extent as a private entity, with no cap on damages. That broad waiver is what made a $130 million verdict against a state agency legally possible here, and it distinguishes Washington from states that still limit or bar recovery against government defendants.

For plaintiff attorneys handling Washington state wrongful death and child welfare negligence cases, the liability theory in this case is instructive: two separate defendants, a court order that was violated, mandatory reporting obligations that went unfulfilled, and a well-documented trail of missed interventions. The combination gave the jury a precise picture of how Sarai fell through institutional gaps that existed specifically to protect her.

“Sarai did not have a voice while this was happening to her,” Dearie said. “This jury made sure she has one now and made clear that when institutions fail children like this, there must be accountability.”

FAQ

Q: Can you sue a state government agency for wrongful death in Washington? A: Yes. Washington abolished sovereign immunity in 1961 and has one of the broadest government liability waivers in the country. Under RCW 4.92.090, the state is liable for damages arising from its tortious conduct to the same extent as a private party, with no statutory cap on damages. Cases against state agencies still carry procedural requirements and can be complex, which makes experienced legal representation important from the outset.

Q: What is a mandatory reporter, and what happens when they fail to report? A: In Washington state, certain professionals, including daycare workers, teachers, and healthcare providers, are legally required to report suspected child abuse or neglect to the appropriate authorities. Failure to make a mandatory report can expose an individual or organization to civil liability. The daycare's alleged failure to report visible injuries on Sarai was a central element of the plaintiff's case against Love and Laughter Learning Centers.

Verdicts like this one show what juries are prepared to award when institutional failures are documented and the harm is irreversible. If you or someone you love has been seriously injured by the negligence of a government agency or institution, the trial record of your attorney matters. Find a plaintiff lawyer on Major Verdict who has the results to back it up.

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