Ohio Amish lawsuit over child's rape can proceed

COLUMBUS (AP) - A federal judge has refused to dismiss a lawsuit filed by an Ohio Amish couple against the Trumbull County Children Services agency that claims workers there are responsible for their adopted child being raped by her biological parents during a partially unsupervised visit.

The decision by Judge Benita Pearson in Youngstown says neither the county's children services nor workers sued individually are entitled to immunity sometimes granted public employees or entities.

Judge Pearson's 19-page ruling Tuesday didn't directly address the merits of the complaint against the county agency but allows the lawsuit to proceed.

The lawsuit seeking $3 million in damages was filed in April on behalf of the couple who live in West Farmington.