Toutle River Ranch Sues Over Shutdown

Fri., Dec. 20, 1996

Associated Press

Toutle River Ranch, a group home for troubled boys, has sued the state for $2 million, saying it was shut down unfairly.

The lawsuit accuses the Department of Social and Health Services of damaging the ranch’s reputation, and not following its own procedures when contracts were canceled earlier this year.

The lawsuit, filed this week in Cowlitz County Superior Court, said DSHS didn’t follow its own rules in removing 22 boys from the ranch in August.

DSHS spokeswoman Kathy Spears said the agency does not comment on ongoing litigation.

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