$32-million settlement approved in child abuse death of 10-year-old Anthony Avalos
The family agreed to pay U.S. $32-million as part of an agreement announced Thursday
The family agreed to pay U.S. $32-million as part of an agreement announced Thursday
LONG ISLAND – The child abuse deaths of a 10-year-old and an infant in Nassau County this fall set a family apart from most others in the country. A settlement of $32-million in the death of the 10-year-old was announced on Thursday morning, with three lawsuits already settled for millions of dollars.
The 10-year-old and his mother, Jennifer Ann Avalos, were both buried this week.
Jennifer Avalos
The family agreed to pay the U.S. $32-million as part of an agreement announced Thursday.
“We have been very patient in our pursuit of justice for the child abuse death of Anthony who has been living with the pain and suffering of his death for the last two weeks,” said New York Attorney General and family friend Letitia James. “They paid an enormous price for their willful indifference to his life and his suffering.”
Jennifer Avalos, Anthony’s mother, was arrested on Nov. 9, 2014, on charges of child cruelty and reckless endangerment in the deaths of her child and infant son.
She was later released on a $25-million bond, with conditions, and a trial was set for March 2015. Under the terms of the settlement, Jennifer Avalos will not seek employment, but instead will receive a $500-a-month payment and her family will pay a civil judgment for $32,000.
She was the same age as Anthony when he died and was also a minor at the time of his death. She was also facing charges of child endangerment in the death of Anthony, who was born on July 18, 2012.
Anthony’s family and his attorney said they hoped the settlement, which was not a financial one, would encourage other parents to speak up about
