Stark County pays $100,000 in 'caged kids' case

Stark County commissioners approved payments totaling $100,000 for children adopted into the Huron County home of Michael and Sharen Gravelle a decade ago.

By Tim Botos

Stark County commissioners approved payments totaling $100,000 for children adopted into the Huron County home of Michael and Sharen Gravelle a decade ago.

The Gravelles made headlines in what became known as the “caged kids” case when authorities removed 11 children from their home in 2005 amid allegations that some were forced to sleep in cages. The couple was charged and convicted on felony child endangering counts and ultimately served two years in prison before their releases in 2011.

Stark County’s Department of Job & Family Services, which had placed three of the children with the Gravelles, was sued in 2012 by the trio’s guardian ad litem, David Brown, and three parents.

The out-of-pocket payments are only a piece of an overall $2 million settlement with Stark, largely paid for by insurance carriers, said attorney Jack Landskroner of Cleveland, who filed the lawsuit.

The suit alleged that Stark JFS ignored red flags about the Gravelles in its zeal to place the children into a home, beginning in 1999. Their complaint also alleged that Stark JFS turned its head to other warnings signals after placement.

Ross Rhodes, civil division chief for the Stark County Prosecutor’s office, said the county has admitted no wrongdoing on behalf of JFS in its settlement. “We’re confident ... we were not at fault ... they wanted more money and we wanted to pay them less,” he said.

Landskroner, who has represented all 11 children in civil complaints, according to various media reports, said this is the seventh lawsuit and/or settlement involving the children. In 2010, he worked out an agreement that provided a $1.2 million payment from Huron County to the children.

He said a press statement with more details about the agreement with Stark will be released this week.

The local settlement — approved by commissioners Wednesday — calls for JFS to initially place $50,000 into an escrow account. It will remain there until the settlement for the minors is approved by the Stark County Probate Court. A second $50,000 payment would be made a year after that.