August 22, 2003


Mother of Miranda Gaddis sues state for $1.5 million




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OREGON CITY - The mother of an Oregon City girl who was killed last year is suing the state of Oregon.





Last August, the bodies of Miranda Gaddis, and another Oregon City teenager, Ashley Pond were found on the rental home property of Ward Weaver. Weaver lived in a home next to the apartment complex both girls lived in.

Now, Michelle Duffey, Miranda Gaddis' mother has filed a $1.5 million lawsuit against the State Department of Human Services.

The suit faults DHS for allegedly "failing to warn residents or minors that Ward Weaver was a potential threat to them."

"Because I know that my daughter would still be here, and I want to stop any other child from having to go through what she did," said Duffey.

Oregon City revisited

DHS eventually decided to demote two of its employees who handled an alleged sexual abuse case involving Weaver and Pond, and changed the way abuse allegations are reported.

But Duffey's attorney Michael Wise says DHS should change more than it has and that money talks.

"Our prayer is filed in the amount of one point five million [dollars]. The reality of the law in the State of Oregon, our damages are limited," said Wise. "We felt it necessary to file a complaint for a significant amount to get the attention of the State of Oregon."

DHS says it's confident it will be able to defend itself against the charges, and is not surprised by the suit.

Just as the department has changed by the experience, so have the lives of Michelle Duffey and her three children.

She says it has been difficult to cope with Miranda's death and that all of them are feeling pain.

"I hear it gets better, but I'm still having a tough time dealing with what happened," said Duffey. "I still want to believe she's still here."

Her lawsuit should go to court right after Ward Weaver's trial, closing a sad chapter in her life.





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