Lawsuit against social workers, Pope County in 2013 Eric Dean wrongful death case moves forward

Wednesday, the Minnesota Supreme Court cleared the way for a wrongful death lawsuit in the death of 4-year-old Eric Dean to continue.

Dean was killed by his stepmother Amanda Peltier in 2013 after repeated abused throughout his young life.

Peltier is currently serving life in prison after being convicted of first-degree murder.

Dean’s estate accuses Pope County and three child protection workers of not reporting the abuse to law enforcement, and that the inaction ultimately caused the child’s death.

A district court ruled the workers and county were immune from liability in these types of cases, findings an appellate court agreed with.

In its Wednesday decision, the Supreme Court said the appellate court incorrectly applied immunity from the Reporting of Maltreatment of Minors Act, and sent the case back to district court to proceed.