Being accused of hurting your own child is devastating, and when the accusation is false, it can feel like no one believes you. Maybe your child has a rare genetic disorder that leads to blood clotting or bruising issues, and the hospital has accused you, without running the necessary medical tests or completing any differential diagnosis, of abusing your child. Maybe those baseless accusations have led to threats of your child being removed from your custody if you do not plead guilty. You've spent months defending yourself, and you're worn down.
Here's something you may not have been told: when someone knowingly makes a false accusation, you can take them to court. We represent parents and guardians who were falsely accused, and we'd like to hear what happened to you. The first call is free.
Real child abuse is serious, and the law protects people who report a genuine concern in good faith, even when they turn out to be wrong. We’d never hold that against someone. This is different: when a hospital, doctor or other healthcare provider knowingly or recklessly generates false reports of child abuse against parents, guardians, and childcare providers. When that happens, and the accusation has been resolved in your favor, you may be able to bring a civil claim against the person and institution who made it.
Depending on the facts, one or more of these may fit your situation. We'll tell you which ones apply once we understand what happened.
The Constitution protects a parent's right to raise their own children without the government interfering unless there's a real, well-supported reason. When a doctor or official manufactures or exaggerates evidence to justify taking a child away, that violates the family's constitutional rights — and the individual responsible can be held personally liable.
It's not just about one bad actor — it's about the institution (a hospital, county, or medical practice) that adopted a policy, pattern, or unwritten practice that made these wrongful accusations likely to happen. If the institution knew about the problem and let it continue, the institution itself can be held responsible, not just the individual who acted.
Most states have laws that let you take direct legal action against someone who makes a false report of child abuse if they knew it was false or were reckless about whether it was true. If a doctor, professional, or other individual falsely accused you this way, you may be able to sue them personally for the harm that report caused, separate from any claim against the hospital or agency they work for.
We don’t take every case, and we’ll be honest with you about yours. The strongest ones tend to share a few things: the accusation was false and you have documents to show it; the accuser knew it was false or was recklessly indifferent to differential diagnoses and second opinions; the matter was resolved in your favor; and there’s real harm to point to, like lost time with your children, legal bills, or damage to your name. Documentation and witnesses help. The more you have, the stronger your position.
We take fewer cases than most firms so we can give each one real attention. These cases are hard, personal, and often emotional, and they reward a lawyer who's willing to try them rather than settle quickly. Jerome Reinan has tried more than 50 jury trials. He spent his early career defending institutions before switching sides in 1999 to represent people, so he understands how the other side thinks and how to take a case apart. If you have a case, you'll have a lawyer who believes you and knows how to fight for you.
We're based in Denver and represent clients across Colorado, Wyoming, and Minnesota.
In some cases, yes. A good-faith report of a genuine concern is usually protected, even if it turns out to be wrong. But when someone knowingly or recklessly makes a false accusation, you may have a civil claim. These cases turn on showing the accusation was knowingly false.
Possibly — but that's not our area of practice. We focus specifically on false CPS reports made by doctors, hospitals, and other medical institutions, not false reports made during divorce or other family disputes.
Deadlines depend on the type of claim and the state where the injury occurred. Deadlines are often short, so it's best to talk to a lawyer as soon as possible.
In most civil cases, yes. Filing a lawsuit puts facts on the public record, and the other side can question you under oath. We explain what that means before you decide to move forward.
We handle cases on a contingency fee, so you don't pay attorney fees unless we recover for you.
