Susan Powell | Court Coverage
Source check: November 12, 2026
The court case concerned the boys’ protection
Chuck and Judy Cox sued after Charlie and Braden were killed during a supervised visit. The federal appeal and the later state appeal concern that civil litigation. Neither is a criminal prosecution over Susan’s disappearance. Federal opinion; State opinion.
January 10, 2019: why part of the case returned
The Ninth Circuit affirmed judgment for the individual social workers on the federal civil-rights claims, based on qualified immunity. It reversed dismissal of the negligence claims against DSHS because factual questions remained about reasonable care, visitation arrangements and causation. The decision allowed those claims to proceed; it did not itself return a jury verdict. Ninth Circuit opinion, Nos. 15-35964 and 15-35980.
April 18, 2023: liability and damages
The state appellate court’s account records a July 31, 2020 jury verdict. After separating damages attributed to Josh’s intentional conduct, the judgment against DSHS was $98,509,000. The trial court later reduced the award. On appeal, the court affirmed liability, rejected that reduction and reinstated the award. The opinion explains both parts of the decision. Washington Court of Appeals, No. 55438-1-II.
What this record establishes
These are dated decisions, not a verified report of the award’s payment or of every subsequent docket action. The disappearance has its own status: Susan remains on the West Valley City missing-person list. No current hearing date is supplied without an identified court source.
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