Lawsuit filed against Hawaii for girl's abuse death

A lawsuit has been filed for the estate of a 10-year-old girl named Geanna Bradley, who died after years of abuse and starvation. The lawsuit targets four adults living in the home where she was found and the state of Hawaii. This includes the Department of Human Services (DHS) and its staff. According to the complaint, a DHS social worker, Deborah Yoshizumi, did not take seriously abuse allegations made by Bradley’s biological father in 2015. He claimed that Geanna was beaten by her foster parents, Thomas and Brandy Blas. The complaint states that Yoshizumi failed to document the allegations and reassured the father that the Blases were trustworthy. The Blases and other family members have been indicted on multiple charges, including second-degree murder and kidnapping. They have pleaded not guilty. The trial for these charges is scheduled for September 8, 2025. The complaint claims that DHS should have been aware of the Blases' criminal history and unfitness to be caregivers. It argues that DHS was negligent and responsible for Geanna's suffering and wrongful death. The agency has not commented on the lawsuit. Geanna was taken out of school in 2022, and it is alleged that she was kept in poor conditions at home. She died in January 2024, found severely injured and malnourished, with no sign of medical care. An autopsy revealed she died from blunt force injuries and starvation. The case highlights failures in the child welfare system that could have prevented her tragic death.