An 11 Investigates exclusive report has now led to a civil lawsuit against Allegheny County Human Services and two caseworkers.<\/p>\n
The subjects of our report five years ago claimed they were repeatedly sexually abused by their foster father<\/a> years ago, and they say caseworkers knew about it but did nothing.<\/p>\n Chief Investigator Rick Earle first told you about this shocking case five years ago.<\/p>\n Earle\u2019s investigation led to criminal charges, and now a civil lawsuit against Allegheny County and two caseworkers, accusing them of leaving two children with an abusive foster father.<\/p>\n \u201cThis was extremely hard for me to do,\u201d said Joe Gilbert, who spoke about the allegations with Earle five years ago.<\/p>\n Gilbert came forward after his aunt, Carlina Freeman, told Earle she had been sexually abused and impregnated at the age of 14 by her foster father decades ago at their home in McKeesport. <\/p>\n But Freeman said nothing was ever done to her foster father, Carl Gilbert.<\/p>\n After Earle\u2019s exclusive report, Allegheny County Police launched a criminal investigation and charged Carl Gilbert with rape<\/a>.<\/p>\n PREVIOUS COVERAGE >>> Target 11: Emotional testimony in court from victim allegedly sexually abused by foster parent<\/a><\/p>\n But a judge dismissed the charges because the statute of limitations had expired<\/a>.<\/p>\n Carl Gilbert was released from jail, but then arrested and charged by Cleveland Police with sexually abusing his former foster son<\/a>, whom he had adopted.<\/p>\n PREVIOUS COVERAGE >>> Target 11 Exclusive: Man accused of raping foster child in Pittsburgh facing similar charges in Ohio<\/a><\/p>\n Carl Gilbert died<\/a> before the case went to trial. <\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s a horror story. My reaction to this coming this, now, it\u2019s so surreal. It\u2019s unbelievable,\u201d said Joe Gilbert.<\/p>\n Joe Gilbert has now filed a civil lawsuit accusing Allegheny County Human Services and two caseworkers of leaving him and his aunt in the home with Carl Gilbert.<\/p>\n \u201c…defendants knew or should have known that sexual abuse had occurred and was continuing to occur at the Gilberts\u2019 home…,\u201d the lawsuit indicates. <\/p>\n The civil lawsuit that was filed in Allegheny County and then moved to federal court accuses the county of failing to train and monitor employees.<\/p>\n \u201c…defendants\u2019 behavior shocks the conscience and merits the imposition of punitive damages…,\u201d the lawsuit claims.<\/p>\n PREVIOUS COVERAGE >>> \u2018A failure of the entire system:\u2019 charges dropped against one suspect in 30-year-old case<\/a><\/p>\n According to the lawsuit, a caseworker took Freeman for a pregnancy test and knew Gilbert was the father.<\/p>\n The caseworker resigned ten days later, and the suit claims a new caseworker was told about the allegations, but again, nothing was done.<\/p>\n Allegheny County Human Services sent this statement to 11 Investigates:<\/p>\n \u201cWe are troubled by the allegations raised regarding Mr. Gilbert\u2019s experiences in foster care, and we take any report involving the safety of a child with profound seriousness. Our priority is always the protection and care of the young people entrusted to us, and we remain committed to ensuring their well-being.\u201d<\/p>\n Five years ago, Joe Gilbert still had a lot of questions, and he\u2019s hoping to get some answers from this lawsuit.<\/p>\n \u201cA lot of questions and someone needs to answer them. It\u2019s a failure, a failure of the system,\u201d Joe Gilbert said.<\/p>\n Carlina Freeman has been waiting for the state legislature to waive the statute of limitations so she can file a civil lawsuit.<\/p>\n The legislature was supposed to take that action to allow victims of clergy sex abuse to file lawsuits, but so far it hasn\u2019t happened.<\/p>\n She\u2019s still holding out hope.<\/p>\n Download the FREE WPXI News app<\/a> for breaking news alerts.<\/p>\n Follow Channel 11 News on Facebook<\/a> and Twitter<\/a>. | Watch WPXI NOW<\/a><\/p>\n TOP STORIES FROM CHANNEL 11 NEWS <\/p>\n \u00a92026 Cox Media Group<\/p>\n