Child advocate declares Utah lawsuit over

SALT LAKE CITY, Dec. 17 (UPI) -- A lawyer who sued Utah over its foster-care system has declared an end to 15 years of litigation, congratulating the state on its reforms.

John F. O'Toole, director of the National Center for Youth Law, sent Gov. Jon Huntsman a letter Tuesday congratulating him and the state, the Deseret Morning News reported.

"NCYL will continue to monitor Utah's child-welfare system through the various means available," O'Toole said. "But we stand ready to help, if that would be useful. You have done an exemplary job in bringing this lawsuit to an amicable conclusion, and we commend you."

O'Toole said that when he filed David C. vs. Leavitt in 1993 Utah had "one of the most troubled foster-care systems in the country." Then-Gov. Mike Leavitt was the named defendant.

The lawsuit became the longest class-action litigation in Utah history, costing the state millions of dollars.