Damage Award Denied To Father Who Objected To Foster Care Placement That Violated Children's Religious Training

In BK v. Toumpas, (D NH, Nov. 14, 2012), a New Hampshire federal district court rejected a Hindu father's claim for damages against state child welfare officials for placing his 3 minor children in temporary foster care with families that disrespected the children's religious upbringing by serving them beef and taking them to Christian religious services. The court held that defendants had qualified immunity because any unconstitutionality of their actions would not have been clear to a reasonable official.