Cooper Civil Rights Class Action
Last verified October 8, 2026Source: courtlistener-litigationHow ClaimWatch verifies cases
Still being litigated: the claims below are allegations, not findings, and there is no settlement, claim form or payout yet.
Where this case stands
In litigation
The case has been filed and is being fought in court. There is no settlement, no claim form and no payout yet; many class actions are dismissed or never certified.
Pending in the District Court, W.D. North Carolina (No. 3:24-cv-00783).
- August 27, 2024Case filed
What happened
A proposed class action against Cooper, apparently concerning civil rights claims against North Carolina DHHS. The docket reflects motions to dismiss and an appeal, indicating ongoing litigation over these allegations.
Do you qualify?
No settlement exists yet, so there is nothing to file and no class definition to check. If the case settles, the settlement will define exactly who qualifies — watch this case and we'll let you know.
How to file
There is no claim to file yet. If this case reaches a settlement, a claim process will open — usually with an official settlement website and a filing deadline.
Common questions
- Can I file a claim in the Cooper Civil Rights Class Action case?
- No. The case is still being litigated — there is no settlement, no claim form, and no payout. It was filed August 27, 2024 in the District Court, W.D. North Carolina (No. 3:24-cv-00783).What a class action lawsuit is →
- Who are the attorneys in the Cooper Civil Rights Class Action?
- For the plaintiffs: David Baloche (A Better Childhood); Marcia Robinson Lowry (A Better Childhood, Inc.); Laura Welikson (A Better Childhood); Christopher J. Blake (Cranfill Sumner LLP). For Cooper: Samantha Marie Owens (Cranfill Sumner LLP); Michael Thomas Wood (N.C. Department of Justice); Eric R. Hunt (NC Department of Justice); Sydney Plummer Davis (Poyner Spruill LLP). From the public court docket.
Who's involved
Plaintiffs
- Veronika Monteleone
- Daria Barazandeh
- Kari Danforth
- Steven Bolch
Defendants
- Johnston County Department of Social Services
- Johnston County
- Rockingham County Department of Social Services
- Rockingham County
- Randolph County Department of Social Services
- Randolph County
- Harnett County Department of Social Services
- Harnett County
+ 11 more
Counsel for plaintiffs
- David BalocheA Better ChildhoodRepresents Steven Bolch, Kari Danforth, Daria Barazandeh, Roy Cooperdbaloche@abetterchildhood.org · (917) 232-1748
- Marcia Robinson LowryA Better Childhood, Inc.Represents Steven Bolch, Kari Danforth, Daria Barazandeh, Veronika Monteleonemlowry@abetterchildhood.org · (646) 795-4456
- Laura WeliksonA Better ChildhoodRepresents Steven Bolch, Kari Danforth, Daria Barazandeh, Veronika Monteleonelwelikson@abetterchildhood.org · (646) 901-9163
- Christopher J. BlakeCranfill Sumner LLPRepresents Steven Bolch, Kari Danforth, Daria Barazandeh, Veronika Monteleonecblake@cshlaw.com · (919) 329-3808
- Martin WarfNelson Mullins Riley & Scarborough LLPRepresents Steven Bolch, Kari Danforth, Daria Barazandeh, Veronika Monteleonemartin.warf@nelsonmullins.com · (919) 877-3800
Counsel for defendants
- Samantha Marie OwensCranfill Sumner LLPRepresents Davidson County, Davidson County Department of Social Services2 tracked casessowens@cshlaw.com · (704) 940-3454
- Michael Thomas WoodN.C. Department of JusticeRepresents North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services, Kody Kinsley, Susan Osborn, Mark PayneMWood@ncdoj.gov · (919) 716-0186
- Eric R. HuntNC Department of JusticeRepresents North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services, Kody Kinsley, Susan Osborn, Mark Payneehunt@ncdoj.gov · (919) 716-6885
- Sydney Plummer DavisPoyner Spruill LLPRepresents Johnston County, Johnston County Department of Social Services2 tracked casessdavis@poynerspruill.com · (252) 972-7113
- James Nicholas EllisPoyner Spruill LLPRepresents Johnston County, Johnston County Department of Social Servicesjnellis@poynerspruill.com · (252) 972-7115
- Patrick Houghton FlanaganCranfill, Sumner & Hartzog, L.L.P.Represents Davidson County, Davidson County Department of Social Services2 tracked casesphf@cshlaw.com · (704) 940-3419
- Jake William StewartCranfill Sumner & Hartzog, LLPRepresents Davidson County, Davidson County Department of Social Servicesjstewart@cshlaw.com · (704) 940-3441
- Katherine Montgomery McCrawNC Department of JusticeRepresents North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services, Kody Kinsley, Susan Osborn, Mark Paynekmccraw@ncdoj.gov · (919) 716-6577
- Daniel T. StrongTeague CampbellRepresents Gaston County, Gaston County Department of Social Services, Harnett County, Harnett County Department of Social Services, Rockingham County, Rockingham County Department of Social Servicesdstrong@teaguecampbell.com · (919) 873-0166
- Jacob H. WellmanTeague Campbell Dennis & Gorham LLPRepresents Gaston County, Gaston County Department of Social Services, Harnett County, Harnett County Department of Social Services, Rockingham County, Rockingham County Department of Social Servicesjwellman@tcdg.com · (919) 873-0166
- J. Matthew LittleTeague Campbell Dennis & Gorham LLPRepresents Gaston County, Gaston County Department of Social Services, Harnett County, Harnett County Department of Social Services, Rockingham County, Rockingham County Department of Social Servicesmlittle@teaguecampbell.com · (919) 873-0166
- Kimberly SullivanWomble Bond Dickinson (US) LLPRepresents Mecklenburg County, Mecklenburg County Department of Social Services-Youth and Family Serviceskimberly.sullivan@wbd-us.com · (704) 444-2923
- Sean F. PerrinWomble Bond Dickinson (US) LLPRepresents Mecklenburg County, Mecklenburg County Department of Social Services-Youth and Family Services, Randolph County, Randolph County Department of Social Servicessean.perrin@wbd-us.com · (704) 331-4992
- Lisa BradleyNC Dept of Justice - Attorney GeneralRepresents North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services, Kody Kinsley, Susan Osborn, Mark Paynelbradley@ncdoj.gov · (919) 716-6856
- Stephanie Ann BrennanNC Department of JusticeRepresents Roy Coopersbrennan@ncdoj.gov · (919) 716-6920
Other cases these firms appear in
- West Virginia Child Welfare Civil Rights Class Action · A Better Childhood
- City of Gastonia Disability Discrimination Class Action · Cranfill Sumner LLP
- Symmetry Financial Group TCPA Class Action · Cranfill Sumner LLP
- Wake County Class Action · Cranfill Sumner LLP
- PharMerica Data Breach Settlement · Cranfill Sumner LLP
From the public court docket, contact details as filed; not an endorsement.
Guides:What is a class action lawsuit?How class membership worksYour options as a class member
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