In a heart-wrenching story that has captured the national spotlight, 17-year-old Maya Kowalski is finally getting her day in court - nearly five years after filing a monumental lawsuit against Florida's Department of Children and Families (DCF), Johns Hopkins All Children's Hospital, and other key individuals.
Maya was taken into state custody when she was 10, based on suspicions of 'child medical abuse '— an allegation that accused her parents of fabricating her symptoms of Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (CPRS).
Her mother, Beata Kowalski, took her own life after a forced separation from her daughter, a loss that still haunts the Kowalski family today.
The family's deeply tragic story was brought to public attention through the explosive Netflix documentary Take Care of Maya, which was released on the streaming platform on June 19.
The much-anticipated civil trial finally kicked off this week at South County Courthouse in Venice, Florida, and is expected to last up to eight weeks.
"Everyone is relieved we finally get our time in court," said Jennifer Anderson of AndersonGlenn LLP, the firm representing the Kowalski family.
The family is seeking a staggering $55 million in compensatory damages and $165 million in punitive damages.
Judge Hunter Carroll ruled that the jury could consider awarding punitive damages for battery and false imprisonment if they side with the Kowalskis. The defense of Johns Hopkins All Children's Hospital is set to revolve around their status as mandatory reporters required by state law to inform the DCF if they suspect abuse or neglect.
Hospital staff allegedly videotaped Maya for 48 hours and stripped her down to her underwear for photographs without the proper permission. Moreover, they allegedly refused to let Maya's parents transfer her to another hospital, escalating the severity of the case.
Catherine Bedy, a former social worker at All Children's Hospital, is also named as a defendant, accused of inappropriate physical interactions with Maya. The court has already cited evidence suggesting that the hospital's risk management was aware of and directed this behavior.
Ethen Shapiro, defending the hospital, claims that court documents "completely contradict the Netflix narrative."
Jury selection is expected to be complicated by the documentary’s huge viewership; potential jurors who have seen it will undergo individual questioning to maintain impartiality.
Amid the unfolding legal drama, questions are also being raised about Florida's Department of Children's role in the case. A second abuse report against the Kowalskis was made by Sally Smith, the former child protective medical director for Pinellas, who conducted an investigation into Maya’s case. Smith retired in July 2022 and has since settled with the Kowalski family for $2.5 million, according to The Cut.
Take Care of Maya is still available to stream on Netflix.