Washington settles lawsuit by 15 boys abused in group home

OLYMPIA The state is waiting for court approval of a proposed $4 million settlement of a lawsuit brought by 15 boys who say there were abused in a group home here licensed by the state to the Kiwanis Club of Olympia.

The state declined to discuss details of the case. Assistant Attorney General Joseph Montecucco said there would be no final agreement until a court has approved the settlement.

The O.K. Boys' Ranch was licensed by the state Department of Social and Health Services to care for boys who were neglected, abused or whose parents couldn't handle them. There are currently 13 boys at the ranch.

Named as defendants in the lawsuit are the state, the Kiwanis Club of Olympia and the O.K. Boys' Ranch. A lawyer previously involved in the case confirmed tentative settlements had been reached with the state and the Kiwanis, but said no agreement had been reached with the O.K. Boys' Ranch.

The Seattle Post-Intelligencer learned of the lawsuit through two documents, one of which details the alleged abuse of an 11-year-old boy by other residents at the home.

That document, a legal brief submitted on behalf of the boys to the mediator handling the settlement, alleges that a ''law of the jungle'' prevailed at the home; more than 30 pages in the ranch's logs document the abuse.