The family of 13-year-old Jade Smith, who died by suicide after jumping from the Brooklyn Bridge in January 2023, is now suing New York City’s child welfare agency, alleging years of systemic failures and missteps that they say contributed to the teenager’s death.
Jade’s mother, Terri Nimmo, is speaking publicly about her daughter’s death and accusing the city’s Administration for Children’s Services (ACS) of removing Jade from her care without justification and failing to protect a child with severe mental health needs.
Mother Alleges ACS “Stole” Her Child
Nimmo says ACS took custody of Jade in September 2022 following an allegation that was later determined to be unfounded. According to the lawsuit, the agency placed Jade into foster care despite her extensive psychiatric history and without establishing a stable, coordinated treatment plan.
“They stole my child,” Nimmo said. “They made everything so much worse. She should be here and she isn’t — and it is ACS’ fault.”
The lawsuit claims ACS ignored repeated warnings from the family about Jade’s mental state and failed to involve her longtime mental health providers in critical decisions about her care.
A Child With Long-Standing Mental Health Struggles
Court filings describe Jade as having battled hallucinations, post-traumatic stress disorder, depression, and suicidal ideation beginning at a young age. She reportedly experienced multiple psychiatric hospitalizations starting at age nine.
Family members say Jade was loving, artistic, and deeply bonded to her mother, but required consistent, specialized care that they believe was disrupted after ACS intervened.
Foster Care Placements and Alleged Oversight Failures
The lawsuit alleges Jade ran away from multiple foster placements and experienced assault during at least one episode. Despite these incidents, ACS is accused of failing to properly document her behavior, monitor her whereabouts, or provide adequate supervision.
Nimmo says she repeatedly contacted caseworkers with concerns but felt ignored as her daughter’s condition deteriorated.
Final Disappearance and Tragic Death
In January 2023, Jade left her latest placement and never returned. Her body was later discovered near the Fulton Ferry Landing pier along the East River after she jumped from the Brooklyn Bridge.
Her death was ruled a suicide.
Family Says Systemic Failures Devastated Their Lives
Beyond losing Jade, the lawsuit claims ACS’s actions destabilized the entire family. Nimmo says she and other relatives lost jobs, fell behind on bills, and were eventually forced into a shelter following the tragedy.
In one especially troubling allegation, the family says an ACS caseworker visited their home more than a year after Jade’s death and appeared unaware that the teen had died.
Lawsuit Seeks Accountability and Reform
The family is seeking unspecified damages and sweeping changes to how New York City handles cases involving children with severe mental health needs.
ACS released a statement offering condolences but declined to comment on the specifics of the lawsuit, citing ongoing litigation.
Renewed Scrutiny on Child Welfare System
The case has reignited debate about oversight and accountability within ACS, which has faced criticism in other high-profile cases involving vulnerable children.
Mental health advocates say Jade’s death highlights dangerous gaps in coordination between child welfare agencies and mental health providers, calling for stronger protections, better training, and more consistent monitoring of at-risk youth.
As the legal case moves forward, Jade’s family says their goal is to ensure no other child falls through the cracks of a system meant to protect them.
