Gothamist
A non-profit newsroom, powered by WNYC.
Gothamist
Listen Live
News
Malnourished Girl's Father Suing City For $150 Million
By
Ben Yakas
Published Sep 22, 2011
Modified Sep 22, 2011
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
Never miss a story
Email address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .
By
Ben Yakas
Published Sep 22, 2011
Modified Sep 22, 2011
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
We rely on your support to make local news available to all
Make your contribution now and help Gothamist thrive in 2026. Donate today
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
The father of a severely malnourished 4-year-old girl who died in her Bedford-Stuyvesant apartment last year, weighing a scant 18 pounds, is planning to sue the city for $150 million. Tyrone Pierce claims that the city and the Administration of Children's Services (ACS) failed to act on behalf of Marchella Brett-Pierce despite "knowledge of the threats of physical, mental and emotional abuse being waged on [the child]." But the lawyer for one of the ACS supervisors who have been indicted for criminally negligent homicide says that the father is just as responsible as others who neglected the little girl: "He's one more person who has seen this child and never noticed anything or reported any neglect or abuse."
Marchella's mother Carlotta Brett-Pierce has already been arrested and charged with murder, and grandma Loretta Brett has been charged with manslaughter. The malnourished little girl had been found with marks around her arms and wrists, suggesting she had been tied up at times, and had drugs in her system.
In addition, two former ACS employees were indicted on charges of criminally negligent homicide, which was the first time in state history that welfare workers were charged with the death of a child. The ACS Commissioner during the incident, John Mattingly, also resigned, though supposedly not because of the scrutiny his agency came under in the wake of Marchella's death.
Tagged
lawsuit
ACS
administration children's services
malnourished girl
marchella pierce
Ben Yakas
Ben Yakas is a former Gothamist reporter.
Read more
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
MORE news
Parents grumble as NYC schools chancellor dodges calls for NYC schools integration plan
Journalist Nikole Hannah-Jones said she felt disappointed by the lack of details.
By
Jessica Gould
Published Oct 20, 2026 at 10:01 p.m. ET
Driver found with apparent gunshot wound on George Washington Bridge, officials say
The westbound upper level was closed Tuesday night as Port Authority police investigated the incident.
By
Charles Lane
News
Driver found with apparent gunshot wound on George Washington Bridge, officials say
The westbound upper level was closed Tuesday night as Port Authority police investigated the incident.
By
Charles Lane
16 arrested in New York auto insurance fraud crackdown involving nearly $500K
By
Giulia Heyward
Coney Island's small, 1890s lighthouse may be landmarked by the city
By
Catalina Gonella
New renderings are out for Queens' Metropolitan Park casino
By
Willow Higgins
Never miss a story
Catch up on the most important headlines with a roundup of essential NYC stories, delivered to your inbox daily.
Sign upEmail address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .