Social Workers at Fault on the Handling of Powell Children

Olympia, Wash. (ap) - Attorneys are preparing to sue the state of Washington over how social workers handled the children of Josh Powell.

Lawyer Anne Bremner said the case will be filed Friday on behalf of Susan Cox Powell, who disappeared in 2009. A guardian ad litem has been appointed to represent her. Josh Powell killed himself and the couple's two young children during a supervised visit earlier this year.

Bremner has represented the parents of Susan Powell. She says they want to see changes in how the state handles these cases, such as less focus on trying to immediately reunify parents with their children.

Bremner's announcement came the same day that a task force made recommendations on how social workers could improve their handling of similar cases in the future.