Kern County's Child Protective Services department has cost county taxpayers another $1.4 million.

That's the settlement amount granted last month to a local doctor in a case where CPS illegally took her two children. The county did this in February, 2011, without a warrant and, as it turns out, for no legitimate reason.

... After the McCue case, the department began revamping policies on how and when children can be taken. Social workers had been taking kids without warrants even when there was no imminent threat to a child's safety. That was patently illegal, said Deeths' attorney Shawn McMillan who also represented the McCues.

... Read more at the Bake...