Your son was not expected to make it through the night, the voice on the line said (“Determined to be Heard”). Joshua Deshaney had been hospitalized in a life-threatening coma after being brutally beaten by his father, Randy Deshaney. Randy had a history of abuse against his son prior to this event and had worked with the Department of Social Services to maintain custody of his son. The court case was brought by Joshua's mother, Melody Deshaney, who had sued DSS employees for failing to protect her son from his father. To understand the Deshaney v. Winnebago County Court case and the Supreme Court ruling, it is important to analyze the context, the court's decision, and the impact this case has had on our society. Joshua's worst days were ahead of him in 1980, when his mother Melody filed for divorce from her husband, Randy Deshaney. By choice Melodey insisted that Randy keep Joshuha in her custody, eventually the Wyoming court system gave Randy custody of his son. Randy soon decided to move to Winnebago, Wisconsin. The defendant, the Winnebago County Department of Social Services (DSS), first received a report of suspected child abuse from Randy in January 1982 ("Poor Joshuas"). Randy was questioned and immediately denied any abuse of his son Joshua. A year passed and in January 1983 Joshua was admitted to the local hospital by his father's girlfriend and former sister-in-law, Marie Deshaney. Joshua was treated for significant bruises and abrasions throughout his body. In the medical report Marie Deshaney stated that Joshua had been hit in the head by another child with a metal toy truck. The examining doctor suspected child abuse when he examined Joshua's injuries and immediately notified t... half of document... rts. The Supreme Court frequently receives requests to revisit the case, however the Supreme Court routinely rejects the offer. After doing extensive research into the Deshaney V Winnebago County case, the Supreme Court's final decision became clearer. Even though the Deshaney case did not end the way Melody would have liked, Joshua's legal proceedings have had a positive impact on our society. Her attorney, Donald J. Sullivan, says that, from the beginning, DeShaney focused on the other children her case could help by making caseworkers more attentive (“Determined to be Heard”). While the state's actions do not specifically address Randy Deshaney's abuse, Melody hopes to improve the decision-making process of courts involved in the abuse. The Deshaney V Winnebago County case has had a great impact on our society's conflicts with government and abuse.