The lawsuit filed Tuesday in Covington County Circuit Court says the child was taken in September to Andalusia Regional Hospital, where it was discovered he suffered "ongoing horrific abuse" by his father.

The suit says the father was arrested the same day on suspicion of child abuse after authorities discovered the child's injuries. The lawsuit says suspicions of abuse had been reported years before but the defendants failed to act and allowed the child to be in danger.

The lawsuit identifies the woman, her nephew and his father by their initials.

The attorney general's office said Tuesday it hadn't seen the suit.

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