( CNN ) -- A 20-year-old woman whose aunt allegedly beat her and held her captive for a decade in the basement of a Philadelphia apartment building has sued the city , claiming her ordeal could have been avoided if officials had acted appropriately . Beatrice Weston alleges the city failed to `` properly train Department of Human Services workers in child placements , '' resulting in her being put in the custody of her aunt , Linda Weston , a convicted felon , a statement from her attorney Shanin Specter said . The complaint says the city of Philadelphia failed to release information about the aunt 's criminal history . Linda Weston served eight years in prison for killing her sister 's boyfriend in the early 1980s . In that case , the victim `` was held captive for an extended period of time , locked in a closet and he literally starved to death , '' Police Commissioner Charles Ramsey said in October . Philly basement victim says he was kept in nailed-shut closet . Beatrice Weston suffered much of the same abuse , beaten with a baseball bat and forced to consume her own urine during the 10 years she was in her aunt 's custody , according to her attorney . `` This would have been avoided if the city had n't recommended that a convicted felon be given custody of a vulnerable , innocent child , '' Specter said . Mark McDonald , press secretary for Mayor Michael Nutter , said he could not comment on pending litigation . Linda Weston 's attorney said she had not seen the complaint and most likely would not be representing her in any civil hearing . Beatrice Weston 's case first came to light in October when she was found , along with several mentally disabled adults , in the basement of an apartment building where her aunt lived . Police said they believe it was part of a scheme to collect their Social Security checks . The complaint names two other defendants , Nefertiti Savoy , a social worker , and Richard Ames , an attorney who recommended Weston 's placement . Linda Weston is set to go on trial in January on charges of kidnapping , assault , conspiracy , false imprisonment and other related counts to holding the four adults captive . Trial ordered in Philadelphia basements captives case . Son 'shocked ' parents accused of holding captives , calls it a 'misunderstanding ' Lawyer : Philly police contacted in 2003 about suspect in captives case .
Beatrice Weston says she was held captive for a decade . She is suing Philadelphia for placing her with her aunt . Score: 6