The Defender Association of Philadelphia, a foster care agency and two Lancaster County foster parents have been found liable for the abuse of a twin brother and sister, a case resulting in a $4.5 million jury verdict in favor of the children.

For a period of three-and-a-half years, the children were taken to the basement of the Lancaster County home in which they lived, were told to lie down on a freezer, and were beaten by hand or with objects, according to court papers.