March 26, 2025: New Lawsuit Against Diocese of Peoria

In a new lawsuit, a man from Peoria, Illinois, has sued the Catholic Diocese of Peoria, alleging that a defrocked priest sexually abused him as a child while he was a student and parishioner at St. Vincent de Paul Parish. The plaintiff claims the abuse occurred monthly from 1997 to 2003, beginning when he was eight years old.

The lawsuit, filed in Peoria County, accuses the diocese of negligence, asserting that it failed to properly supervise the priest and allowed him to have unsupervised access to children. The complaint also alleges that the diocese engaged in a decades-long cover-up of clergy sexual abuse, citing findings from the 2023 Illinois Attorney General’s report, which identified numerous clergy members accused of abuse.

The priest in question was suspended in 2004 following credible allegations of prior abuse and was later removed from the priesthood by the Vatican in 2006. However, the lawsuit asserts that the diocese did not fully acknowledge his history of abuse until 2018 and has yet to disclose details about where and when the misconduct occurred.

March 20, 2025: Peoria Diocese Faces Renewed Scrutiny Over Clergy Abuse Response

The Catholic Diocese of Peoria is under fire again for its handling of clergy sex abuse allegations, this time involving former priest Thomas Miller. A new lawsuit alleges Miller sexually abused Michael Eckert from 1997 to 2003, beginning when Eckert was just 8 years old.

Miller was removed from ministry in 2004 after credible allegations surfaced and defrocked by the Vatican in 2006. Yet, concerns remain as he still lives in Illinois with no clear safeguards in place.

March 14, 2025: Homewood-Flossmoor High School Settles Assault Lawsuit for $3.5M

Homewood-Flossmoor High School District 233 has agreed to pay $3.5 million to settle a lawsuit brought by a former student who alleged the school failed to protect her from a sexual assault by a male student in October 2022.

The lawsuit claimed the male student had been harassing her for weeks before the assault and that the school ignored warning signs. In the aftermath, students staged a walkout, protesting what they saw as administrative indifference toward sexual misconduct.

Despite the settlement, the district has not admitted wrongdoing, stating that pre-trial rulings and financial concerns influenced the decision. The district’s insurance provider covered the settlement payout.

March 7, 2025: Restaurant Forces Out Employee After She Is Raped

In a new lawsuit filed yesterday, a former employee of a Chicago restaurant is suing her employer for enabling workplace sexual violence and forcing her to choose between her safety and her job. The plaintiff, a 24-year-old woman, alleges that she was raped by her direct supervisor and that, when she reported the attack, management refused to take action—leaving her no choice but to quit.

According to the lawsuit, the plaintiff was hired in early December 2023. Shortly after, her supervisor began pressuring her to drink on the job. Toward the end of one shift, he repeatedly urged her to accept a beer, even enlisting another employee to encourage her. When she declined a tequila shot, he brought one to her workstation anyway, insisting she drink it.

Later that night, after her shift ended, the supervisor offered her a ride home. The plaintiff initially agreed but could not find his car and began walking to the train station. He called her, told her to wait for him, and picked her up shortly after. Instead of taking her home, he drove to a secluded parking lot, pressured her to drink more alcohol, and then sexually assaulted her inside his vehicle.

Then he does what predators do when they rape someone they know—starting with smaller violations of consent, testing their victim’s resistance, and steadily pushing further. Once she was isolated and vulnerable, he made his final move. When she tried to leave, he demanded a hug, refusing to let her go. He then forced a kiss on her, ignored her struggles to break free, and then raped her inside the car. The lawsuit states that she repeatedly tried to fight him off but was overpowered. She then went to a hospital, where a Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner conducted a forensic exam.

The next day, terrified to return to work, the plaintiff stayed home. Two days later, she went to the restaurant to report what had happened to management. The response was devastating. According to the lawsuit, the employer’s representative dismissed her report, saying that because the attack happened outside of work, it was a personal matter between her and the supervisor. The plaintiff was told that if she wanted to keep her job, she would have to continue working alongside the man who assaulted her. Unable to do so, she was forced to quit.

The lawsuit argues that the employer’s refusal to take action violated federal and state laws prohibiting sex discrimination, including Title VII of the Civil Rights Act and the Illinois Human Rights Act. It also asserts claims under the Illinois Gender Violence Act and for assault and battery. The plaintiff is seeking damages for lost wages, emotional distress, and other harms caused by her employer’s inaction.

The case highlights a disturbing reality: when businesses fail to protect employees from workplace sexual violence, survivors are often the ones who lose everything.

March 6, 2025: New Uber Sexual Assault Lawsuit

In a new lawsuit filed today as part of the ongoing Uber passenger sexual assault litigation, a woman from Illinois is suing Uber Technologies, Inc., alleging that the company’s failure to implement adequate safety measures enabled her sexual assault by an Uber driver. The plaintiff, identified as L.D., was assaulted in Rockford, Illinois, in March 2023 after being paired with the driver through the Uber platform.

The lawsuit was filed not in Illinois but directly into the Uber class action lawsuit for passengers who were sexually assaulted by Uber drivers. The complaint argues that Uber failed to properly screen, monitor, and supervise its drivers, creating a dangerous environment for riders, particularly women traveling alone.

So many of these lawsuits are from Illinois plaintiffs. In another case filed just yesterday, the plaintiff, a woman, filed an Uber lawsuit alleging she was sexually assaulted by an Uber driver in Cook County, Illinois, on March 31, 2023.

February 14, 2025: New UHS Hartgrove Hospital Sex Abuse Lawsuit

A newly filed lawsuit in Cook County Circuit Court alleges that Hartgrove Hospital, a psychiatric hospital owned by Universal Health Services (UHS), allowed a pattern of sexual abuse, neglect, and systemic failures that endangered vulnerable minors in its care. Hartgrove Hospital has been on the radar of sexual abuse lawyers in Chicago for quite some time. This lawsuit claims that Hartgrove administrators ignored warning signs, failed to supervise employees, and neglected to report known incidents of child sex abuse, creating an environment where minors were repeatedly victimized.

Filed on behalf of a 16-year-old, the lawsuit accuses UHS and its subsidiaries of prioritizing profits over patient safety, maintaining dangerously low staffing levels, and failing to implement basic protections for children undergoing mental health treatment. According to the complaint, employees with histories of misconduct were hired or retained despite clear risks, and staff members were able to abuse minors without intervention from administrators.

The Hartgrove hospital lawsuit further asserts that the facility failed to comply with Illinois’ mandatory reporting laws, which require hospitals to notify the Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS) of suspected cases where children were being molested. The complaint makes an even stronger allegation: the facility actively suppressed reports of sexual misconduct and abuse and took no meaningful action against staff members accused of wrongdoing.

Hartgrove, located on Chicago’s West Side, is part of UHS, a national for-profit behavioral health provider that has faced scrutiny for alleged patient mistreatment at facilities across the country. The lawsuit argues that corporate policies set by UHS created an unsafe environment at Hartgrove by cutting costs, understaffing the hospital, and allowing unchecked abuse to continue for years.

The plaintiff is seeking financial damages for the harm suffered, including medical expenses and emotional trauma, as well as systemic reforms to prevent further abuse. Attorneys for the plaintiff argue that UHS and Hartgrove’s leadership must be held accountable for fostering a culture of negligence that put some of the state’s most vulnerable children in harm’s way.

You will be seeing more Hartgrove Hospital abuse lawsuits in 2025.

February 3, 2025: Another Romeoville Holiday Inn Sex Trafficking Lawsuit

In a new lawsuit filed last week, a Florida woman has accused Romeoville HIE Hotels LLC of knowingly benefiting from her sex trafficking at a Holiday Inn Express & Suites in Romeoville, Illinois.

The lawsuit, filed under the federal Trafficking Victims Protection Reauthorization Act, alleges that the defendant, as the owner and operator of the hotel, profited from the trafficking by repeatedly renting rooms to her trafficker despite clear indicators of ongoing exploitation.

The complaint describes how the plaintiff was coerced into commercial sex through physical abuse, threats, and psychological control. It further alleges that hotel staff witnessed numerous red flags, including frequent visits from sex buyers, visible signs of abuse, and illicit activity in the rooms, yet failed to take action. Instead, the lawsuit claims that the defendant continued to rent rooms to the trafficker and even allowed employees to serve as lookouts to warn of law enforcement activity.

A similar lawsuit has also been filed against Romeoville HIE Hotels, also accusing it of enabling sex trafficking at another of its properties. That complaint, filed in October, also alleged the victim was trafficked for commercial sex acts at the Holiday Inn Express & Suites in Joliet North, an IHG Hotel operated by the same hotel company.

January 25, 2025 – Maryville Academy Sex Abuse Lawsuits

Our firm is actively investigating Maryville Academy sexual abuse claims for victims.

January 20, 2025: Doctor Sex Abuse

Dr. Edgar Archbold, a 73-year-old former doctor in Yorkville, was sentenced to 37 years in prison after pleading guilty to seven counts of criminal sexual assault of a minor. The abuse occurred over nine months at his business and home, and the victim came forward after being questioned by their mother. Law enforcement gathered critical evidence, including a recorded phone conversation where Archbold admitted to the acts. Given his age, Archbold will spend the rest of his life in prison, as he must serve at least 85% of his sentence.

When evaluating the viability of a doctor sexual assault lawsuit in cases like this, the key factor is identifying a defendant with the financial means to pay a settlement or judgment. While the doctor is directly responsible, the victims get no justice and no compensation payout because the doctor lacks the assets to compensate victims, even if a verdict is won. Our firm once secured a multi-million-dollar verdict against a doctor in a similar case, but the victim ended up with nothing (our lawyer who tried the case won Trial Lawyer of the Year for the effort). Therefore, identifying institutions—such as employers or other parties who may have enabled the abuse, who have insurance—is crucial to securing meaningful settlement compensation for victims.

November 4, 2024 – New Uber Lawsuit

In a new lawsuit filed within the Uber passenger sexual assault MDL, a Mount Vernon woman alleges that she was sexually assaulted by an Uber driver during a ride requested through the Uber platform on November 2, 2022. The incident took place in Jefferson County, Illinois, and names Uber Technologies, Inc., and its affiliated entities as defendants.

By filing within the national Uber MDL, the plaintiff benefits from a streamlined process that centralizes discovery and judicial rulings relevant to claims of sexual assault and negligence against Uber. The plaintiff seeks both economic and non-economic compensatory damages, as well as punitive damages, alleging Uber’s failure to ensure passenger safety and supervision over its drivers.

October 21, 2024 – New Lawsuit Against Postal Service

In a new lawsuit filed Friday, a Cook County woman sues the United States Postal Service (USPS). The lawsuit stems from a disturbing incident on October 2, 2023, in which the plaintiff alleges that a supervisor, while acting in his capacity as a manager at USPS, sexually assaulted her while she was delivering mail on her route in Chicago.

The plaintiff accuses the man of forcibly entering her mail truck, groping her, exposing himself, and making inappropriate sexual advances. She also claims USPS management failed to address prior complaints against this supervisor, describing him as a “serial assaulter” whose behavior was known to the USPS and the union. Despite this, the USPS allegedly took no corrective action, thus fostering a hostile work environment and allowing the sexual harassment and assault to continue.

This lawsuit raises critical questions about the accountability of USPS and its handling of sexual harassment complaints within its ranks. How could an organization of this size and scope permit such egregious behavior to persist, and what systemic failures may have contributed to the plaintiff’s tragic experience? That is what this lawsuit hopes to find out.

The lawsuit asserts violations of Title VII of the Civil Rights Act, the Illinois Gender Violence Act, and common law claims of assault and battery, seeking damages in excess of $75,000 and punitive damages for the severe emotional and physical harm caused by the incidents.

October 12, 2024 – New Opinion on Filing Sex Abuse Lawsuits Anonymously in Illinois

In a new opinion, the Illinois Appellate Court Doe v. J.P.J. upheld a trial court’s decision allowing juvenile defendants AND their parents to proceed anonymously in a civil lawsuit involving sexual assault allegations.

The court emphasized the importance of protecting the privacy of minors, especially given the sensitive and graphic nature of the claims. The decision reflects the principle that anonymity in such cases is essential to safeguard both juvenile defendants and plaintiffs from public exposure, ensuring their privacy during legal proceedings.

This ruling aligns with Illinois law and other protections under the Juvenile Court Act, balancing the need for public access to court proceedings with the privacy interests of vulnerable parties. The opinion also reinforces that confidentiality is crucial to avoid potential harm and stigmatization, helping victims and their families pursue justice without fear of further victimization.

October 11, 2024 – Dr. Joseph Knight

If you have had any experience with Dr. Joseph Knight, we would be interested in hearing from you.

October 10, 2024 – Timberline Knolls and Michael Jacksa

You are going to see a wave of sex abuse lawsuits in Illinois in the next month targeting abuse that occurred at several facilities operated by Universal Health Services (UHS) and Acadia Healthcare.

These lawsuits follow federal investigations and reports from the Senate Finance Committee, led by Senator Ron Wyden, which exposed systemic abuse and neglect in youth residential treatment facilities across the country. The investigation uncovered widespread misconduct, much of it funded by taxpayer dollars through Medicaid and child welfare programs, highlighting the failure of these for-profit institutions to provide the care and protection they were meant to deliver.

Among the primary focus points of these lawsuits is Timberline Knolls, an Acadia-operated facility in Lemont, Illinois, where numerous former patients have come forward alleging sexual abuse by a therapist, Michael Jacksa. A serial sex abuse perpetrator, Jacka has been accused by multiple victims of committing egregious acts of abuse. Timberline Knolls has already faced lawsuits from former patients who suffered abuse while undergoing treatment for psychological and behavioral disorders.

Similarly, several UHS-operated facilities in Illinois are significant targets in this wave of legal action, including Rock River Academy in Rockford, which has a well-documented history of abuse, and Hartgrove Hospital in Chicago, where additional abuse allegations have surfaced. Other UHS-run facilities under scrutiny include The Pavilion Behavioral Health System in Champaign and Streamwood Behavioral Health in Streamwood, Illinois. Both institutions have been linked to multiple claims of abuse, neglect, and unsafe conditions.

The lawsuits coming in the next few weeks aim to secure justice for survivors and hold these corporations accountable for the profound harm they have caused. These institutions, designed to help vulnerable children and young adults, instead became places of systemic failure, perpetuating abuse and neglect. Our goal is to ensure that the survivors receive the justice they deserve and that the industry is forced to address the oversight gaps that have allowed these abuses to persist.

October 5, 2024 – Funding for Children Who Have Been Sexually Abused

The Victims of Crime Act and its Crime Victims Fund provided critical financial support to services like Illinois’ Children’s Advocacy Centers which help child victims of abuse and crime recover. The problem is because the fund relies on fines from federal prosecutions, it has dwindled over the years, with a recent $600 million cut posing a severe threat to these vital programs.

To prevent service disruptions, Senator Dick Durbin, along with bipartisan partners, have introduced the Crime Victims Fund Stabilization Act of 2024, which would provide temporary funding while a long-term solution is developed. This legislation aims to ensure continued support for young victims without interruption, helping them heal and rebuild their lives.

September 23, 2024 – Transparency Still Lacking

Two years after the Passionists religious order in the Chicago area announced plans to create a registry of abusive clergy members, the group has yet to follow through. Initially promised in October 2022, the list has not been published, and the leaders of the order. There is no explanation for the delay.

Survivors are understandably frustrated. Sex abuse lawyers in Illinois are not surprised by the lack of transparency. It follows a larger pattern of inconsistent reporting across religious orders in Illinois and nationwide.

August 30, 2024 – New Sex Abuse Settlements

The Chicago Park District has spent over $6.5 million on legal expenses related to sexual misconduct at city beaches and pools. This includes a record-breaking $4 million settlement awarded to a former underage lifeguard who a supervisor at Humboldt Park sexually abused. This settlement is the largest of its kind since at least 2001.

Additionally, earlier this month, the park district board approved settlements totaling $675,000 in two other sexual assault cases involving former lifeguards.

July 24, 2024 – New Detention Center Lawsuit

Temarkus Washington, a 35-year-old survivor, publicly shared his experiences of sexual abuse as a teenager at the Cook County Juvenile Temporary Detention Center, a large youth detention facility in Chicago. Washington is among 193 individuals who have joined two lawsuits alleging extensive sexual abuse by adult employees at the center from 1995 to 2022. The allegations include rape, unlawful strip searches, and other abuses, involving nearly 400 survivors overall.

The Audy sex abuse lawsuits claim, as we discuss more in the May 30 update below, that abuse was systemic and involved children aged 9 to 17. The victims were often isolated when the abuse occurred and were either threatened or bribed to remain silent.

The complaints describe a longstanding environment of mismanagement and abuse at the facility, previously known as the Arthur J. Audy Home. The center has faced tons of issues – such as overcrowding, inadequate supervision, and excessive room confinement – all problems that create a fertile environment for sexual abuse.

July 16, 2024 – New Teacher Sexual Abuse Lawsuit

A teacher and coach at Bloom Trail High School in Steger, Illinois, has been charged with criminal sexual assault in a position of trust. The 48-year-old man from Cedar Lake, Indiana, appeared in court after being charged on and was arrested in Lake County, Indiana, before being extradited to Illinois.

A civil sex abuse lawsuit had been filed against him in May by a former student, who accused him of grooming and sexually assaulting her in the early 2000s during her time at the high school.

The alleged victim stated that the inappropriate relationship began during her sophomore year and escalated in her junior year. She recounted that the teacher showed interest in her personal life, which led her to believe he cared for her, resulting in her first sexual experience. The abuse allegedly occurred both on and off-campus, but, as we often see, the student was too frightened to report it at the time, fearing severe consequences for the teacher.

The lawsuit also implicates Bloom Trail High School and District 206, alleging that various staff members were aware of the inappropriate relationship but failed to intervene. The school has since placed the staff member on administrative leave pending a thorough investigation, as stated in a letter to parents by the principal.

July 3, 2024 – New Uber Sex Abuse Lawsuit

A Cook County woman has filed a lawsuit alleging she was sexually assaulted, harassed, battered, or otherwise attacked by an Uber driver during a ride arranged through the Uber platform on July 12, 2022.

This Illinois lawsuit is filed directly in the Uber sex abuse MDL in California.

June 27, 2024 – New Sex Abuse Lawsuit

A new sex abuse lawsuit has been filed against Rush Oak Park Hospital and St. Anthony Hospital, along with various medical professionals, alleging severe mistreatment that included involuntary confinement and a preventable sexual assault.

Filed in the Northern District of Illinois, the suit accuses the hospitals and staff of negligence, battery, false imprisonment, and negligent infliction of emotional distress. Vallera, who has ADHD and an anxiety disorder, claims she was wrongfully confined in a mental health facility and was sexually assaulted by hospital staff.

This lawsuit details a troubling sequence of events starting with her admission for a sleep study, leading to a series of re-admissions and inappropriate treatments, including being forcibly sedated and restrained. It is pretty awful to imagine being wrongly committed to a mental institution and being sexually abused.

June 19, 2024 – Archdiocese of Chicago Faces New Abuse Lawsuit

The Archdiocese of Chicago is facing a new civil lawsuit by a group of 6 individuals who claim that they were sexually abused by Father John “Jack” Keehan. Father Keehan was the head pastor at St. Ann School and Parish in the Pilsen area of Chicago from the early 1990s until around 2002.

June 10, 2024 – Fenton School District Lawsuit

Yesterday, a school sex abuse lawsuit was filed in federal court against the Fenton Community High School District 100 in Illinois, alleging that it enabled and covered up the sexual misconduct of Michael Berago, a 40-year-old teacher and track and field coach, over 15 years.

The plaintiff, identified as Survivor A, claims that the district failed to take action despite numerous reports and concrete knowledge of the teacher’s inappropriate behavior, including harassment, grooming, sexual assault, and rape of students.

The complaint alleges that he videotaped one of his rapes of the victim. The teacher was promoted multiple times despite allegations against him and was only placed on administrative leave in 2023 and eventually fired in 2024. The complaint details that from at least 2009 to 2023, the school district turned a blind eye to the teacher’s sexually predatory actions.

As far back as 2011, another teacher reported inappropriate texts with students. This woman asserts that the district’s negligence allowed the teacher to repeatedly abuse her and other students. Despite complaints from teachers, parents, and students, the district allegedly failed to investigate properly or discipline the teacher effectively, instead incredibly choosing to promote him to higher positions.

The victim is seeking damages for the harm she suffered, including severe emotional and psychological trauma, loss of educational opportunities, and other impacts on her life. The lawsuit also demands that the district implement and enforce policies to prevent such abuses in the future.

May 30, 2024 – Juvenile Detention Center Lawsuit

A new detention center sex abuse lawsuit filed on behalf of 95 former detainees alleges rampant abuse occurred unchecked for decades at Illinois’ juvenile detention centers, citing hundreds of incidents over more than two decades.

The plaintiffs’ lawsuit claims that both male and female staff members perpetrated the abuse. Although the allegations only run through 2017, the suit claims that sexual abuse of children at Illinois juvenile detention facilities continues to this day.

These claims should surprise no one. A 2013 U.S. Department of Justice report found that Illinois had the fourth-highest percentage of detainees reporting staff sexual misconduct. The Joliet Detention Center, which closed in 2013, was particularly egregious, consistently ranking among the facilities with the most sexual abuse. So was the Illinois Youth Center – Chicago.

May 15, 2024 – Prison Rape Lawsuit

An inmate, representing himself, has alleged that while housed in Menard’s Medium Security Unit, he endured years of sexual harassment, abuse, and assaults. He specifically claimed that two correctional officers forced him into various sexual acts through threats and manipulation and provided him with gifts and privileges.

He also accused prison administrators of creating a sexually hostile environment by placing staff members who were under investigation for sexual misconduct in his unit and subsequently ignoring the abuse.

The prison filed a motion to dismiss. The court allowed the Eighth Amendment claims against the officers for sexual assault, abuse, and harassment to proceed. Still, it dismissed his Prison Rape Elimination Act claims because that law does not provide a private cause of action for inmates. The Rape Elimination Act should allow for private causes of action. The reality is we all know this kind of stuff can happen in a prison, even in 2024.

May 3, 2024 – New Lawsuits Against Archdiocese of Chicago

The Archdiocese of Chicago is being sued for its alleged role in failing to prevent the repeated sexual abuse of an altar boy by Rev. John Keehan at St. Ann Elementary School and Parish during the mid-1990s.

Filed in Cook County Circuit Court, the sex abuse lawsuit claims that from 1994 to 1997, Keehan abused the boy and that the archdiocese neglected to adequately supervise the priest, despite his known history of abuse. Keehan, who was removed from public ministry in 2002, was highlighted in a 2023 Illinois attorney general’s report as having committed substantiated child sex abuse.

Notably, the lawsuit also notes that Keehan was frequently moved between about nine parishes and schools after allegations of sexual misconduct began shortly after his ordination in 1967. It is not hard to guess why he was being moved.

Six individuals have reported abuse by Keehan as minors. The current plaintiff, now 40, alleges suffering from emotional and physical distress and a loss of religious faith due to the abuse. This case is the third such lawsuit former students of St. Ann filed against the archdiocese related to Keehan’s awfulness.

April 18, 2024 – Nursing Home Sexual Abuse Lawsuit

One issue that does not get enough attention is sexual abuse in nursing homes. A lawsuit was filed in Cook County alleging that a resident with Alzheimer’s suffered sexual assault at a Caseyville nursing home. The complaint, brought by the independent administrator of the resident’s estate, targets Caseyville Nursing & Rehabilitation Center Inc. and SW Financial Services, which provides management services to various skilled nursing facilities across Illinois.

The resident, who was entirely dependent on the staff for daily living assistance, had several medical conditions, including Alzheimer’s disease, which significantly impaired her cognitive and physical capabilities. According to this nursing home sexual assault lawsuit, the resident experienced over 25 falls for over a year and a half and displayed unexplained severe bruising and pain in December 2023, which led to hospitalization at Memorial Hospital in Belleville. The hospital staff noted bruising around sensitive areas, leading to the conclusion that she was sexually abused.

The lawsuit accuses the nursing home of inadequate staffing and failing to adhere to federal guidelines for nurse coverage, which compromised the care and safety of this poor woman. Furthermore, the facility, which is not a highly rated nursing home, reportedly failed to operationalize its abuse policy by not reporting allegations of sexual abuse to local authorities or preventing further potential abuse after such allegations were reported.

The suit argues that the nursing home neglected its duty to protect the plaintiff’s health and safety, allowing her to suffer abuse and neglect under its care.

March 20, 2024 – Servite Priests Accused of Child Sex Abuse

Several Catholic priests from the Servite religious order have been accused of child sexual abuse. Still, they are not included on the Chicago-area church’s public lists of credibly accused members. Church officials have not provided explanations for this omission. These priests have been implicated in abuse cases, yet their names remain absent from accountability records despite significant allegations against them.

The Order of Friar Servants of Mary, or Servites, headquartered in Chicago, faces scrutiny over its handling of abuse allegations. Despite transparency calls, the Servites have not released a list of members accused of abuse. Why? The silence is deafening. This lack of disclosure comes amidst ongoing lawsuits and allegations that have surfaced, particularly concerning a priest accused of molesting multiple children in California after his tenure in Chicago.

It is amazing this is still happening in 2024.

February 11, 2024 – Township High School District 205 Sex Abuse Lawsuit

A lawsuit filed in Cook County alleges that officials from Lockport Township High School District 205 failed to protect a female student, identified as Jane Doe, from a sexual assault by a male student-athlete with a known history of sexual misconduct.

The lawsuit accuses the District 205 Superintendent, the assistant superintendent, and others of willful and wanton misconduct for allowing the male student to interact with female students without implementing any protective measures, leading to the assault of Jane Doe on December 9, 2022, at Victor J. Andrew High School.

The pretrial discovery process is crucial in school sex abuse lawsuits like this. The question is who knew what and what systems were in place to protect children.

January 12, 2024 – Butler Sex Abuse Litigation

Volleyball coach Rick Butler and his wife are currently barred from addressing certain issues in state court related to sanctions they received in a federal class action lawsuit until the Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals resolves their appeal. The federal case involved accusations of sex abuse fraud against Butler. Butler won the case before it ever got to trial. But the judge did not address whether the allegations against Butler were true or false. His club, GLV Inc., was sanctioned for improperly communicating with class members to encourage them to opt out of the lawsuit.

U.S. District Judge Matthew Kennelly issued an order stating that the Butlers cannot litigate allegations of sex abuse fraud in state court to the extent that it involves discussing their communications with the federal suit’s class members or the propriety of sanctions over those communications. This restriction remains in place until the Seventh Circuit decides on the Butlers’ appeal to overturn the sanctions.

The sanctions were originally imposed after Judge Kennelly found the Butlers encouraged class members to opt out of a lawsuit accusing Rick Butler of concealing sexual misconduct allegations. The Butlers’ communications with class members and the appropriateness of the sanctions were key points in the federal sanctions order.

October 20, 2023 – Blackhawks Sexual Assault Lawsuit

A former Chicago Blackhawks prospect has filed a lawsuit against the team, alleging negligence and other claims related to the team’s mishandling of sexual assault reports against former coach Brad Aldrich. The lawsuit, filed in Cook County Circuit Court, accuses the Blackhawks management of prioritizing their 2010 Stanley Cup championship run over player welfare, delaying the address of sexual assault allegations against Aldrich and attempting to cover up his misconduct.

The player is suing for negligent hiring, retention, supervision, infliction of emotional distress, intentional infliction of emotional distress, willful and wanton conduct, and violation of Illinois’ Gender Violence Act.

September 14, 2023 – $19 Million Verdict in Sex Abuse Case

An Illinois federal jury has awarded over $19 million to a woman, identified as Jane Doe, who accused her prison counselor, Richard Macleod, of raping and sexually assaulting her for seven months while she served a prison sentence at Logan Correctional Center.

The jury deliberated for just four hours before awarding Jane Doe an $8 million payout in compensatory damages and $11.3 million in punitive damages. These punitive damages include $10 million from Macleod, $800,000 from the head prison investigator, and $500,000 from the warden. How did this end up in federal court? Her Illinois sex abuse lawsuit alleged that the abuse violated her constitutional right to be free from cruel and unusual punishment.