Sex Abuse Lawsuit Settlement Amounts

New DoorDash Sex Abuse Lawsuit

March 10, 2025: In a new lawsuit filed yesterday in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York, a longtime DoorDash customer has initiated legal action against the company, alleging unlawful retaliation after raising concerns regarding its inadequate safety measures. The plaintiff contends that DoorDash has systematically failed to vet its delivery drivers—referred to as Dashers—permitting individuals with violent criminal histories to make deliveries without undergoing sufficient background checks. The complaint outlines numerous reported incidents in which Dashers have committed violent crimes, including assaults and sexual violence against customers.

According to the lawsuit, after the plaintiff identified these security deficiencies and offered to assist DoorDash in addressing them, the company instead responded by falsely accusing the plaintiff of fraud and terminating the plaintiff’s account in November 2024. The lawsuit asserts that DoorDash has not only failed to implement necessary safeguards to protect consumers but has also engaged in deceptive business practices, including misrepresenting its background check policies and withholding tips intended for Dashers. The plaintiff seeks damages for this alleged retaliation and intends to hold DoorDash accountable for its reckless disregard for customer safety.

Passes Sex Exploitation Lawsuit

March 6, 2025: A lawsuit has been filed against the influencer platform Passes, alleging that it facilitated the distribution of sexually explicit content featuring minors. The complaint claims that Passes, a subscription-based site where influencers and content creators monetize their content, allowed the sale and distribution of explicit material involving minors, violating federal child exploitation laws.

The lawsuit names Passes’ co-founder, along with other individuals, accusing them of orchestrating a scheme to recruit underage girls for explicit content, which was allegedly sold both before and after they turned 18. The plaintiff’s attorney emphasized their commitment to holding accountable those who exploit minors for financial gain.

This lawsuit adds to Passes’ legal troubles, as the platform was previously sued by competitor Fanfix for alleged unfair business practices and misuse of confidential information. The case underscores growing concerns over the responsibility of social media platforms in preventing child exploitation and enforcing content policies.

New Investigations Into Match Group

February 19, 2025: Our lawyers are now investigating lawsuits against the Match Group, the parent company of Tinder, Hinge, OkCupid, and Plenty of Fish. These platforms consistently fail to prioritize user safety despite being aware of serious allegations against users on their platforms for years. Internal documents reveal that Match Group can track and remove users accused of sexual assault but has not fully implemented safeguards to prevent repeat offenders from rejoining its apps.

Despite Match Group’s public commitments to transparency and safety, the company has repeatedly delayed action and minimized disclosures. Why? The best guess, as always, is money. The focus seems to be to protect its corporate growth and profits. While the company has introduced some security features, such as user bans and AI-powered verification tools, these measures have been inconsistent, easily bypassed, and not applied uniformly across all platforms.

Regulators and lawmakers are beginning to scrutinize Match Group, but current legislation does little to require meaningful transparency about the extent of harm on these platforms. Until stronger oversight and reporting requirements are in place, users remain largely in the dark about the risks posed by repeat offenders who exploit gaps in the system to continue finding new victims.

National Women’s Soccer League Agrees to $5 Million Settlement

February 5, 2025: The National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) has agreed to a $5 million settlement with the attorneys general of New York, Illinois, and Washington, D.C. over allegations of widespread misconduct and abuse against players spanning more than a decade. The investigations found that the league failed to implement reasonable protections to prevent sexual misconduct, emotional abuse, and harassment by coaches and officials. The settlement will establish a $5 million compensation fund for affected players, but individual athletes can still pursue private legal actions against the league or its teams.

As part of the settlement, the NWSL must report all misconduct allegations biannually for three years and conduct anonymous player surveys on team culture and coaching practices. The league also faces a potential $2 million penalty if it fails to comply.

Maryland Supreme Court Upholds Child Victims Act

February 4, 2025: The Maryland Supreme Court yesterday reaffirmed justice for survivors of childhood sexual abuse, upholding the Child Victims Act of 2023 and ensuring that those harmed can finally have their day in court. In its ruling, the court declared, “We further hold that it was within the power of the General Assembly to retroactively abrogate that statute of limitations,” confirming the legislature’s authority to remove time barriers that previously shielded abusers and institutions from accountability.

This is a huge win for Maryland sex abuse victims who have been waiting on eggshells for this ruling.

North Carolina Supreme Court Upholds SAFE Child Act

February 3, 2025: Some good news from North Carolina on Friday. In a landmark decision, the North Carolina Supreme Court has upheld the 2019 SAFE Child Act, affirming the constitutionality of its provision that granted adult survivors of child sexual abuse an additional two-year window to file civil lawsuits, even if the statute of limitations had previously expired.

This ruling arose from a case where three former students sued the Gaston County Board of Education, alleging sexual abuse by a former high school coach. The court’s decision emphasizes the legislature’s authority to amend statutes of limitations for civil claims, thereby enabling survivors to seek justice against both perpetrators and institutions that may have facilitated the abuse.

New Orleans Saints Assist Archdiocese of New Orleans In Shaping Public Relations Strategy

February 2, 2025: This is an incredibly depressing story out of Louisiana. In 2018, as the Archdiocese of New Orleans prepared to release a list of clergy members credibly accused of sexual abuse, they enlisted the assistance of the New Orleans Saints front office for crisis management.

Internal emails obtained by The Associated Press reveal that Saints executives were deeply involved in shaping the church’s public relations strategy. When did this start? One expert initially offered to discuss crisis communications with church leaders after a newspaper uncovered a scandal involving George Brignac, a disgraced deacon who continued serving as a lay minister despite the archdiocese settling claims that he had raped an 8-year-old altar boy. Incredible.

Their efforts included drafting talking points for Archbishop Gregory Aymond, advising on media interactions, and communicating with local media outlets to influence coverage. Notably, a team spokesperson reported a conversation with the city’s district attorney that purportedly allowed certain names to be removed from the list of accused clergy.

The close relationship between the Saints’ leadership and the Archdiocese facilitated this collaboration, particularly through the team’s devoutly Catholic owner Gayle Benson. The Saints have publicly stated that their involvement was limited to advising the church to be “direct, open, and fully transparent,” denying any role in determining the content of the accused clergy list. But that appears to be a straight-up lie. The internal communications indicate a far more substantial role in managing the narrative surrounding the abuse scandal.

Former Fox Sports Reporter Files Lawsuit Against Network Alleging Sexual Assault

January 31, 2025: Former Fox Sports reporter Julie Stewart-Binks filed a lawsuit against the network and executive Charlie Dixon, alleging that Dixon sexually assaulted her in 2016.

According to the lawsuit, after a meeting to discuss an upcoming show, Dixon invited Stewart-Binks to his hotel room, where he allegedly pinned her against a wall and attempted to kiss her forcibly. Stewart-Binks reported the incident to Fox’s human resources department during an investigation into another executive but claims the network took no action against Dixon. She further alleges that her contract was not renewed due to her resistance to Dixon’s advances.

This lawsuit follows a similar complaint filed by former Fox Sports hairstylist Noushin Faraji, who also accused Dixon of sexual misconduct.

Maine Supreme Court Finds Attempt To Revive Time-Barred Clergy Abuse Claims Unconstitutional

January 28, 2025: Horrible news today from Maine: The Maine Supreme Judicial Court has ruled that the state’s attempt to revive time-barred clergy abuse claims is unconstitutional. The decision (Dupuis v. Roman Catholic Bishop of Portland) strikes down a 2021 law that allowed survivors of childhood sexual abuse to sue, even if their claims had expired under Maine’s statute of limitations. The ruling means that dozens of lawsuits on behalf of worthy victims who have endured so much pain and suffering, including those against the Catholic Church, will now be dismissed.

The court’s majority held that once a statute of limitations has expired, the Maine Constitution prohibits reviving the claim. They argued that allowing these lawsuits to proceed would strip defendants of a vested right to be free from liability. The justices pointed to over 200 years of precedent and multiple Maine Declaration of Rights provisions to support their decision.

So the duly elected legislature has no right to correct past injustices for survivors of clergy abuse like these plaintiffs who were silenced for decades? It makes no sense. The decision is a major blow to survivors seeking justice. It blocks legal recourse for victims whose claims were previously barred by time limits to create new legal rights for child molesters and those who aided and abetted them. By ruling against the Legislature’s attempt to hold abusers and institutions accountable, the court has denied survivors their day in court.

Institutions Seeking To Resolve Cases Quickly To Minimize Reputational Harm

January 22, 2025: One trend our lawyers are seeing in sexual assault settlement amounts is that companies and institutions now often seek to resolve cases quickly to avoid reputational harm, leading to higher initial settlement offers. They are also pushing even harder—if that is possible—for iron-clad confidentiality clauses in sex abuse settlement agreements. These clauses are appealing to defendants for obvious reasons. But what our attorneys have come to find is that many victims also appreciate the confidentiality.

The downside is that confidentiality clauses in sexual abuse settlement agreements can perpetuate harm by silencing survivors and enabling perpetrators or institutions to avoid accountability, thus shielding systemic issues from public scrutiny. They might also prevent other potential victims from coming forward, limiting broader societal efforts to address and prevent abuse.

Our lawyers care about those downsides. But the most important thing is getting our clients what they want.

Serious Allegations Against Former Massachusetts Doctor

January 17, 2025: Dr. Derrick Todd, a former Massachusetts rheumatologist, has been indicted on two counts of rape. He is accused of conducting unnecessary and improper pelvic, breast, and rectal exams to assault over 200 patients sexually. Todd pleaded not guilty and was released on $10,000 bail, with conditions including surrendering his passport and medical licenses.

Many women have already come forward to sue Dr. Todd and many more will follow after these rape allegations.

Saul Ewing LLP Appointed As Settlement Resolution Counsel For Maryland Detention Center Sex Abuse Lawsuits

January 11, 2025: Maryland has taken a critical step toward addressing detention center sex abuse lawsuits in Maryland by appointing Saul Ewing LLP as settlement resolution counsel. The law firm will develop a settlement matrix to allocate compensation based on the severity, duration, and impact of the abuse.

U.S. Government Agrees to $116 Million Settlement

December 28, 2024: The U.S. government has agreed to pay nearly $116 million to resolve lawsuits brought by over 100 women who reported sexual abuse at the Federal Correctional Institution in Dublin, California. This facility had been notorious for rampant staff-on-inmate sexual misconduct, earning the moniker “rape club.” Each claimant is set to receive approximately $1.1 million as part of the settlement.

Missouri Appeals Court Affirms $177 Million Verdict Against Hyatt Corp.

December 5, 2024: It is always good to see an appellate court stand behind a significant sexual assault jury verdict. A Missouri appeals court has affirmed a $177 million verdict against Hyatt Corp., which includes $149 million in punitive damages, in a case involving the sexual assault of a female guest by one of the hotel’s security guards in 2016. The court ruled that Hyatt’s failure to ensure guest safety demonstrated a “conscious disregard” for its responsibilities, warranting the punitive damages.

The lawsuit alleged that Hyatt negligently hired and retained the security guard despite his extensive history of arrests for sexual misconduct, including deviant behavior and sexual assault. Hyatt failed to uncover these records during the hiring process. Using a master key, the guard entered the room of the plaintiff at the Hyatt Regency St. Louis at the Arch and assaulted her as she slept. When the woman, a sheriff’s deputy in St Louis for a seminar, woke up, the guard was on top of her with his hands between her legs.

The jury found that Hyatt tried to obstruct the police investigation, finding that the hotel withheld critical information, such as key usage logs and surveillance footage, which directly linked the guard to the crime. Hyatt also ignored police instructions to delay questioning the guard and failed to notify authorities when the guard planned to leave town. The court found that these actions prioritized the hotel’s interests over the victim’s safety and violated its own policies requiring support for guests who are victims of crime.

Hyatt’s argument that the guard’s arrest history should have been inadmissible as hearsay was rejected. The court ruled that the information was relevant to the plaintiff’s negligent hiring claims. The panel concluded that Hyatt’s lack of diligence in investigating the guard’s background was a direct factor in enabling the assault, upholding the original jury’s huge verdict.

New Research Into Effects Of Child Sexual Abuse In Institutional Settings

November 18, 2024: New research reveals that male child sexual abuse within institutional settings is significantly under-examined, despite males being disproportionately affected. The review systematically analyzed 29 studies out of an initial 973, focusing on survivor experiences, the impacts of abuse, and disclosure patterns. The findings highlight that institutions such as religious organizations, schools, and youth detention centers are prevalent environments for male child sexual abuse.

The review systematically analyzed 29 studies out of an initial 973, focusing on survivor experiences, the impacts of abuse, and disclosure patterns. The findings highlight that institutions such as religious organizations, schools, and youth detention centers are prevalent environments for male child sexual abuse, often involving multiple perpetrators and extended periods of abuse.

There is also an indirect commentary on the statute of limitations in sex abuse lawsuits and why expanding the time to file a lawsuit is so essential to achieve justice. The review identifies that male survivors typically delay disclosure of abuse by 18 to 21 years due to societal gender norms, shame, fear of stigma, and threats from abusers. This prolonged silence intensifies the psychological and emotional consequences, leading to severe mental health issues like PTSD, depression, substance abuse, and a heightened risk of suicidal ideation. Emotional impacts reported by survivors include profound shame, guilt, anger, and difficulties in establishing trusting relationships.

Over 100 Women Accuse Dr. David Broadbent Of Inappropriate Touching And Sexual Abuse

November 12, 2024: Dr. David Broadbent, a former obstetrician-gynecologist in Provo, Utah, faces serious allegations of sexual misconduct. Over 100 women have accused him of inappropriate touching and sexual abuse during medical examinations, with some claims dating back decades. In June 2024, he was charged with forcible sexual abuse, a second-degree felony, for an incident that allegedly occurred in 2020.

These criminal charges are separate from the civil lawsuits filed by numerous former patients. Our sexual abuse lawyers are actively reviewing these David Broadbent lawsuits to provide informed guidance and support to those affected.

Georgia Woman Files New Lyft Sexual Assault Lawsuit

November 11, 2024: In a new Lyft sexual assault lawsuit, a Georgia woman alleges that on November 4, 2022, she ordered a Lyft ride in Fairburn, Georgia, which was assigned to a driver named “Emmanuel”.  She claims that during the ride, while seated in the back of the vehicle, the driver stopped before reaching her destination and allegedly began to touch her inappropriately, specifically groping her breast and vaginal area. When the plaintiff told him to stop, he allegedly responded with abusive language, telling her to “shut the f*** up.” The plaintiff says she then exited the vehicle as quickly as possible and ran home.

The complaint details the understandable emotional and psychological harm that the plaintiff reports experiencing as a result of the incident, including increased anxiety, distress, and shame. Additionally, she asserts that Lyft’s inaction and failure to implement reasonable safety protocols have contributed to a pattern of similar assaults on other female passengers by Lyft drivers, underscoring her claims that Lyft places profits over passenger safety.

Catholic Archdiocese Of LA Announces Finalized Settlement Agreement

October 17, 2024: The Catholic Archdiocese of Los Angeles announced yesterday that it finalized a settlement agreement that will pay $880 million in compensation to a group of around 1,300 victims who claim they were sexually abused by priests. The L.A. Archdiocese had previously paid $740 million to a prior group of sexual abuse victims.

Confidential Settlement In Snapchat Lawsuit

October 11, 2024: There is a confidential settlement in a sexual assault lawsuit involving Snapchat. A young girl was sexually assaulted by two men she met through the social media platform. The plaintiffs alleged that Snap’s design features, such as the “Quick Add” function, facilitated contact between predators and minors, contributing to their daughter’s harm.

The plaintiffs argued that Snap’s negligence in its design and the lack of proper safeguards created a dangerous environment for children. They further claimed that Snapchat’s “predatory features” targeted their daughter and enabled the perpetrators to groom and assault her.

Snap tried to hide behind Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act, which generally shields platforms from liability for user-generated content. However, the plaintiff’s amended complaint emphasized Snap’s role in enabling harmful interactions and argued that their claims were not preempted by Section 230.

Philadelphia Foster Care Agency Agrees to $9.8 Million Settlement

A Philadelphia foster care agency has agreed to a $9.38 million settlement with a woman who was trafficked for sex while under its supervision as a child. The lawsuit alleged that the agency failed to properly monitor the child’s placement in a foster home where she was repeatedly abused by her foster mother’s son. The facts here are just heartbreaking. The lawsuit alleged that this individual groomed and sexually assaulted her and then sold her for sexual services over an extended period.

Minnesota Woman Sues Ramsey County After Sexual Assault During Warranted Transportation

August 30, 2024: A Minnesota woman is suing Ramsey County and others after enduring a severe sexual assault during her transport from Texas to Minnesota, executed under a warrant. The plaintiff contends that Ramsey County showed deliberate indifference to the safety of those in its custody by repeatedly contracting with Inmate Services Corp. (ISC), a company with a well-documented history of similar misconduct issues.

The plaintiff contends that Ramsey County showed deliberate indifference to the safety of those in its custody by repeatedly contracting with Inmate Services Corp. (ISC), a company with a well-documented history of similar misconduct issues. Notably, the plaintiff’s sex abuse attorneys argued that a simple background check—a “10-second Google search”—before hiring ISC would have revealed its history of lawsuits and allegations of abuse, which could have prevented this incident.

People responsible for incarcerating women have historically been able to commit abuses without facing consequences. But times are changing. The demand for greater governmental accountability in sex abuse lawsuits is growing exponentially.

Hawaii Extends Statute Of Limitations For Civil Lawsuits Related to Childhood Sexual Abuse

August 24, 2024: Hawaii has extended the statute of limitations for filing civil lawsuits related to childhood sexual abuse. Under the newly signed Senate Bill 2601, survivors now have until 32 years after their 18th birthday to bring a civil case to court, significantly increasing the previous deadline by over 20 years.

Additionally, adults have five years after discovering a psychological illness caused by the abuse to file a claim, with the law deferring to whichever time frame is longer.

This sounds like a major victory for victims.  But it is not retroactive. This law applies to incidents occurring on or after July 1, while older cases remain subject to the previous statute of limitations.

Utah Supreme Court Reinstates Civil Lawsuit Alleging Sexual Assault By OB-GYN

August 12, 2024: The Utah Supreme Court has reinstated a civil sexual abuse lawsuit filed by 94 women who alleged that they were sexually assaulted by Provo OB-GYN Dr. David Broadbent. All 94 of the victims claim that Dr. Broadbent sexually assaulted them during medical examinations with unnecessary sexual touching and groping.

The lawsuit had previously been dismissed by a lower court because it should have been brought under Utah’s medical malpractice rules, not as a civil sex abuse case. The state’s high court overruled and held that the case fell outside the malpractice rules and requirements.

Jury Awards $2.5 Million in Troubled Teen Industry Lawsuit

July 26, 2024: A jury in Arizona awarded $2.5 million in damages in a troubled teen industry lawsuit. The lawsuit was filed by a mother who sent her 17-year-old daughter to Spring Ridge Academy in Mayer, AZ, a “tough love” boarding school offering assistance for troubled teens at a price tag of $9,000 per month.

New Lawsuit Filed Against MindGeek

July 17, 2024: A significant new sexual abuse and trafficking lawsuit was recently filed in California against the Canadian internet porn company MindGeek. MindGeek (which is now Aylo) is the company that currently dominates the internet pornography market and owns very popular internet porn platforms such as Pornhub, YouPorn, and RedTube.

All these platforms host pornographic content submitted and uploaded directly by users themselves, which the platforms then share. The lawsuit claims that Mindgeek’s policies violated various state and federal laws by failing to screen out “child pornography” and by using an algorithm that enabled users to easily seek out and find illegal content featuring underage and non-consensual participants. In addition to Mindgeek itself, the lawsuit is also being brought against companies that provided financing to enable Mindgeek to develop its platform.

New Mexico Woman Sues Department Of Public Safety Following Assault By Police Officer

July 10, 2024: As society becomes more aware of the widespread nature of sexual abuse, the focus has broadened from churches and schools to include detention centers—and now, increasingly, law enforcement. The rise in police sex abuse lawsuits is no coincidence. More survivors are bravely coming forward, forcing institutions that once protected their own to finally face accountability.

In a shocking new case out of New Mexico, a woman has filed a lawsuit against the New Mexico Department of Public Safety, the New Mexico State Police, and an officer who was arrested for raping her. The details are harrowing: the officer allegedly picked her up while she was intoxicated, told her she needed to take a shower, and then—unbelievably—took her to his parents’ house. After she showered, he entered the bathroom and raped her. Not in a patrol car. Not at a station. At his parents’ home. The sheer audacity and violation of trust in this case are disturbing on every level, and it underscores the urgent need for systemic reform and real accountability in policing.

New York Woman Files Lawsuit Against American Airlines Alleging Negligence and Sexual Assault

June 27, 2024: A New York lawyer has filed a lawsuit in federal court in Pennsylvania against American Airlines and a doctor who was a passenger on her flight, alleging negligence and sexual assault.

The complaint details a series of incidents highlighting the airline’s alleged indifference to sexual assault on its aircraft, including past incidents where passengers were assaulted and the assailants were not detained.

Specifically, the plaintiff accuses this pediatric doctor of sexually assaulting her while she was sedated on medication during the flight. The lawsuit charges American Airlines with failing to prevent the assault despite previous similar incidents, seeking damages for the physical and emotional injuries she sustained.

Surprisingly, this case has not garnered more media attention. American Airlines has faced similar lawsuits in the past where allegations of negligence and failure to protect passengers from sexual assault or other harms were brought against it. These lawsuits often involve claims that the airline did not adequately respond to incidents or implement sufficient preventive measures to safeguard passengers. Bigger picture… at some point, we must question whether serving alcohol on airplanes is a good idea.

Fordham University Faces Growing Number of Sexual Abuse Lawsuits

June 26, 2024: Fordham University in New York is now facing a growing number of sexual abuse lawsuits by victims who claim that they were sexually abused by Jesuit clergy associated with the university and the Fordham Preparatory School. The alleged abusers include Peter Conroy, a former theology teacher at the university, and Eugene O’Brien, who taught at the prep school and the university for several decades.

USTA Ordered to Pay Nearly $4.2 Million to Victim of Sexual Assault

June 23, 2024: The U.S. Twirling Association (USTA) and a coach must pay nearly $4.2 million to a baton twirler who was sexually assaulted as a minor during a sponsored international trip, according to a New York federal jury. The jury found the USTA negligent in selecting a chaperone for the trip.

Hawaii Women’s Correctional Center Ordered to Pay $2 Million Settlement

May 28, 2024: Nearly two years after 40% of existing cameras at the Women’s Community Correctional Center in Hawaii were reported as non-functional, the state prison system is installing new video cameras. What led to this newfound interest in operator cameras? These upgrades are a response to a federal court lawsuit that led to a $2 million settlement with current and former inmates who alleged sexual assaults by staff, particularly in control booths.

Montana Doctor Pleads Guilty to Sexual Assault of Patients

May 24, 2024: An emergency medicine doctor in Montana, Dr. Tyler Hurst, recently pled guilty to several counts of criminal sexual assault of patients. Dr. Hurst has admitted to sexually abusing a number of female patients while they were patients under his care at a local hospital in Missoula.

New Jersey Jury Awards $1.6 Million to Victim of Sexual Abuse

May 21, 2024: A Camden, New Jersey jury has awarded $1.6 million in damages to a woman, known as Jane Doe, who alleged that she was sexually abused by a teacher thirty years ago. Jane Doe asserted that the abuse began during her time as a student and persisted for years.

New Sexual Abuse Lawsuit Filed Against School District in Oklahoma

May 20, 2024: A new lawsuit was recently filed against a school district in Oklahoma. The suit alleges that a teacher sexually harassed and abused a pair of 4th-grade students. The abuse was explicitly reported to the school principal but the lawsuit asserts that nothing was done in response, and the students were abused again.

University of North Carolina School of the Arts Settles Sexual Abuse Lawsuit with 65 Alumni

May 18, 2024: The University of North Carolina School of the Arts has settled a lawsuit with 65 alumni who claimed decades of sexual and emotional abuse by teachers and administrators. The settlement awards $12.5 million over four years, with $10 million from the University of North Carolina System and $2.5 million from UNCSA itself.

The case leveraged a North Carolina law allowing child sexual abuse victims to sue despite expired statutes of limitations. The school, known for its rigorous training in the arts and its notable alumni, including Oscar-winning actress Mary-Louise Parker, faced allegations of rape, groping, and inappropriate touching.

As you see in many of these cases, there is some buyer’s remorse from victims who feel the sexual assault settlement payouts were inadequate, given the severity of the abuses.

Minnesota Woman Files Lawsuit Against ISC Alleging Sexual Assault

May 15, 2024: In a federal lawsuit filed yesterday in Minnesota, a woman alleges that an employee of Inmate Services Corporation (ISC), committed sexual assault and rape while transporting her under a contract with Ramsey County. The complaint details that Hankins, acting under the authority granted by Ramsey County, sexually assaulted her during a prisoner transport from Washington State to Ramsey County for a DUI warrant.

The sexual assault lawsuit accuses Ramsey County and ISC of failing to prevent such incidents despite previous similar occurrences within ISC and other transport companies, arguing that this demonstrates a policy of deliberate indifference to the constitutional violations of detainees. This awfulness had gone on for many years, but in 2024, more women are standing up and saying enough.

The lawsuit outlines a disturbing pattern of abuse within the private prisoner transport industry, where companies like ISC are accused of routinely violating detainees’ constitutional rights, including physical and sexual abuse. It claims that these companies operate with minimal oversight, prioritizing profit over safety and rights, leading to severe misconduct, including sexual assault by transport employees.

Production Company Behind Netflix’s “Love is Blind” Facing Legal Scrutiny

May 10, 2024: A Texas appeals court has determined that Kinetic Content, LLC, the production company for Netflix’s “Love is Blind,” is no longer subject to civil assault claims in Texas from contestant Tran Dang, who alleges she was sexually assaulted by fellow contestant Thomas Smith during the show’s filming in Mexico.

USTA Ordered to Pay $9 Million to Kylie McKenzie

May 9, 2024: The U.S. Tennis Association (USTA) has been ordered to pay $9 million in damages to professional tennis player Kylie McKenzie after a Florida federal jury found the organization liable for failing to protect her from sexual abuse by her coach, Anibal Aranda, at a Florida training center.

The jury found the USTA negligent in selecting a chaperone for the trip. The organization and the coach are required to pay the twirler and her parents nearly $3.7 million and $504,000, respectively.

The suit, filed in September 2022, claimed the USTA failed to provide promised security and exaggerated the coach’s experience. During the trip to Lima, Peru, in 2019, the president of the Lions Club, who invited the twirlers, assaulted the victim after she was apparently drugged. The suit detailed inadequate supervision and unsafe conditions, including visits to nightclubs and private parties.

Tennessee Legislators Marginally Extend Statute Of Limitations for Sexual Assault Lawsuits

April 25, 2024: Tennessee’s sex abuse statute of limitations has gone from horrendous to bad. Legislators have passed a bill extending the statute of limitations for filing lawsuits related to rape, sexual assault, and sexual battery from one year to three years. Three years is still ridiculous. But this is some progress.

This change comes in response to significant delays in rape kit testing at Tennessee crime labs. The Nashville Sexual Assault Center has highlighted instances where survivors were unable to pursue civil action because their rape kits remained untested, and the statute of limitations lapsed.

New Sexual Assault Lawsuit Filed Against Portland Public Schools on Behalf of Nine-Year-Old Girl

April 8, 2024: A new sex abuse lawsuit for $9 million has been filed by a nine-year-old girl and her guardian against an Oregon nonprofit, Portland Public Schools, and Multnomah County, accusing them of neglect in preventing the girl from being raped by male peers at school. She was only in third grade.

The legal claim in this awful case details several instances of unwanted physical contact during school hours, including an incident in March 2022 where the girl defended herself against a boy who forcibly kissed her, resulting in both students being suspended. In April 2022, the situation escalated when two boys sexually assaulted her in a school bathroom, an act reported to the school staff by a parent of one of the assailants.

The sexual assault suit denounces the school and program’s delayed response in involving law enforcement and their ridiculous decision to conduct an internal probe without immediate notification to the girl’s parents or the authorities. Following minimal disciplinary action against the perpetrators, the girl’s father transferred her and her brother to a different school, leading to nearly a month of missed education.

The lawsuit criticizes Portland Public Schools for not recognizing the girl’s susceptibility to further assaults and for inadequate training on sexual boundaries and reporting procedures. It accuses the school system of discouraging self-defense against unwanted advances and faults both the school and the Latino Network, along with Multnomah County, for insufficient vigilance and training to prevent and respond to grooming and abuse in the after-school program.

New Plans to Challenge the Louisiana Supreme Court

April 3, 2024: Advocates for survivors of childhood sexual abuse plan to challenge a recent Louisiana Supreme Court decision that overturned a 2021 law. This law provided survivors a renewed opportunity to seek civil damages for abuses they suffered as children.

Unlike in 24 states where similar laws were upheld, the Louisiana court, in a narrow 4-3 decision, unfortunately, invalidated the legislation. The court’s ruling, which stemmed from a lawsuit involving allegations of abuse by a priest in the 1970s, cited constitutional due process conflicts.

Advocates are looking at a host of options, including an appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court and potentially amending the state constitution to protect survivors’ rights to file lawsuits. The decision has re-traumatized many survivors, prompting a strong response from advocacy groups determined to fight for justice and accountability.

Ohio Federal Judge Denies Red Roof Inn’s Attempt to Dismiss Nine Sex Trafficking Lawsuits

April 2, 2024: An Ohio federal judge denied Red Roof Inns Inc.’s attempt to dismiss nine lawsuits alleging the hotel chain’s involvement in sex trafficking. Plaintiff C.B., along with other anonymous victims, accuses Red Roof Inns of knowingly profiting from and participating in sex trafficking operations in multiple states from 2011 to 2019.

Diocese Of Manchester in New Hampshire Agrees to Settle Time-Barred Claim

April 1, 2024: The Diocese of Manchester in New Hampshire has agreed to a settlement payout in a sex abuse claim dating back to the 1970s involving a former priest. The victim was sexually abused at the age of 15 or 16 by Rev. Alfred L. Jannetta during his assignment at St. Paul’s Church in Franklin between 1973 and 1974.

The allegations here are tragic.  Jannetta gave the child drugs and alcohol before sexually abusing him. How much settlement compensation did the victim receive for his claim?  You would expect millions. But his sex abuse lawyer called the settlement in the “low six figures.”

Why? The statute of limitations had passed. So because the state has an outdated statute of limitations. So there was no real path to compensation outside of a settlement. The Church deserves some credit here for stepping up and making a compensation payout when it did not have to do so. But the path here is for the state to join other states in 2024 and change its statute of limitations in sex abuse lawsuits to allow claims just like this.

New Sexual Assault Lawsuit Filed in Federal Court Against Trails Carolina

March 22, 2024: In a new lawsuit, a woman, now 20, sues a wilderness therapy program operated by Trails Carolina, LLC and managed by Wilderness Training & Consulting, LLC in federal court, alleging she was sexually abused due to the negligence and wrongful actions of the program and its employees.

Her story is beyond awful. At age 12, she was taken to North Carolina and sexually abused by a female counselor during her first week there. She reported the abuse. The counselor was not removed.  Instead, all of the kids were punished.  Another child reported sexual abuse. Nothing was done. Their response was that the kids are all liars. The counselor then raped her and forced her to perform oral sex. There is more. But that is enough.

Her sex abuse lawsuit claims Trails Carolina failed to safeguard its participants, leading to environments where the plaintiff was exposed to sexual assault and neglect. It alleges the program’s significant failures in reporting abuse incidents as mandated by state law, providing adequate care, food, and shelter, and misleadingly representing its services and the qualifications of its staff.  She is asking for compensatory and punitive damages, and if her allegations hold up, she should get plenty of both.

New Video Explaining Sex Abuse Settlement Calculation

March 13, 2024: Our lawyers posted a video today explaining how sex abuse settlement amounts are calculated.

New Article Looks to Identify What Enables Child Sex Abuse in Sports

March 4, 2024: A new article in Trauma Violence Abuse attempts to identify and synthesize existing literature on factors enabling child sexual abuse in sports. The study mapped enabling factors across different levels of the sporting system hierarchy. Results highlighted significant gaps in understanding higher-level enabling factors contributing to CSA in sports and emphasized the importance of addressing organizational culture, tolerance, and governance.

Reading the study, you hope to learn about the systemic factors and perpetrator types to look out for and how to cure the culture of silence in sports that has led to horrible atrocities. But the article says that research has not been done (and should be done).

Pennsylvania House Passes Legislation Reviving Previously Time-Barred Claims

February 28, 2024: The Pennsylvania House passed legislation allowing victims to pursue legal action for child sexual abuse claims that were previously barred due to statutes of limitations.

This development includes a constitutional amendment and a separate bill aimed at providing victims a legal pathway. The proposed legislation would enable all victims to sue regardless of previous time constraints. However, the fate of these bills in the Senate remains unclear, with concerns about legal challenges and the potential financial impact on public institutions.

Colorado Amendment Designed to Enable Previously Time-Barred Sexual Assault Claims Faces Unexpected Opposition

February 27, 2024: In Colorado, a proposed state constitutional amendment designed to enable survivors of childhood sexual assault to sue for older claims has encountered unexpected opposition and now there are legitimate fears it will not pass the Senate.

The amendment would offer survivors a chance to seek justice against both the perpetrators and the institutions that failed to prevent the abuse. This initiative follows a state court’s decision that declared a 2021 law unconstitutional for violating retrospective legislation provisions.

The backdrop is that a 2021 law, which had bipartisan support, temporarily allowed survivors to file lawsuits for abuses dating back to 1960, irrespective of the statute of limitations. The Colorado Supreme Court found the law unconstitutional.

To address the court’s ruling, legislators proposed amending the constitution to permit retrospective legislation concerning child predators, requiring approval from 55% of Colorado voters. But to get to that point, they need two-thirds support in each legislative chamber. Many people who supported the bill in 2021 are flipping now. Why the change of heart? Well, how often does money from lobbyists change support with bills like this? That is always the best guess.

New Lawsuit Filed in California Seeks to Implicate Various Hotel Proprietors in Sex Trafficking

February 21, 2024: Jane Doe filed a lawsuit in federal court in California against various hotel proprietors and operators, implicating them in her experience of sex trafficking at their establishments. The lawsuit seeks damages for the exploitation she endured, starting in 2013, at hotels under the management of the defendants.

Jane Doe alleges that her traffickers exploited her within hotels that are part of the Wyndham brand, including the Ramada in Anaheim and the Super8 in Escondido, California, throughout 2014. The complaint brings to light the financial gains the defendants allegedly made from providing a safe haven for traffickers to operate with impunity, despite clear indicators of illegal activities that should have been evident to properly trained hotel staff. These \”red flags\” of trafficking, as outlined in the complaint, include signs of physical abuse, restraint, and control over victims, all of which were ostensibly ignored by the hotel personnel.

Her sex trafficking lawsuit extends its critique to the broader hotel industry, emphasizing its unintentional but culpable role in the sex trafficking epidemic. It underscores the failure of the defendants to adhere to recommended practices for identifying and combating trafficking, despite widespread awareness and educational efforts by government and nonprofit organizations aimed at mitigating this issue within the hospitality sector.

Through this lawsuit, Jane Doe seeks to hold the defendants accountable for their substantial role in enabling sex trafficking and for their failure to protect victims, advocating for justice and reparation for the harm she and potentially others have suffered under their watch.

Roman Catholic Diocese of Lansing Argues Against Retroactivity of 2018 Statute Extending Limitations Period for Sex Abuse Claims

February 15, 2024: On Tuesday, the Roman Catholic Diocese of Lansing argued before the Michigan Supreme Court that a 2018 statute extending the limitations period for sexual abuse claims does not retroactively apply. It is challenging the notion that entities could be required to defend against claims dating back decades, a task they absurdly describe as “nearly impossible.”

The diocese contends that the legislature did not design the extended statute of limitations for retroactive application, specifically noting an exception for victims of Larry Nassar does not extend to other cases, such as Brian McLain’s negligence lawsuit that alleges abuse by a priest in 1999.

The diocese emphasized that the 2018 legislative changes, spurred by the Nassar scandal, aimed to extend the timeframe for future victimization claims, not to apply retrospectively, except for a specified window for Nassar’s victims. This stance comes as the court reviews McLain’s appeal against a Michigan Court of Appeals ruling that deemed the legislative amendments non-retroactive. McLain, who filed a lawsuit in April 2021 against the Diocese of Lansing and the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Baltimore, argues his case falls within the three-year window for bringing claims as an adult based on recent connections made between the abuse and his mental health issues.

Ramara Inc. Ordered to Pay $24.5 Million in Damages After Being Found Responsible for Human Trafficking

February 13, 2024: Two women coerced into prostitution as teenagers at a local motel have been awarded a combined total of $24.5 million in damages. An arbitrator found the motel’s owner, Ramara Inc., responsible for the human trafficking operations that occurred on its property.

This is a huge win for all of us who want to hold accountable those who facilitate or turn a blind eye to exploitation.

Quarterback Jayden de Laura Signed by Texas State Despite Pleading Guilty to Second-Degree Sexual Assault

January 25, 2024: Former Arizona quarterback Jayden de Laura, who had recently settled a civil lawsuit stemming from a 2018 sexual assault case, was signed by Texas State to play football. The lawsuit, connected to a 2018 criminal juvenile case, accused de Laura and his high school teammate Kamo’i Latu of sexually assaulting a minor at their high school in Honolulu. Both pleaded guilty to second-degree sexual assault in juvenile court.

The civil lawsuit, which lasted over three years, alleged assault, battery, false imprisonment, and emotional distress. The terms of the settlement, finalized in late 2023, were kept confidential.

This is not the only run-in he has had with the law. In February 2021, while serving as the quarterback for a third university, Washington State, de Laura was arrested on suspicion of DUI. This occurred after he was observed driving on the wrong side of the road and running a stop sign near the Washington State University campus. Despite refusing a Breathalyzer test and failing a sobriety test, de Laura was ultimately found not guilty.

Motion Filed to Centralize Human Trafficking Claims into MDL

January 17, 2024: Human trafficking attorneys have filed a motion with the U.S. Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation to centralize various lawsuits into multidistrict litigation (MDL) in the Southern District of Ohio.

This is “sort of” a class action lawsuit in which all cases would be housed for pretrial purposes (and hopefully settlement) under the same judge. This request follows a directive from Chief U.S. District Judge Algenon Marbley in Columbus, Ohio, during a December hearing, when he advised the lawyers to seek consolidation.

The judge oversees 29 of these lawsuits and has expressed willingness to lead the MDL if formed. The lawsuits cite the federal Trafficking Victims Protection Reauthorization Act, which permits human trafficking victims to sue those who knowingly benefit from their exploitation. That would be the core of what this class action would be about.

The lawsuits cite the federal Trafficking Victims Protection Reauthorization Act, which permits human trafficking victims to sue those who knowingly benefit from their exploitation.

Four years ago, the JPML panel rejected a bid by human trafficking attorneys to consolidate lawsuits. But there is just more awareness of sexual assault in 2024 than there was even in 2020. So the time for a class action could be now.

Who are the defendants? The lawsuits named major hotel chains such as Red Roof and Best Western International.

Judge Rejects $21 Million Legal Fee Request from Attorneys Representing Victims of Childhood Sexual Abuse

December 7, 2023: The judge overseeing the Boy Scouts of America’s bankruptcy case recently rejected a $21 million legal fee request from attorneys representing survivors of child sexual abuse. The attorneys, part of a group known as the Coalition of Abused Scouts for Justice, sought compensation for their fees and expenses from both the Boy Scouts and a trust fund set up to compensate abuse survivors. Judge Laurie Selber Silverstein denied this request, citing concerns that the payment would effectively reduce the compensation available to the abuse claimants.

Before anyone cries a river for these sex abuse lawyers, the law firms involved in the case are already set to receive about 40% of any payments from the $2.4 billion trust fund established for abuse survivors. Despite this, the coalition’s attorneys argued for additional fees, claiming they made an “extraordinary contribution” to developing the Boy Scouts’ reorganization plan.

Moreno Valley Unified School District Ordered to Pay $135 Million to Survivors of Sexual Abuse

November 22, 2023: Nearly three decades ago, at the Moreno Valley Unified School District in California, two former sixth-grade students were sexually abused by their teacher. Despite previous complaints of child molestation against the teacher, the school district continued to employ him. The victims, who are now in their late 30s, filed a school sex abuse lawsuit against the district, alleging negligence and a failure to protect them from the teacher’s abuse, which persisted into their sophomore year of high school. A California state jury awarded the victims $135 million in damages. The verdict allocated 90% of the fault to the Moreno Valley Unified School District and 10% to the teacher. The two victims received $55 million and $80 million as compensation for the mental and emotional distress they suffered.

Jury Awards Nearly $250 Million in Damages After Massage Therapist Assaults Six Women over Nine Months

November 21, 2023: In a lawsuit against a St. Peters massage spa and its owner, it was alleged that a massage therapist employed at the spa sexually assaulted six women over nine months. Despite previous allegations of assault against the therapist at another location, the spa continued to employ him and failed to act on subsequent reports of misconduct from its own customers. The St. Charles County jury found the spa and its owner liable, awarding the plaintiffs nearly $250 million in damages. The awards, ranging from $35.2 million to $47 million per plaintiff, included compensatory and punitive damages, significantly surpassing the plaintiffs’ last pretrial demand of $4 million and the defense’s final pretrial offer of $1 million. The accused therapist, who missed several court hearings in fall 2021 after posting bail, remains at large.