Articles Posted in Sexual Assault

Police say that a teacher’s assistant at the Harbor Pilot School in Dorchester is facing charges of engaging in lascivious and lewd behavior with a student who is disabled and non-verbal. The school employee has been placed on paid administrative leave. According to MassLive.com, the student, 14, is autistic. The boy’s mother told WBZ-TV says that it was police who notified her that someone walked into a room and saw her son with his pants down.

The issue of child sex abuse has come under intense scrutiny nationally with the arrests of ex-Penn State assistant football coach Jerry Sandusky and recently fired Syracuse University assistant basketball coach Bernie Fine. In Massachusetts, if you believe that your son, daughter, or you were the victim of child sex abuse, do not hesitate to contact one of our Boston injury lawyers to find out whether you have a case.

Unfortunately, as the Associated Press reported four years ago (this was a story that we covered in our Boston Injury Lawyer Blog) sex abuse involving teachers as perpetrators happens more often than we’d like to think. Now, with allegations of sex abuse focused on such high profile athletic coaches, questions are again being raised as to whether schools are doing enough to protect kids.

Sandusky is accused of sexually assaulting a number of boys. He is charged with over 50 counts related to sexual molestation, including child rape. Although his alleged victims were kids he worked with through Second Mile charity and not University students, a number of the incidents allegedly occurred on Penn State property. At least one sex abuse lawsuit has been filed suing Sandusky, the University, and his charity.

Regarding the sex abuse accusations surrounding Fine, one of his alleged victims has already sued the former Syracuse assistant coach for sexually abusing him when he was a child. Today, two other alleged victims, Mike Lang and his stepbrother Bobby Davis, have filed a defamation lawsuit against Fine, the university, and head basketball coach Jim Boeheim. The plaintiffs, who claim that Fine molested them repeatedly when they were kids, are upset that Boeheim accused them of lying about Fine and the abuse.

Alleged sex abuse victims announce lawsuit against Syracuse, CNN, December 13, 2011
Jerry Sandusky Waives Hearing, Suggests Victims May Have Colluded, ABC News, December 13, 2011

More Blog Posts:
$100K Lawrence, Massachusetts Clergy Sex Abuse Lawsuit Awarded to Andover Man, Boston Injury Lawyer Blog, October 29, 2011
$3M Boston Clergy Sex Abuse Judgments Awarded to Two Victims, Boston Injury Lawyer Blog, October 25, 2011
Salem, Massachusetts Sex Abuse Lawsuit Seeks Damages from Revere Van Company for Four Children, Boston Injury Lawyer Blog, September 30, 2011 Continue reading

A man who was sexually abused by two clergymen when he was a teenager during the 1960’s will receive $100,000 from the Augustinian Order. His abusers, Rev. Alfred Murphy and a Brother John, are also accused of molesting other boys. The victims belonged to the St. Mary parish Catholic Youth Group.

According to the Massachusetts sex abuse complaint, the plaintiff, who is now in his 50’s, was molested about 25 times. He was one of a number of boys that the clergymen would take kayaking and swimming so they could abuse them during the trips.

The victim’s Boston injury lawyer says that the clergy sex abuse caused his client emotional injury, mental trauma, anxiety, nightmares, and depression. As a result, the plaintiff has spent a lot of money on therapy and medical bills.

The Boston clergy sex abuse attorney went on to say that that this compensation does not make up for what happened to the client. Rather, it is a validation that the plaintiff isn’t to blame for what happened to him.

The victim didn’t come forward until after he saw a newspaper article in the mail a couple of years ago reporting on how Murphy had been accused of abusing a 17-year-old during a 3-week camper trip. Although the plaintiff hadn’t forgotten he’d been abused, reading the story made him realize that problems he was suffering from in the present was because of the Lawrence clergy sex abuse he suffered.

Also mentioned in his lawsuit was a third party. Although not named in court papers, this person was accused of failing to properly supervise Brother John and Rev. Murphy.

Unfortunately, for years the Roman Catholic Church turned a blind eye to the fact that many of its priests were molesting young children. Many of these kids were too ashamed or scared to come forward right away or had suppressed the memories. Now, as adults, a number of them are remembering and/or garnering the courage to speak out and hold their abusers and the Church liable.

Religious order pays $100K to Andover man in abuse case, Eagle-Tribune, October 29, 2011
Rev. Alfred Murphy, BishopAccountability.org

More Blog Posts:
$3M Boston Clergy Sex Abuse Judgments Awarded to Two Victims, Boston Injury Lawyer Blog, October 25, 2011
Kingston, Massachusetts School Psychologist Placed on Leave Over Clergy Sex Abuse Allegations, Boston Injury Lawyer Blog, June 25, 2011
Former Campers Step Forward Claiming They Were Victims of Massachusetts Child Sexual Abuse at Camp Good News in Sandwich, Boston Injury Lawyer Blog, April 13, 2011 Continue reading

Two adults who were sexually abused by a former priest have been awarded $3 million-$2M and $1M judgments, respectively- in their Boston clergy sex abuse case against John Dority. The two victims were 10 and 13 when the ex-clergyman molested them during the early’s 70’s and late ’60’s while they were members of a West Roxbury parish. The Massachusetts sex abuse occurred over several years.

Dority has admitted to abusing the plaintiffs. Now, 70, he is a registered sex offender who has already served time behind bars for child molestation.

The judgments were issued to the victims after Dority failed to respond to the Boston child sex abuse lawsuit and chose not appear in court. Suffolk Superior Court Judge Janet Sanders, who issued the award, said no amount could fully make up for the plaintiff’s suffering. Dority, however, likely does not have $3 million to pay the plaintiffs. The plaintiffs’ Boston child sex abuse case against the Order of Friars Minor Province of the Most Holy Name, is still pending.

According to the Boston Globe, Survivors Network of Those Abused by Priest Director David Clohessy has said that significance of the award amount is that it publicly validates the degree of suffering that the victims experienced because they were sexually abused. This is understandable, seeing as the effects of sexual abuse can last a lifetime.

In addition to prosecutors filing criminal charges against the perpetrators, a victim may be able to sue his/her abuser for damages. Even if the Boston child sex abuse happened years ago, you may still be able to recover compensation.

While winning your Massachusetts sex abuse lawsuit cannot erase what happened to you or the devastation it has created in your life, it could help you in your healing while holding your assailant liable.

Priest abuse victims get $3m ruling, Boston.com, October 22, 2011
$3 Million Awarded In Mass. Priest Sex Abuse Case, CBS Boston/AP, October 21, 2011
Database of Publicly Accused Priests in the United States, BishopAccountability.org
Abuse in the Catholic Church, The Boston Globe

More Blog Posts:
Kingston, Massachusetts School Psychologist Placed on Leave Over Clergy Sex Abuse Allegations, Boston Injury Lawyer Blog, June 23, 2011
Former Campers Step Forward Claiming They Were Victims of Massachusetts Child Sexual Abuse at Camp Good News in Sandwich, Boston Injury Lawyer Blog, April 13, 2011
Ex-Children’s Hospital Boston Pediatrician Sued for Boston Medical Malpractice and the Sex Abuse of Child Patients, Boston Injury Lawyer Blog, February 17, 2011 Continue reading

In Salem Superior Court, a Massachusetts injuries to minors lawsuit has been filed against Ameriken Caring Services on behalf of one girl and three boys. The children are ages 9 and 10. According to the complaint, the Revere van company did not protect the kids from being physically assaulted and sexually molested by a van monitor.

The Peabody School Department had hired the van company to transport the kids to a summer program. The kids were allegedly molested on several occasions in July. Incidents involved inappropriate and painful touching and physical abuse.

According to the victims’ Marblehead personal injury lawyer, the children were scared to tell their parents about the abuse because they knew they would see the bus monitor the next day. The Salem, Massachusetts sex abuse complaint is alleging negligent supervision, hiring, and retention.

Massachusetts Sex Abuse
Unfortunately, sex abuse can happen to a child while under the supervision of another party. Even if that party didn’t actually molest your son/daughter, if he/she/the entity allowed your child to suffer any kind of harm, you may be have grounds for a Salem injuries to a minor lawsuit.

Child sex abuse can cause serious trauma to a child. Many of the injuries are invisible but can wreak havoc on the victim’s life.

In Massachusetts, the statute of limitations for filing a Boston child sex abuse action is within three years of the alleged acts or within three years of the victim discovering or reasonably discovering there was psychological or emotional trauma caused by the alleged abuse. However, the time limit for this action has to be told for a child until he/she turns 18.

Revere van company sued over alleged assaults, AP/Boston.com, September 14, 2011
General Laws, Commonwealth of Massachusetts

Related Web Resources:
Child Sexual Abuse, American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry
Warning Signs, Stop it Now

More Blog Posts:
Cape Cod Sex Abuse: Woman Sues Camp Attended by US Senator Scott Brown, Boston Injury Lawyer Blog, August 18, 2011
Kingston, Massachusetts School Psychologist Placed on Leave Over Clergy Sex Abuse Allegations, Boston Injury Lawyer Blog, June 25, 2011
Ex-Children’s Hospital Boston Pediatrician Sued for Boston Medical Malpractice and the Sex Abuse of Child Patients, Boston Injury Lawyer Blog, February , 2011 Continue reading

Cheryl A. Madden has filed a Barnstable sexual abuse lawsuit against the same Cape Cod camp where US Senator Scott Brown claims he was sexually abused as a boy. Madden, 45, says that a janitor at the camp raped her more than once and that officials at Camp Good News failed to protect her.

The defendants of her Cape Cod sex abuse case are the camp, two of its executives, the man who allegedly assaulted her, and a counselor. Madden claims that the counselors failed to take action even though she was in the girls’ bathroom during one of the rapes. Madden says that the janitor raped her multiple times during the summers of 1973 (when she was 7), 1974, and 1975. Camp Good News says there is no merit to Madden’s claim.

Madden claims that memories of the abuse surfaced two years ago after her dad, who died, left Camp Good News $111,000. She believes that the defendants either knew or should have known that the janitor was molesting her. Madden is accusing camp officials of concealing, suppressing, and purposely preventing the disclosure of the child sex abuse incidents that occurred there.

Officials at Silver Lake Regional High School have placed school psychologist Robert F. Daly on leave after they recently found at that he had been a defendant in a Massachusetts sexual abuse lawsuit. The complaint accused Daly of molesting children in the 1970’s and 1980’s while he was a priest.

Daily, who was ordained in the 1860’s, last worked as a priest in 1984. It was in 2005 that he and 16 other priests, three archdiocese lay employees, and high-ranking church officials were sued by 25 people who claimed they were the victims of Massachusetts sexual abuse. The case was settled in arbitration.

Silver Lake Regional High School wasn’t aware of the sex abuse lawsuit until earlier this month, when it was announced that Daly had asked to be defrocked. Since he was hired by the school district in 2001, there have been no complaints about him. As a school psychologist, Daly’s job involves trying to determine whether students need special education support and developing plans for those that do.

Massachusetts Sexual Abuse
Sexual abuse is a serious crime and one that causes injuries that can leave a person emotionally incapacitated for life. If your child was molested by a friend, teacher, doctor, priest, camp counselor, relative, or anyone else, you may be able to file a Boston sex abuse case to sue the perpetrator for damages.

In Massachusetts, actions over the sexual abuse of minors can be brought within three years of the acts allegedly occurring or within three years of when the victim found out or reasonably should have discovered that an psychological or emotional injury or condition was a result of sexual assault and battery. The time limit for beginning an action is tolled for a child until he or she turns 18.

Silver Lake school psychologist placed on leave over abuse allegations, MetroWest Daily News, June 18, 2011
Sexual abuse of minors, Massachusetts General Laws

Related Web Resources:
Bishop Accountability

Child Sexual Abuse, AmericanHumane.org

More Blog Posts:
Former Campers Step Forward Claiming They Were Victims of Massachusetts Child Sexual Abuse at Camp Good News in Sandwich, Boston Injury Lawyers, April 13, 2011
Clergy Sexual Abuse Lawsuit: Victim Sues the Pope, Boston Injury Lawyers, September 4, 2010
Massachusetts Clergy Sexual Abuse: Defrocked Priest Paul Shanley Challenges Conviction for Indecent Assault & Battery and Child Rape, Boston Injury Lawyers, September 9, 2009 Continue reading

A number of people have come forward claiming that they were the victims of Massachusetts child sexual abuse while attending Camp Good News. The ex-campers made their allegations after US Senator Scott Brown revealed that he was molested at a Cape Cod religious camp when he was a boy. The camp was later identified as attending Camp Good News, a Christian Camp in Sandwich.

While the Boston Globe last week counted six adults alleging child sex abuse at the camp, one Boston injury lawyer claims that 13 people-2 women and 11 men-have contacted him claiming that they were abused while attending the camp. The Cape Cod sex abuse incidents allegedly occurred between the 1970’s and 1990’s and multiple perpetrators were allegedly involved. However, some of the adults did say that they were molested by Charles “Chuck” Devita, a camp employee who killed himself last week after a an ex-camper said Devita sexually abused him.

In the wake of the allegations and the ongoing investigation, Camp Good News announced that it will be closed this summer.

A man who claims he was sexually molested by the headmaster of St. John’s School for the Deaf when he was a student there is suing the Vatican and Pope Benedict for clergy sexual abuse. Terry Kohut, who is deaf, says he was molested and assaulted by Father Lawrence C. Murphy, who was head of the boarding school from 1950 to 1974. Per CNN, Kohut, now 60, is the first plaintiff to sue Pope Benedict for clergy sex abuse.

Pope Benedict, previously known as Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger, used to head the Vatican’s Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith. The CDF was tasked with investigating clergy sex abuse allegations involving minors. Per church records, Murphy molested and raped up to 200 deaf boys.

In Kohut’s sexual assault complaint, Kobut says that the Vatican’s “policy of secrecy” and attempts to cover up the child sex abuse incidents contributed to causing him and others to become Murphy’s victims. Murphy allegedly would walk through the school’s dorm and rape and sexually assault boys in their bed. According to church documents, he also molested and assaulted victims in the church’s confessional.

By refusing to hear an appeal from the Vatican, the US Supreme Court has allowed a sexual abuse lawsuit against the Holy See to move forward. The clergy sexual abuse complaint accuses the Vatican of working with US church officials to transfer a priest to different cities in the wake of allegations that he was abusing a number of young people.

The sexual abuse complaint, John V. Doe v. Holy See, was filed in 2002. The plaintiff, who is now a grown male, says that Rev. Andrew Roman molested him on a number of occasions during the 1960’s. He claims that that the Vatican, the Archdiocese of Portland, and others protected the priest from having to be held accountable for his crimes by transferring him to different locations.

Per the clergy sex abuse complaint, Ronan starting molesting boys in the mid-1950’s when he was a priest in Ireland. He was then sent to Chicago and later transferred to St. Albert’s Church in Portland, Oregon, where he allegedly sexually abused the plaintiff. Prior to Ronan’s passing in 1992, the priest admitted that he molested three boys while in Illinois.

The Vatican’s US attorney has attempted to have the federal courts toss out the complaint on the grounds of sovereign immunity. Under the Foreign Sovereign Immunity Act, sovereign states are immune from lawsuits. However, the lower federal courts have ruled that there may be an exception in this case. One judge ruled that the connection between Ronan and the Holy See was strong enough that under state law he could be considered an employee of the Vatican. The 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals upheld the ruling. Meantime, the Vatican continues to maintain that it should not be held responsible for priests’ individual actions.

Massachusetts Sexual Abuse
Victims of sexual abuse are often left with permanent emotional and psychological scars for life. Sexual abuse is a crime. Over the years, the clergy sex abuse has injured many across the globe. In many cases, the Church looked away, and did not protect the victims-most of them children. Instead, the priests that were the abusers were the ones who were protected, which allowed many of them to continue molesting more people.

Court lets Vatican-sex abuse lawsuit move forward, Washington Post, June 28, 2010
Vatican Bid to Dismiss Suit On Abuse Won’t Get Review, The Wall Street Journal, June 29, 2010

Related Web Resources:
Abuse in the Catholic Church, Boston Globe
John V. Doe v. Holy See, C9uscourts.gov (PDF)

Vatican: The Holy See
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