2nd former student sues elite California boarding school alleging decades-old sex abuse

A second former student has sued an exclusive private school in Southern California, saying its administrators knowingly hired a sexual predator who went on to repeatedly abuse her. Jennifer Christiansen Vurno of Washington announced Wednesday that she is suing The Thacher School in Ojai for negligence, and sexual assault and harassment. Vurno, 44, said she was repeatedly sexually assaulted…

Ex-UCLA gynecologist James Heaps guilty of sexually abusing patients

A Los Angeles County jury on Thursday convicted former UCLA gynecologist Dr. James Heaps of sexually abusing female patients. Prosecutors portrayed Heaps as exploiting his position as a renowned cancer specialist to prey on the most vulnerable women during his 35 years associated with UCLA. Hundreds of accusers have been paid nearly $700 million by UCLA in…

Read Paul’s comments to Newsday on the Diocese of Rockville Centre bankruptcy

Two years after the Roman Catholic Church on Long Island became the largest diocese in the nation to declare bankruptcy, none of the hundreds of clergy sex abuse cases filed against the church has been settled. That has some survivors and their attorneys saying it is adding to the pain and injury the victims suffered…

The Unique Vulnerability of Youth Athletes

Courtney Kiehl, a former elite gymnast and now an attorney who advocates for survivors of child sexual abuse, joins us to discuss what makes youth athletes vulnerable, and how we can help.

A Survivor Shares Her Strength

Courtney Kiehl JD ’15 Law knew she wanted to work with trauma survivors in some capacity. A former elite gymnast and survivor of child sexual abuse, Kiehl chose to pursue a legal career after earning her bachelor’s degree in sociology at UCLA, where she had become involved in victims’ rights organizations. “When I began researching law…

After Teacher Convicted Of Sex Offenses, Corona-Norco USD Sued

The Corona-Norco Unified School District is the target of a lawsuit stemming from multiple sexual offenses perpetrated by a former high school teacher and athletics coach now serving time in state prison, it was announced Wednesday. “Schools have a duty to protect the safety and welfare of students,” attorney Paul Mones said regarding the civil…

Five Sexual Assault Survivors Sue Riverside County School District for Employing Convicted Serial Sexual Abuser High School Teacher-Track Coach

Former high school teacher, track and field coach, and cross-country running coach Joe Robles, Jr. – who is currently serving a four-year prison sentence after being convicted of multiple felony sex crimes – has been named in a civil action alleging that he sexually assaulted at least five children between the ages of 14 and 17 between…

Read Paul’s comments on the Michigan Attorney General’s investigation of the Boy Scouts

The Michigan attorney general’s office said it is close to bringing criminal charges in its investigation into allegations that troop leaders and others associated with the Boy Scouts of America sexually assaulted youths in the state. A spokeswoman for Dana Nessel, the state’s attorney general, said Wednesday that her office is investigating five individuals. She…

Boy Scouts’ bankruptcy creates rift with religious partners

Amid the Boy Scouts of America’s complex bankruptcy case, there is worsening friction between the organization and the major religious groups that help it run thousands of Scout units. At issue: the churches’ fears that an eventual settlement — while protecting the Boy Scouts of America from future sex-abuse lawsuits — could leave many churches…

New York’s Child Victims Act Filing Window Closes

Posted on August 16, 2021

In 2019, New York legislators passed the Child Victims Act, which made changes to the statute of limitations for victims of child sexual abuse and opened a temporary window for all survivors to seek civil action. The purpose of this bill was to give survivors of child sexual assault the ability to seek justice against…