Abuse

Judge Drastically Reduces $38 Million Verdict in New Hampshire Youth Detention Center Abuse Case to $475,000

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CONCORD, N.H. — A New Hampshire judge has significantly reduced a multimillion-dollar verdict originally awarded to victims of abuse at the state’s youth detention center. The judge’s preliminary ruling decreases the $38 million award down to $475,000, marking a drastic reduction in the compensation that the state is required to pay. This landmark civil trial stems from allegations of widespread abuse that occurred at the Sununu Youth Services Center, formerly known as the Youth Development Center, located in Manchester, New Hampshire. Over the years, the center has been the focus of numerous complaints and legal … Read more

Putnam County Grand Jury Indicts 45 in Over 200 Felonies, Including Multiple High-Profile Child Abuse and Assault Cases

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PUTNAM COUNTY, W.Va. — A grand jury in Putnam County has returned indictments in four major cases, including allegations of child death by a guardian and multiple charges of sexual offenses, underscoring a significant day of legal proceedings. The indictments, which were announced on Thursday, have brought serious accusations to the forefront, involving cases ranging from fatal abuse and sexual assault to endangerment during a firearm incident. In one of the most disturbing cases, Brooke Kessler, 32, from Hurricane, faces multiple charges including the death of a child by a parent, child abuse resulting in … Read more

Judge Cuts Abuse Survivor’s Award from $38 Million to $475,000, Citing Legal Limitations Despite Jury’s High Verdict

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BRENTWOOD, N.H. — In a recent legal decision that has sparked renewed discussion about statutory caps on damages, a New Hampshire Superior Court judge was compelled to drastically reduce a jury’s $38 million award to a mere $475,000 in a case involving severe abuse at the Youth Development Center (YDC). The reduction follows state law limitations, despite the judge’s acknowledgment of a potential miscarriage of justice. David Meehan, a former ward of the state, had previously testified that he was raped hundreds of times by several staffers over the four years he was held at … Read more

Illinois School District Embroiled in Lawsuit Over Allegations of Teacher’s Decades-Old Abuse of Student

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WESTCHESTER, Ill. — A former middle school teacher in Westchester, Illinois is at the center of a civil lawsuit following allegations of sexual abuse that reportedly started over two decades ago. The lawsuit, initiated by legal firm Salvi, Schostok & Pritchard, targets both the alleged abuser and the Westchester School District, citing failures in safeguarding students. According to court documents filed in Cook County Circuit Court, Dawn Chester, who taught science and coached volleyball at Westchester Middle School from 1998 to 2000, is accused of abusing a student beginning when the student was 11 years … Read more