Victims

New Laws Take Effect Sunday, Offering Maryland Child Sex Abuse Victims a Fairer Chance for Justice

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ANNAPOLIS, Md. — The arrival of October brings significant changes to Maryland’s legal landscape for survivors of child sexual abuse. A new state law enacted this month provides victims with an extended window to file lawsuits, marking a pivotal shift in their access to justice. Under this legislation, individuals previously prohibited from taking legal action due to criminal statutes of limitations will now have until the end of 2023 to bring their cases forward. This revised timeline applies retroactively, enabling survivors to reclaim their voices and seek accountability from their perpetrators, regardless of when the … Read more

Michigan Supreme Court Upholds Immunity, Leaving Families of Oxford Shooting Victims Devastated and Seeking Accountability

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LANSING, Mich. — The Michigan Supreme Court has decided not to hear a civil lawsuit brought by parents of victims from the tragic Oxford High School shooting in 2021. The decision has left many parents grappling with disbelief and despair over the court’s ruling. The lawsuit sought to hold the Oxford Community Schools district and its personnel accountable for the deaths of four students: Madisyn Baldwin, Tate Myre, Hana St. Juliana, and Justin Shilling. In September, the Michigan Court of Appeals upheld a ruling granting the district and its employees governmental immunity, effectively barring the … Read more

San Diego Residents Face New Legal Battle as City Blames Flood Victims for Historic Deluge

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SAN DIEGO – Seventeen months after devastating floods swept through Southcrest, the neighborhood’s stormwater culverts stand completely dry, starkly contrasting the chaos of January 22, 2024. Residents are now grappling with the aftermath as more than 50 lawsuits involving over 1,500 plaintiffs accuse the city of failing to manage drainage systems effectively. The flooding left many locals with significant losses that disrupted their lives. Evan Walker, an attorney representing around 600 flood victims, highlighted ongoing legal fallout. “Two of my clients are now named in separate counterclaims by the city,” he said, expressing disbelief at … Read more

Controversy Erupts Over Rhode Island Coach’s ‘Naked Fat Tests’ as Victims Demand Change in Child Protection Laws

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NORTH KINGSTOWN, R.I. — A former high school coach’s controversial practices have stirred widespread outrage following a recent trial. One former athlete emphasized that the legal ruling does not alter the troubling nature of the education system’s current regulatory framework, which allows teachers to request that students disrobe under certain circumstances. The former coach, who is 57, was dismissed from his position in 2021 after students accused him of conducting inappropriate “fat tests.” These allegations became public in October of that year, shortly after the coach, who had previously worked at North Kingstown High School, … Read more