Child Sexual Abuse Cases

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The sexual abuse of children unfortunately occurs often in today’s society, with predators claiming innocent victims even at the most hallowed of religious, academic and charitable institutions.

The latest child abuse scandal has rocked Penn State University, where a former assistant football coach has been arrested for allegedly abusing at least eight children and school administrators are accused of covering up his criminal actions. Civil suits are expected to follow. (See news stories)

If you or your child was the victim of sexual abuse, you should contact a child sexual abuse attorney as soon as possible.

Kline & Specter, a Philadelphia-based law firm with some 30 attorneys, several of whom are former prosecutors, has the expertise and experience to litigate child sexual abuse cases, which can present complications over statutes of limitations and other matters.

The firm has successfully handled many civil rights cases, including child abuse cases going back to the early 1990s.

Recently, in litigation headed by Tom Kline, the firm won a settlement of as much as $3.8 million – and a lengthy public apology – in a case against a psychotherapist who had sexual contact with a female teenage patient. The settlement also required agreement by the therapist to a litany of stipulations, including that he will never again practice in the field of psychology or any related field. (See The Thatcher Case)

In 2009, Shanin Specter obtained a seven-figure financial settlement against the private operator of a Philadelphia public middle school where a child was sodomized by another student. The school, according to the complaint in the case, had an environment that was “prone to sexual assaults on children” and supervisors who failed in their duty to protect children.

In an early case, Kline filed suit against a doctor for violating child protection laws after he failed to report severe burns inflicted upon a four-year-old girl in 1994, resulting in massive brain damage due to repeated scaldings. The civil suit ended in a confidential settlement. (See story)

Kline & Specter currently is representing a minor who was sexually assaulted by a former counselor with the Community Council for Mental Health and Mental Retardation in Philadelphia, according to the complaint. It charges that CCMHMR failed to inform the child’s parent that the counselor, who had a federal criminal record, had been terminated before the counselor picked the child up at his home.

Click here to contact a child sexual abuse lawyer today.