Earlier this month, we wrote about the troubling way that social media is being used to mitigate liability in civil lawsuits. It is well understood that Facebook and similar sites are full of carefully cultivated pictures and posts meant to portray an idealized self-image of each user. Sadly, defense attorneys in civil lawsuits are increasingly […]
Imagine being the victim of a crime and having the bravery to testify against the perpetrator in court. When you file a civil lawsuit, however, attorneys for the defense essentially call you a liar. Their proof? Some Facebook photos that seem to show you smiling and enjoying life. This type of situation may sound far-fetched, […]
The criminal justice system is far from perfect, and there are many instances in which victims who deserve justice never receive it. Thankfully, for certain types of crimes, the civil justice system is an additional way that victims can seek justice and restitution. A recent example of an apparent criminal justice system failure is the […]
The sex abuse scandal involving Jerry Sandusky consumed the media here in Pennsylvania and around the country. When he was finally convicted and civil lawsuits were settled, many hoped that Sandusky would live out his days in prison and finally accept some responsibility for the crimes he has committed. Unfortunately, Mr. Sandusky appears to have […]
We often write about the devastating and long-lasting psychological effects of sexual abuse suffered during childhood. Whether a victim was abused once or repeatedly, the trauma can last a lifetime and affect mental and psychological health in profound ways. But research is showing that mental health is just the tip of the iceberg. Childhood trauma, […]
The Catholic Church is no stranger to litigation or money problems. Since victims of clergy sexual abuse began pursuing lawsuits against the church en masse, 11 Catholic dioceses across the U.S. have filed for bankruptcy protection. To be sure, child sexual abuse can (and does) occur in nearly all religious organizations. But the problem seems to be […]
Many of our posts in recent months have focused on the ongoing clergy sexual abuse scandals in Philadelphia and other parts of the state. Sadly, the disturbing and frequent incidents of child sexual abuse allegedly perpetrated by priests are a problem that spreads far beyond the borders of Pennsylvania. So too, are the alleged cover-ups […]