New York Girl Scout Sexual Abuse Attorneys
Hach & Rose, LLP represents those who suffered sexual abuse at the hands of troop leaders or others in the organization whom they trusted to supervise and care for them. If this has happened to you or if it happened to your child, our team of compassionate, aggressive, and award-winning trial attorneys will be here to listen to you and take decisive action against the individual and/or organization responsible. Let us be your voice, and let us help you get the justice you’re owed.
Girl Scouts of the United States of America (GSUSA) was founded just two years after the Boy Scouts of America. In its 2017 Annual Report, GSUSA reported having more than 2.5 million members, including 1,761,343 girls and 783,724 adults.
Of these members, 113,703 girls and 46,936 adults were from New York. While sex abuse allegations have plagued the Boy Scouts in recent years, Girl Scouts are not immune to these issues.
Our firm regularly seeks justice on behalf of those who suffered sex abuse in organizations like the Girl Scouts and others throughout New York. Call (212) 779-0057 or contact us online to take advantage of a free and 100% confidential consultation. We’ll be here to provide thoughtful and experienced legal counsel to you in your time of need, and we won’t rest until we get justice for you.
Do I Need A Girl Scout Abuse Lawyer?
A New York Girl Scout sexual abuse case can be a complicated civil case to file, so you will want to have an attorney on your side to make sure that your case satisfies all of the necessary requirements. A lawyer can handle all court filings so you can be certain that everything needed is filed on time.
While some cases may involve physical injury claims, many sexual abuse cases seek compensation for other kinds of harm that cannot be quantified in the same manner that medical bills or lost wages can. Victims of sexual abuse could be entitled to awards for their pain and suffering, emotional distress, or other kinds of noneconomic damages.
Holding those responsible for the harm you’ve suffered will not only help you gain a measure of justice, but it can send a message that this type of treatment and betrayal of trust will not be tolerated in New York or anywhere else. Together, we can make a statement and hopefully protect others from suffering what you’ve been forced to endure. Let us help you get answers and justice, as well as the compensation you deserve to help you pick up the pieces and move on with your life.
Why Choose Hach & Rose, LLP To Handle My Case?
Hach & Rose, LLP has over 30 years of experience helping sexual abuse victims. Our firm has obtained many fair and full settlements for our clients, and client satisfaction is our priority.
Stanley J. Spero and Michael Rose have both received an AV Preeminent rating from Martindale-Hubbell, a peer rating denoting the highest level of professional excellence. Mr. Spero has over 40 years of legal experience and Mr. Rose was inducted as a lifetime Charter Member of Rue Ratings’ Best Attorneys of America.
Hillary M. Nappi was named one of the “Top 40 Under 40 Criminal Defense Attorneys” by National Trial Lawyers and a 2018-2019 Super Lawyers Metro Rising Star. Halina Radchenko is a member of the New York State Bar Association, Brooklyn Bar Association, New York County Lawyers Association, Columbian Lawyers Association, and the Brooklyn Women’s Bar Association.
John Blyth is admitted to the United States District Court for the Northern District of New York, United States District Court for the Eastern District of New York, United States District Court for the Southern District of New York, and United States District Court for the District of New Jersey. We are so confident in our skilled attorneys that you will not have to worry about paying Hach & Rose, LLP anything up front. We handle cases on a contingency fee basis, so there are no fees until you receive a financial award.
Types of Girl Scout Abuse Cases We Handle
In some cases, young girls confide in their parents about abuse they are experiencing. In many other cases, however, children are too ashamed to say anything, so adults need to look for signs of abuse.
Signs of abuse may include, but are not limited to:
- Touching children inappropriately
- Nightmares or other unexplained sleep problems
- New and unusual fears of people or places
- Loss of appetite or refusal to eat
- Distracted or distant behaviors
- Sudden mood swings
- Reluctance to remove clothing
- Bed-wetting after having outgrown such behaviors
Girl Scouts Safety Guidelines dictate that every group must have at least two approved and unrelated adult volunteers present at all times. The volunteers have to be at least 18 years of age, be screened before volunteering, and at least one volunteer must be female.
The guidelines also state that sexual advances, improper touching, and sexual activity are all forbidden. All Girl Scout employees are mandated to report suspected child abuse or neglect.
Girl Scouts requires two non-related adults, including one woman, to be present for every six Girl Scout Daisies, 12 Girl Scout Brownies, 16 Girl Scout Juniors, 20 Girl Scout Cadettes, 24 Girl Scout Seniors, and 24 Girl Scout Ambassadors. There should also be one extra adult for every additional one to four Girl Scout Daisies, one to six Girl Scout Brownies, one to eight Girl Scout Juniors, one to 10 Girl Scout Cadettes, one to 12 Girl Scout Seniors, and one to 12 Girl Scout Ambassadors.
Girl Scouts also encouraged parents to talk to their daughters about physical and sexual abuse, identifying six topics parents should touch on. Parents should remind girls that nobody has the right to touch their bodies without permission, abuse is never warranted or justified under any circumstance, and not all abuse looks the same. Parents are also urged to let their daughters know that they don’t have to keep secrets because they will always be there for them no matter what happens, and people they trust may still do bad things.
The New York Post reported in July 2019 that a 44-year-old Girl Scout leader was arrested in January after Girl Scouts Heart of the Hudson Valley began getting complaints from the girls’ families. He was charged with felony sexual abuse, misdemeanor forcible touching, and endangering the welfare of a child after touching one girl inappropriately and molesting another while she slept.
Both victims were 14 years of age. The man agreed to a plea deal approved by prosecutors and the young victims’ families that involved six years of probation, but no jail time.
If you or your child have been the victim of a sexual abuse case such as this, contact Hach & Rose, LLP to discuss your rights today.
How and where do I report child sexual abuse?
All reports of suspected child abuse should be made to the New York Statewide Central Register of Child Abuse and Maltreatment. People will usually have to answer several questions about the abuse as well as the child and offender involved. There may also be questions about injuries.
How might the Child Victims Act impact my case?
The statute of limitations for child sex abuse cases was extended under the Child Victims Act (CVA), or Senate Bill S2440. Whereas victims used to have only one to five years to file claims, the CVA provides that the limitations period for criminal prosecution of a sexual offense committed against a child does not begin to run until the child turns 23 years of age. In addition, a civil action for conduct constituting a sexual offense against a child may be brought until the child turns 55 years of age. Some people may also be able to file claims after limitations periods have expired because of a one-year “look back” period in the CVA.
What happens if my child willingly participated in sexual activity?
The legal age of consent in New York is 17 years of age. In other words, any child less than 17 years of age is incapable of legally consenting to sexual activity and any person who engages in sexual activity with the minor commits a criminal offense. Organizations such as Girl Scouts have attempted to claim that willingness is evidence of a parent’s failure to provide supervision.
Girl Scout Abuse Statistics
Girl Scouts reported that nearly five children die daily because of abuse, and a report of abuse is made every 10 seconds. There are 2.9 million cases of child abuse reported annually in the United States.
According to Girl Scouts, 90 percent of child sexual abuse victims know the perpetrator in some way, and 68 percent are abused by family members.
Child abuse and neglect victims are 59 percent more likely to be arrested as a juvenile, 28 percent more likely to be arrested as an adult, and 30 percent more likely to commit violent crime. Approximately one-third of adults who suffered from abuse as children later abuse their own children.
Contact a Girl Scout Abuse Attorney in New York Today
Were you or your child the victim of sexual abuse in the Girl Scouts? Don’t be afraid to speak to our knowledgeable and compassionate team about what you went through, and don’t be afraid to bring it up now, even if it happened years ago. It’s not too late to take action, and our team stands ready to fight for you.
Our consultations are always free of charge and are 100% confidential. We want to get to know you, hear your story, and be your voice. Together, we can seek justice for you and for anyone else who suffered similarly, and we can send a message that this treatment will not be tolerated. Contact us at (212) 779-0057 today to schedule your consultation with a knowledgeable NYC Girl Scout sex abuse attorney today.