Parallel Justice

Attorney Jeff Fritz discusses a case involving school abuse in New Jersey. The case revolves around a seventh-grade student, Jane Doe, who was groomed and abused by her history teacher, Don Walker. The abuse continued into high school, and Walker even convinced Jane Doe to live with him for a period of time. The case highlights the importance of reporting abuse to Child Protective Services and the challenges victims face in coming forward. The statute of limitations for criminal charges had expired, but Jane Doe filed a civil lawsuit within the two-year window provided by New Jersey law. In this conversation, attorney Jeff Fritz discusses a case involving a survivor of sexual abuse by a teacher in the Camden City School District. He explains the dynamics of the abuse, the reasons why victims often stay in contact with their abusers, and the psychological impact on the survivor. The conversation also covers the lawsuit filed against the school district, the verdict, and the ongoing efforts to hold the district accountable.

Special guests Tony Romanucci and Tad Thomas are leading the charge in fighting gun violence in the US. In this episode, they provide valuable insights into the legal challenges, implications, and potential outcomes of seeking justice for the victims of mass shootings. Join us on this compelling installment of Parallel Justice as we delve into the complexities of finding justice and accountability surrounding two mass shootings - the Highland Park shooting and the Old National Bank shooting.

Tune in to gain a deeper understanding of the community impact, challenges, and societal implications involved when a mass violence incident occurs.

For more information or to contact Tony Romanucci: https://www.rblaw.net/

For more information or to contact Tad Thomas: https://www.thomaslawoffices.com/

Visit Lawyer Minds: https://www.lawyerminds.com

In this episode, Renee Williams interviews Michael Haggard,

managing partner of Haggard Law Firm out

of Florida, in person. Michael Haggard and his firm have been representing

crime victims for the last 20 years and played a major role in the cases

surrounding the 2018 shooting that occurred at Stoneman Douglas High School in

Parkland, Florida, where 17 people lost their lives and 17 more were injured.

Michael Haggard represented three victims from the Parkland

shooting: student Joaquin Oliver, cross-country coach Scott Beigel, and teacher

Stacey Lippel. Multiple civil cases resulted from the shooting. The FBI was

targeted in one for failing to act when they were given a tip about the shooter

announcing he was going to open fire on the high school the night before it

happened. Other lawsuits were filed against the school board and the local

police departments.

Tune in to learn more about the ongoing cases and the

lessons that we, as a nation, can learn from what happened in the aftermath of

this tragic shooting.

Between 1987 and 2014 countless students were abused at Miracle Meadows, a boarding school in West Virginia. These students often complained, but their complaints were repeatedly dismissed. Join Guy D’Andrea, W. Jesse Forbes, and Scott Long, the attorneys who broke this case, as they discuss what they learned through the course of this case and how it fits in with the larger trend of the “Troubled Teen Industry.”

More information on Mr. Forbes is available at: https://www.forbeslawwv.com/.

More information about Mr. D’Andrea is available at: https://laffeybuccikent.com.

More information about Mr. Long is available at: https://www.handl.com

Not many religions are as shrouded in secrecy as the Church

of Latter Day Saints (LDS) and its progeny. This secrecy cultivates a culture

that is ripe for abuse to occur. Attorney Peter Janci of Crew Janci LLP represents sexual abuse

survivors including those abused by LDS and FDLS clergy and rejoins us for this

episode of the podcast to discuss how the abuse occurs and how we can combat

it. 

Sexual violence cases involving LDS churches and others

associated with Mormonism tend to be discussed less often than similar cases

against Catholic churches because these crimes are reported less often. The

extent of abuse that occurs is significant, however. Victims of abuse are

deterred from reporting sexual crimes due to the insular structure of LDS

churches and those related as well as the fact that these churches are often

based in states where court statutes stop victims from being able to take legal

action.

Tune in to learn more about the history of sexual violence

in LDS churches and how abuse is often hidden.

The Catholic church has a go-to playbook to avoid liability

in child sex abuse cases. Last time, we talked to Jeff Anderson and Mike

Finnegan, attorneys from Jeff

Anderson & Associates who represent victims of childhood sexual crimes,

about how the Catholic church utilizes bankruptcy to avoid helping victims.

This time, we speak with them again to discuss one other way the Church has

historically escaped liability—by abusing statutes of limitations.

Statutes of limitations are time limits that legal claims

must be filed during in order to become viable cases. They can differ from

state to state. Statutes of limitations make sense in most personal injury

cases, but for cases involving child sex abuse, a deadline of a couple of years

is simply not enough time for many victims to come forward—especially when the

crime is committed by someone the child thinks they can trust, like a member of

the clergy. The Catholic church has been known to groom or coerce victims into

silence until the statute passes, escaping liability completely.

The Catholic church has a go-to playbook to avoid liability in child sex abuse cases. Join Renee Williams as she interviews Attorney Jeff Anderson and Attorney Mike Finnegan from Jeff Anderson & Associates, one of the most recognized law firms in the nation that represents victims of childhood sexual abuse, as they discuss how and why the Church uses bankruptcy to avoid helping their victims.

By filing for a Chapter 11 bankruptcy, the Catholic church is able to hide its assets and pay less to abuse survivors while halting all abuse litigation. Consequently, by putting bankruptcy rules and deadlines into place, the organization is even protected from future litigation if more victims were to come forward after the deadline has passed.

Tune in to listen to Jeff Anderson and Mike Finnegan as they discuss how the Church gets away with this and what’s being done to fight back on behalf of survivors.

Jerry Sandusky. Larry Nasser. Richard Strauss.  These names are synonymous with abuse.  Less attention is paid to the institutions that protect these predators, and even less to the individuals who knew of abuse every day and choose to not report.  Join law professor Amos Guiora as he explains the harms perpetrated by those who enable abusers.  More information on Professor Guiora is available at: https://faculty.utah.edu/u0586620-AMOS_GUIORA/hm/index.hml.  His book is available at: https://armiesofenablers.com/

On May 3, 2010; UVA Women’s Lacrosse star, Yeardley Love was murdered in her Charlottesville Apartment.  Twelve years later, Yeardley’s killer was held accountable in civil court.  Join this conversation with Yeardley’s family attorney, Kevin Biniazan, as he discusses the case and one family’s quest for justice.  More information One Love Foundation is available at: https://www.joinonelove.org/.  Mr. Biniazan can be reached at: https://www.bbtrial.com/attorneys/kevin-biniazan/

Tensions between law enforcement and communities of color were on the rise well before the murder of George Floyd.  Join Attorney Tony Romanucci in this continuing conversation on the current state of policing in America.  Mr. Romanucci discusses previous cases of brutality that weren't publicized and discusses how disturbing practices continue to propagate.  Mr. Romanucci’s information is available at: https://www.rblaw.net/professionals-romanucci.