Resource Center

Category: Settlements

September 9, 2020

Victims of Father John J. Gallagher’s sexual abuse awarded multimillion dollar settlement decades later

11 victims of sexual abuse by clergy members have been awarded a $1.4 Million settlement. The victims claim Father John J. Gallagher, a former Lawrence priest abused them in the 1970s, according to the suit. The settlement in the case was awarded to one man and 10 women, all of whom are now in their 50s, claimed that Father John J. Gallagher sexually abused them when they were students at St. Mary’s School in Lawrence. Gallagher, who died15 years ago, had already been accused of abusing three women when they were young girls at the Lawrence parish. That lawsuit […]

–

June 18, 2020

Former Edison High School student claims teacher abused him in the 1980’s

Under the Child Victims Act, a former Edison High School student is suing The township Board of Education claiming he was sexually abused by a teacher in the 1980s. The suit, filed in Superior Court last week, alleges that the school board “failed to take reasonable steps” to protect the student from the abuse. ITh suit claims that the shop teacher Frederick Burkley, from 1983 to 1985, “groomed” the student “to gain his trust and to obtain control over him” as part of a plan to sexually molest and abuse him. Burkley, who has since died, also served as […]

–

June 11, 2020

Former Firefighter pays large settlement to man accusing him of sexually abusing him when he was a child

Hugo Fleites , a former city firefighter was sentenced to 10 years in prison for sex abuse of a child dating back to 1997. Fleites was ordered to pay $2.75 million in compensatory damages, $2 million in punitive damages, and $8,441 in legal fees, resulting in a settlement of more than $4.75 million. The victim, identified as John Doe in court documents, says he was just 12 years old when Fleites, then 35, began sexually abusing him. The man’s parents were friends with Fleites when the man was a child and through that contact became a friend of Fleites, […]

–

May 31, 2020

St Cloud Diocese settles lawsuit filed by adult victims of childhood sex abuse by clergy

The Catholic Diocese of St. Cloud has settled a law suit for accusations of clergy sex abuse. The $22.5 million settlement by the diocese is meant to compensate the sex abuse survivors accusing priests of molesting them decades ago. The settlement is part of an agreement that the diocese will file for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection “in the near future.” St. Cloud Bishop Donald Kettler, put out a press release apologizing to the victims of sex abuse by the priests and said he was committed to “assist in the healing of all those who have been hurt.” In 2018, […]

–

March 11, 2020

Former Olympian swimmer settles lawsuit with USA Swimming amongst allegations of sex abuse

At just age 13, Olympic swimmer, Ariana Kukors Smith, began the nightmare of what soon would become years of sex abuse by her Olympic Coach, Sean Hutchinson. Ariana, a record breaking swimmer at the Seattle Washington KING Aquatic cub, a middle schooler, was 18 years younger than her coach when he started grooming her for a sexual relationship. Hutchinson became an Olympic coach in 2008 and Ariana made the Olympic team just 4 years later. Kukors Smith went public about the abuse as a minor just two years ago and her attorney announced this week that they had reached […]

–

Testimonials

“If I were speaking to another family of abuse I would tell that if you are looking for someone to take you seriously, treat you with respect and integrity I would call the Herman Law firm.”
“I hired Herman Law because, “they were just as passionate about defending my daughter’s rights as I am.”
“I recommend Jeff Herman for sexual abuse cases based on my experience co-counseling cases with him in the past. His experience is second to none, he’s very passionate in representing victims of sexual abuse, and very compassionate when dealing with the victims and their families.”