Latest news with #LevyKonigsberg
Associated Press
16-07-2025
- Associated Press
Levy Konigsberg Attorneys Jerome Block, Jacob Jordan and Co-Counsel have filed lawsuits on behalf of more than 900 men and women who were allegedly sexually abused by staff members when they were confined as children at the Cook County Juvenile Temporary Detention Center and Illinois Youth Centers throughout Illinois.
NEW YORK, July 15, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Levy Konigsberg and co-counsel filed lawsuits today on behalf of over 100 survivors of sexual abuse against Cook County and the State of Illinois, bringing the total number of cases to more than 900 dating back to May 2024. The lawsuits allege that Cook County and the State failed to protect children from rampant sexual abuse perpetrated by adult employees at juvenile detention facilities throughout the state. These lawsuits are the latest in a string of juvenile detention abuse lawsuits spearheaded by Levy Konigsberg along with its co-counsel across the State of Illinois and the United States. The suits filed by Levy Konigsberg were brought under the recently amended Childhood Sexual Abuse Act as codified at 735 ILCS 5/13-202.2. The Childhood Sexual Abuse Act provides legal pathways for victims of this type of sexual abuse to pursue damages from their abusers and from the institutions that enabled the abuse by increasing the time in which survivors of sexual abuse are permitted to come forward and file civil lawsuits. The Survivors who have filed clams so far include those who suffered sexual abuse as far back as the 1990s and up through recent years. The Plaintiffs, who are now adults, were sexually abused as children ranging from age 9 to 17. The perpetrators of the sexual abuse were supervisors, correctional officers, counselors, supervisors and other staff. In announcing Monday's lawsuits filed against the State of Illinois and Cook County, Levy Konigsberg Partner Jerome Block stated: 'After more than 900 victims of childhood sexual abuse have come forward, the ongoing apathy from Cook County and Attorney General Kwame Raoul speaks volumes and underscores a tragic lack of concern for Illinois youth in custody. More than one year after the filing of the first group of cases, Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul recently filed a new motion to dismiss arguing that the survivors were required to come forward before turning age 19. The State's outrageous and callous legal position ignores the deep trauma of childhood sexual abuse and the rights granted by the Illinois Childhood Sexual Abuse Act.' Levy Konigsberg has filed more than a thousand lawsuits on behalf of survivors of sexual abuse nationwide and is at the forefront of litigation in New York, Maryland, New Jersey, Illinois, Pennsylvania, and other states. Levy Konigsberg represents over 900 survivors of childhood sexual abuse at Illinois youth centers and plans to continue fighting tirelessly on their behalf. For additional information about Illinois youth center sex abuse lawsuits spearheaded by Levy Konigsberg, and its co-counsel, media members and journalists are encouraged to reach out to Attorney Jerome Block by using the law firm's contact form: Media Contact: Attorney Jerome Block; [email protected] View original content to download multimedia: SOURCE Levy Konigsberg
CBS News
07-05-2025
- CBS News
New audit report details allegations on failures within Maryland's Department of Juvenile Services
A new audit report revealed scathing allegations of failures within Maryland's Department of Juvenile Services. Among the problems pointed out by the state's Department of Legislative Services, DJS did not conduct thorough background checks for its contractors who were providing youth care services. The report notes that an employee working for a DJS contractor was a convict who may have been ineligible to work. As of January, that employee was still there. The report also pointed out some financial issues and an issue with how DJS handled cybersecurity concerns over a three-year period. DJS Secretary Vincent Schiraldi said that many of the issues highlighted in the report preceded him and his team. He went on to say that DJS is being proactive about correcting the issues outlined in the report. "Upon receipt of the preliminary findings, we acted swiftly and proactively to begin correcting the deficiencies outlined in the report," Schiraldi said. Abuse allegations in Maryland juvenile detention centers According to the New York-based law firm, 650 lawsuits have exposed cases of abuse that occurred between the 1970s and 2018 in Maryland's juvenile detention centers. Some lawsuits, filed by New York-based firm Levy Konigsberg, allege that survivors suffered repeated abuse at one of 12 juvenile detention facilities in the state. "It is both appalling and disappointing to our clients that the State of Maryland has refused to take any responsibility for this horrific sexual abuse," law firm Partner Jerome Block said. According to the firm, the juvenile detention system has delayed or ignored reform despite investigations, warnings and reports that revealed abusive staff and invasive strip searches. Survivors allege that the instances of sexual abuse were carried out by officers, counselors, teachers, managers and other staff members. "The Maryland Department of Juvenile Services, entrusted with protecting these children, instead enabled an environment of silence and suffering," attorneys said in a statement. The 650 lawsuits were filed under the Maryland Child Victims Act, a 2023 law that eliminated the statute of limitations for child sexual abuse survivors and allowed them to receive a payout of $890,000 for each claim.
Yahoo
28-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
85 new child sex abuse suits filed against Maryland juvenile detention system, firm says
BALTIMORE — Dozens more child sex abuse claims were filed against the state Thursday, according to a law firm, adding to the thousands of lawsuits alleging misconduct in Maryland's juvenile detention facilities. In a statement posted online, the New York-based firm Levy Konigsberg said with the 85 complaints initiated last week, their organization has put forward more than 650 cases against the state Department of Juvenile Services alone. The accusations, they said, span decades, from the 1970s through 2018. 'It is both appalling and disappointing to our clients that the State of Maryland has refused to take any responsibility for this horrific sexual abuse,' Levy Konigsberg partner Jerome Block said in a statement. Monday's lawsuits were filed during a five-week legal crunch before newly approved caps on child sex abuse claims take effect in Maryland. The caps, proposed in response to a $3.3 billion deficit in the state's budget, will cut the compensation possible for victims by more than half. Starting June 1, damages on claims against the state will max out at $400,000, dropping from $890,000. And claims against private institutions will hit a $700,000 ceiling, as opposed to $1.15 million. The deadline has forced many lawyers and firms to question whether they'll be able to take on similar claims in the future. Several have said between the cost to investigate and the mandated reduction in their fees, they cannot. Others also worry that the strain of a civil suit, compared to smaller compensation, will discourage victims from coming forward. 'Instead of supporting survivors, the State has callously attempted to revoke vested rights provided by the Maryland Child Victims Act,' Konigsberg said. 'These survivors will not be ignored, they will not be silenced, and they will not allow unconstitutional tort reform efforts stop them from obtaining full justice and accountability.' The Maryland Department of Juvenile Services was not immediately available for comment Monday. _____
CBS News
26-04-2025
- CBS News
85 more people file lawsuits alleging sexual abuse in Maryland juvenile detention facilities
Eighty-five more people have filed lawsuits alleging they were sexually abused while in custody in Maryland's juvenile detention system, according to a law firm. The lawsuits, filed by New York-based firm Levy Konigsberg, allege that survivors suffered repeated abuse at one of 12 juvenile detention facilities in the state. The latest court filings add to 565 previous lawsuits that were filed in the past year and a half, the law firm said. "It is both appalling and disappointing to our clients that the State of Maryland has refused to take any responsibility for this horrific sexual abuse," law firm Partner Jerome Block said. 650 lawsuits allege abuse in Maryland juvenile detention centers According to the law firm, the 650 lawsuits have exposed cases of abuse that occurred between the 1970s and 2018. "These cases demonstrate that this was not an isolated or historic issue, but a persistent, generational crisis," attorneys said. According to the firm, the juvenile detention system has delayed or ignored reform despite investigations, warnings and reports that revealed abusive staff and invasive strip searches. Survivors allege that the instances of sexual abuse were carried out by officers, counselors, teachers, managers and other staff members. "The Maryland Department of Juvenile Services, entrusted with protecting these children, instead enabled an environment of silence and suffering," attorneys said in a statement. Lawsuits filed under Maryland Child Victims Act The 650 lawsuits were filed under the Maryland Child Victims Act, a 2023 law that eliminated the statute of limitations for child sexual abuse survivors and allowed them to receive a payout of $890,000 for each claim. The latest round of lawsuits came just after Maryland Gov. Wes Moore signed a bill into law that limits the amount of settlement money that a survivor can get. State lawmakers who introduced the bill argued that there needed to be a balance between compensating survivors and not bankrupting the state. Since the Maryland Child Victims Act went into effect, about 4,500 victims have filed claims, lawmakers said in early April.
