Child Sexual Abuse

Child sex abuse is a serious and persistent problem in our society.  The frequency and long-term effects on children (and adult survivors) are life altering.  Sexual abuse can take place almost anywhere and be committed by almost anyone.  Victims come in all shapes, ages and sizes. The one common thread is that it is often a child who is sexually abused.

In sexual abuse cases, the case or claim may be brought by the parent or legal guardian of a child.  The sexual abuse survivor may bring the case on their own behalf when they are adults.

A History Of Winning Sexual Abuse and Assault Cases

Sexual abuse cases are serious matters which demand highly skilled and sensitive attorneys.  Leighton Panoff Law is experienced and successful in representing victims of child sexual abuse.  Managing partner John Leighton has represented child sex abuse survivors for over 35 years and is particularly sensitive to the legal, emotional and psychological issues presented. He continues to work with the leading experts in the field of child sexual abuse, including psychologists, criminologists, therapists and sociologists.

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We have successfully represented survivors of sexual abuse and assault around the United States and throughout Florida. Mr. Leighton is President of the National Crime Victim Bar Association and sits on their Board of Advisors. In 2007 he was presented the “Advocate of Justice Award” in recognition of his commitment and success in representing victims of crime in civil cases. Mr. Panoff sits on the Young Lawyers Council of the National Crime Victim Bar Association.

Mr. Leighton is the Chairman of the Association of Trial Lawyers of America/American Association for Justice’s Inadequate Security Litigation Group and has lectured extensively on sexual abuse and sexual assault throughout the country. He was recently on the teaching faculty at Harvard Law School for the American Trial Lawyers’ “Ultimate Trial Advocacy College.”

John Leighton and Max Panoff recently won a $49.3 million verdict for the victim of child sex abuse.  In this high profile case, Leighton Panoff Law’s client was a young student who was sexually abused and raped by her teacher inside her school.  Leighton has represented many survivors of child sexual abuse, both in litigation and many resolved without the need to walk to the courthouse. The common thread is that a child was subjected to abuse by someone abusing their power or using physical force.

We have represented many children who have been subjected to sex abuse and assaults.  Sometimes they are victimized by people they know and trust, and sometimes it’s a complete stranger. But in every case it’s wrong and life altering to the child.

Leighton Literally Wrote The Book On Handling These Cases

John Elliott Leighton is a nationally recognized expert in the field of violent crime and negligent security litigation. Having litigated and tried sexual abuse cases for over 37 years, Mr. Leighton lectures and teaches trial lawyers throughout the country on techniques in handling these cases. He is a published author in this field, having authored numerous articles published in Trial magazine as well as other journals. He is the author of Litigating Premises Security Cases (West Publishing), a two-volume text on how to investigate, handle, litigate and try inadequate premises security and sexual abuse cases. It is the most comprehensive book in the field and widely used among trial lawyers throughout the country.

ORDER MR. LEIGHTON’S BOOK HERE

 

Mr. Leighton’s expertise in this field has been recognized by his peers. Besides being selected for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America, he has been elected as a Florida SuperLawyer each year (and in the top 100 Florida and Top Miami SuperLawyers several years), listed as a “Top Lawyer” in the South Florida Legal Guide (2003-2022), and selected for the “Florida Legal Elite Top Lawyers in Florida” by Florida Trend magazine (2006-2009, 2012-2022). He was recently the recipient of the “Mover & Shaker” award from Business Leader magazine and is featured on the cover of Attorney at Law magazine as “Attorney of the Month” (2013).

Called In To Handle Sex Abuse Cases Across The Country

In addition to litigating and trying violent crime and sex abuse cases throughout Florida, Mr. Leighton has litigated these cases in Wisconsin, Indiana, Georgia, and Texas. Because he is considered one of the best security and sexual abuse attorneys in the country, Mr. Leighton is often called upon by other lawyers from other states as well as Florida to handle their sexual abuse and negligent security cases.

Mr. Leighton has won numerous verdicts and settlements in cases arising from crime at malls, hotels, gas stations, restaurants, convenience stores schools, shopping centers, criminal perpetrators, church and civil organizations, youth organizations, apartments and businesses.

Mr. Leighton won a $24.3 million verdict in a violent crime case, and he represented the victim in the landmark security case of Jeffery v. Publix. This was the first known instance where recovery was obtained in a negligent security case based on the “rescue doctrine.” Mr. Leighton’s success in this trial was recognized by being the featured case in an entire chapter of the book Persuasive Jury Communication: Case Studies From Successful Trials, Chapter 10: “Persuasion in a Premises Security Case” (Shepard’s/McGraw-Hill). The book’s author took the trial transcript and, based on Mr. Leighton’s case, turned it into an entire chapter.

Mr. Leighton and the firm have been very active in representing children who have suffered physical and sexual abuse at the hands of others. Mr. Leighton has represented many children who have been abused while in daycare or at school. In a recent case, Mr. Leighton obtained a $675,000 recovery for a 5 year-old boy who was sexually abused by a 7 year-old boy who was allowed to play unsupervised with the younger child in a day care facility. He has also successfully resolved other cases involving sexual abuse by children upon other children where there was insufficient, inadequate or incompetent supervision.

Teachers and caregivers are frequently the abusers of children.  Leighton Panoff Law has been aggressive in pursuing abusers of children by using the civil justice system on behalf of our clients.  The firm recently obtained a $550,000 recovery for a young girl who was sexually abused by a teacher. Mr. Leighton continues to represent these innocent victims against criminals and institutions who provide access for abusers, rapists and pedophiles to children and other vulnerable victims.

Other child sexual abuse cases have included sexual assaults by church leaders on young children and teens, sexual assaults and abuse on students inside schools, children sexually abused while in the care of airlines, a young teen sexually abused by his after school employer, abuse of a child at a theme park, and childhood sexual assault of a child within a church that was not recognized for almost 30 years.

To review some of Leighton Panoff Law’s prior sexual abuse and violent crime case results, CLICK HERE.

The Firm and Mr. Leighton continue to litigate, resolve and try child sexual abuse cases throughout Florida and around the country. Mr. Leighton publishes articles and books, and teaches other lawyers about representing victims of sexual abuse and exploitation. There will be no end to child sexual abuse until the abusers are brought to justice.  This has to happen by creating a culture that says secrets are bad, corporations and institutions  cannot cover up abuse, and that all victims are given their day in court.

Leighton Regularly Publishes Articles and Books in the Field

    Some of Mr. Leighton’s publications in the field of sexual abuse and assault include:

•  J. Leighton, Litigating Premises Security Cases, Vol. 1 and 2, (Thomson-West Publishing, 2006; supplemented yearly) [Two volume book on premises security litigation]

• J. Leighton, “Civil Liability for Violent Crimes: Why Negligent Security Cases Are Good For Society,” South Florida Legal Guide, 2015

• J. Leighton, “Negligent Premises Security: Contributing To A Reduction in Violent Crime,” South Florida Legal Guide, 2011.

• J. Leighton, “Corporate and Institutional Liability for Sexual Assaults and Sexual Abuse,” South Florida Legal Guide, Vol. 14 No. 2, pp. 40-41.

• J. Leighton, “Apportionment of Fault in Inadequate Security Cases,” Victim Advocate, Vol. 4 No. 2, Fall 2003, pp. 3-6.

• J. Leighton, “Fighting New Defenses in Inadequate Security Cases,” Trial, Vol. 35, No. 4, April 2000, pp. 20-25.

• J. Leighton, “The Negligent Security Case: A Primer,” Association of Trial Lawyers of America Motor Vehicle, Highway and Premises Liability Section Quarterly, Vol. 5 No. 1, Winter 1999/2000, pp. 1-8.

• J. Leighton, “Apportionment of Fault in Inadequate Security Cases,” Trial, December 2001, pp. 18-25.

• J. Leighton, “Identifying and Evaluating Inadequate Premises Liability Cases”, Association of Trial Lawyers of America Motor Vehicle, Highway and Premises Liability Section Quarterly, 1996.

• J. Leighton, “Preparing and Trying Inadequate Security Cases,” Trial Lawyers Quarterly, Vol. 25 No. 24, New York State Trial Lawyers Association (Summer 1995).

Leighton Lectures and Teaches Trial Lawyers How To Handle These Cases

Mr. Leighton’s many lectures and speeches in this field include the following:

• “Jury Selection in Sexual Abuse and Security Cases,” National Crime Victim Bar Association, National Conference, Atlanta, GA, Sept. 2020.

• “Representing Survivors of Sexual Abuse,” American Association for Justice Annual Convention, Denver, CO, July 2018

• “Safe or Scary? Negligent Security in Schools, Colleges, and Day Care,” American Association for Justice annual convention, Los Angeles, CA, July 2016

• “Civil Justice for Victims of Crime in Florida,” National Crime Victim Bar Association/National Center for Victims of Crime, St. Thomas University School of Law, Miami, FL, May 2016.

• “Rules of the Road for Security and Violent Crime Cases,” American Association for Justice Annual Convention, Montreal, Canada, July 2015

• Negligent Security: People+Premises+Data, Daily Business Review/Leighton Lecture Series seminar, Miami, FL, March 2015

• “Like Flies To Honey: Crime Management and the Dangers of ATMs, Convenience Stores and Other High Risk Retail Premises,” American Association for Justice Annual Convention, Baltimore, MD, July 2014.

• “Sex, Drugs & Violence: Inadequate Premises Security Litigation in Florida,” Daily Business Review/Leighton Lecture Series, November 2013.

• “Jury Selection in Premises Security Cases,” American Association for Justice Annual Convention, San Francisco, CA, July 2013

• “Why Can’t We Be Friends? Attacking The Defense Security Expert,” American Association for Justice Annual Convention, Chicago, IL, July 2012.

• “Reducing Institutional Sexual Abuse Through Litigation,” Melvin M. Belli Society Annual Seminar, Chicago, IL, July 2012.

• “Evaluating, Assessing and Litigating Premises Security Cases,” American Association for Justice, Annual Convention, New York, NY, July 2011.

• “$24 million verdict: Trial of ATM Shooting Case,” Melvin M. Belli Society Annual Seminar, New York, NY, July 2011.

• “Terrorism as an Inadequate Security Case,” American Association for Justice Annual Convention, Vancouver, Canada, July 2010.

• “Dealing With The Violent Criminal in Civil Cases, Annual Melvin Belli Seminar, Vancouver, Canada, July 2010.

• “Sex, Drugs & Violence: Inadequate Premises Security Litigation in Florida,” Daily Business Review Seminar, Miami, Florida, October 2009.

• “Presenting Tragic Violence at Trial: Closing Argument in Security and Violent Crime Cases,” National Crime Victim Bar Association, 2008 National Conference, Chicago, IL, October 2008.

• “Sex, Drugs & Violence; What You Need to Know about Violent Crime Cases and Negligent Premises Security Litigation,” Florida Facilities Managers Association, Annual Meeting, Palm Beach, FL, June 2008.

• “Standing Up for a Fair Jury: Voir Dire in Security Cases,” American Association for Justice, Annual Convention, Chicago, IL, July 2007.

• “Picking Civil Juries for Crime Victims,” National Crime Victim Bar Association Annual Conference, Washington, DC, June 2007.

• “Inadequate Security Litigation,” New Jersey Trial Lawyers Association, Boardwalk Seminar, Atlantic City, NJ, April 2007.

• Keynote Speaker, National Crime Victim Rights Week, “Victims’ Rights Conference,” State Attorney’s Office – Eleventh Judicial Circuit, Miami, FL April 2007.

• “Insurance Issues in Inadequate Premises Security Cases,” Association of Trial Lawyers of America, Annual Convention, Seattle, WA, July 2006.

• “Civil Remedies for Criminal Acts,” National Center for Victims of Crime, Victim Advocate Training Program, Fort Lauderdale, FL, January 2006.

• “Comparing “Fault” – Current Status of Efforts to Include Perpetrators on Verdict Forms; Restatement Approach; Legislation; Case Law; Comparison to Crashworthiness Doctrine,” Association of Trial Lawyers of America, Annual Convention, Toronto, Canada, July 2005.

John Leighton began the Leighton Lecture Series on negligent security litigation with the inaugural “Sex, Drugs & Violence” seminar in 2009.  Since then the annual seminar in Miami and Orlando has attracted attendees from throughout Florida and includes lawyers, adjusters, developers, hospitality industry, law enforcement, prosecutors and victim advocates. Recently Mr. Leighton provided sexual assault crime victim advocacy training in Miami for advocates at police departments, prosecutor’s offices and social service agencies.

For a complete list of Mr. Leighton’s speeches and publications, please go to our Attorney Profile section.

Click here for examples of our pending and finalized negligent security cases.

Disclaimer: The information about past verdicts and settlements of the firm’s cases are based on the unique facts of each case. These amounts reflect the gross recovery in each case (before attorneys fees, expenses and medical costs are deducted). Although these results were obtained by our firm, they may not indicate the success or value of any other case as each case is unique. By clicking on Verdicts and Settlements you are acknowledging that every case is different and each case must be evaluated on its own merits. The information contained here has not been reviewed or approved by The Florida Bar.