Sex abuse scandals bring institutional coverups to light

As the country becomes more aware of the frequency and severity of child sex abuse, we have to look at ways to stop this problem.  Just because #MeToo has received media attention, don’t think for a minute that pedophiles and sexual abuses are stopping their behavior.  These abusers never retire .

Because of this, it is important to find the institutions who have the power to limit or stop sex abuse.  By holding them accountable, we can take away the dark cover under which abusers operate.  Many are given multiple opportunities to abuse and assault because the businesses or institutions fail to protect children and other targets.  Sometimes they don’t properly screen or supervise people who go on to commit these terrible crimes.

John Leighton published “Corporate and Institutional Liability for Sexual Assaults and Sex Abuse” in the The South Florida Legal Guide.  The article highlights the problems facing society with so many instances of sexual assaults and abuse on adults and children, and the fact that many institutions condone or turn a blind eye to such behavior.  This was brought to light most recently in the Penn State football events as well as the Syracuse basketball scandal.  Recently we have seen Michigan State University and the USA Olympic Gymnastic scandals.  Leighton has a long history of representing victims of sexual assault and abuse.  Through the civil justice system these instances can be brought to light and a system of deterrence created to put a stop to what has become multi-generational institutional abuse.

Mr. Leighton represents victims of sex abuse and sexual assaults, adult and child, throughout the United States.  In what can truly be said to span the continent, his successful cases include those from as far away as Wisconsin, Texas and Georgia all the way to Key West, Florida. The author of Litigating Premises Security Cases (West Publishing, 2006), Mr. Leighton lectures around the United States on issues of security and sexual assaults. He was recently elected President of the National Crime Victim Bar Association.  He also chairs the Negligent Security Litigation Group of the Association of Trial Lawyers of America.

Each year Mr. Leighton hosts a seminar series addressing this area known as “Sex, Drugs & Violence: Premises Security and Safety.”  The goal is to educate attorneys, victim advocates, and the public on how to reduce sexual abuse and violent crime on commercial premises while ta the same time providing trial lawyers with the sills and information on how to litigate and try these cases once crimes occur.  Bringing a voice to victims has been a powerful goal for Mr. Leighton for the past 35 years.  As President of the National Crime Victim Bar Association, he hopes to further shed light on corporate and institutional sexual abuse which has permeated our country.

It is only when this abuse stops that we will be able to rest.

Corporate and institutional liability for sexual assaults – SFLG Jan 20121327088740.pdf