Category: Sexual Abuse

BG Files New Lawsuits on Behalf of 193 Survivors of Childhood Sexual Abuse in the Cook County, IL Juvenile Court System

Bailey Glasser and co-counsel have filed another round of new complaints on behalf of 193 survivors of sexual violence and abuse against the State of Illinois; the Office of the Chief Judge for Cook County, Illinois; the Illinois Department of Corrections and Department of Juvenile Justice employees, alleging these entities failed to protect children from rampant sexual abuse perpetrated by adult employees at the Cook County Juvenile Temporary Detention Center (formally known as the Arthur J. Audy Home).

As alleged in the complaint filed on July 22, 2024, between 1995 and 2022, hundreds of youths were victimized at JTDC. This filing comes on the heels of two other lawsuits filed on May 6 and June 3 of this year arising from state-operated Illinois Youth Centers, now raising the total number of plaintiffs to nearly 400.

Partner D. Todd Mathews, lead counsel on the Bailey Glasser litigation team, stated at yesterday’s press conference: “This abuse has been going on since 1995 and it is still going on to this day. It must stop… We will continue to have press conferences and file lawsuits until the folks in Springfield and Cook County hear us and do something.”

The Bailey Glasser team also includes founding partner Brian A. Glasser; partner and Mass Tort Practice Group Leader David Selby; and lawyer Samira Bode. Levy Konigsberg serves as co-counsel for the plaintiffs.

MEDIA REQUESTS: To schedule an interview with counsel or for other media inquiries, please contact Joe Carey at joe@careystrategiccommunications.com.

To read more about the lawsuit please visit here.

To learn more about how we fight on behalf of survivors of sexual abuse across the country, please visit here.

#SexualAbuse #Survivors #CookCounty #BaileyGlasser

BG Files Two New Lawsuits Against the State of Illinois on Behalf of Survivors of Sexual Assault & Abuse


Bailey Glasser has filed two new complaints on behalf of 95 men and 13 women survivors of sexual abuse against the State of Illinois, alleging that the Illinois Department of Corrections and Department of Juvenile Justice failed to protect them from sexual abuse perpetrated by adult employees at Illinois Youth Centers. As alleged in the two new complaints filed today, between 1996 and 2017, hundreds of youths were victimized in Illinois Youth Centers, most between the ages of 10 and 17.

Bailey Glasser is on the forefront of lawsuits seeking justice on behalf of childhood sexual abuse survivors and has brought hundreds of similar lawsuits in the State of Maryland on behalf of survivors of abuse in its juvenile hall detention facilities.

Partner D. Todd Mathews, lead counsel on the Bailey Glasser litigation team, stated: “the systemic abuse suffered by our clients while vulnerable minors in the custody of the Illinois Department of Corrections and Department of Juvenile Justice is horrific. We now have three lawsuits representing more than 200 survivors who were intentionally targeted and abused while in state custody, which has impacted every aspect of their lives. We are impressed by our clients’ strength and tenacity in coming forward, and we’re ready to fight for these survivors in court.”

The Bailey Glasser team in this case includes D. Todd Mathews; founding partner Brian A. Glasser; partner and Mass Tort Practice Group Leader David Selby; and lawyer Samira Bode.

MEDIA REQUESTS: To schedule an interview with counsel or for other media inquiries, please contact Joe Carey at joe@careystrategiccommunications.com.

To read more about the lawsuit please visit this link.

To learn more about how we fight on behalf of survivors of sexual abuse across the country, please visit here.

Todd Mathews Discusses IL Abuse Cases on WJPF Newsradio

“Rough stuff”: BG partner Todd Mathews joined WJPF newsradio this morning to discuss our landmark Illinois sex abuse case filed earlier this month on behalf of 95 individuals who suffered sexual abuse as juveniles in juvenile detention facilities across Illinois. In this insightful interview, Todd discusses the status of the case, how more cases are going to be filed, and how many survivors have reported the same kind of abuse by the same people, even when in detention facilities at completely different times. Todd also discusses how a goal is to work with the state to get victims justice for the harms suffered (including treatment and therapy as necessary), and how our clients – all brave survivors who have stepped forward – want this kind of abuse stopped so that no one else has to suffer as they have.

To listen to the full 10-minute interview, visit this link.

To learn more about Todd Mathews visit here.

To learn more about the Illinois lawsuit on behalf of abuse survivors, visit our service page here.

BG Files Lawsuit Against the State of Illinois on Behalf of Survivors of Sexual Assault & Abuse


Bailey Glasser has filed a complaint on behalf of 95 survivors of sexual abuse against the State of Illinois, alleging that the Illinois Department of Corrections and Department of Juvenile Justice failed to protect children from rampant sexual abuse perpetrated by adult employees at Illinois Youth Centers. As alleged in the complaint filed on May 6, 2024, between 1996 and 2017, hundreds of youths were victimized in Illinois Youth Centers.
Bailey Glasser is on the forefront of lawsuits seeking justice on behalf of childhood sexual abuse survivors and has brought hundreds of similar lawsuits in the State of Maryland on behalf of survivors of abuse in its juvenile hall detention facilities.

Partner D. Todd Mathews, lead counsel on the Bailey Glasser litigation team, stated: “The abuse suffered by our clients, then minors entrusted to the care of the State of Illinois, created great suffering, and has reverberated across their lives. We salute their strength and we’re honored to fight for these survivors in court.”

The Bailey Glasser team in this case includes D. Todd Mathews; founding partner Brian A. Glasser; partner and Mass Tort Practice Group Leader David Selby; and lawyer Samira Bode.

MEDIA REQUESTS: To schedule an interview with counsel or for other media inquiries, please contact Joe Carey at joe@careystrategiccommunications.com.

To read more about the lawsuit please visit: https://www.baileyglasser.com/news-BG-Files-Lawsuit-Against-State-of-Illinois-on-Behalf-of-Survivors-of-Sexual-Abuse

To learn more about how we fight on behalf of survivors of sexual abuse across the country, please visit: https://www.baileyglasser.com/services-sexual-abuse#Overview

Sharon Iskra Argues Case Before Supreme Court of Appeals of West Virginia

On April 17, BG partner and Institutional Abuse and Neglect team leader Sharon Iskra argued before the Supreme Court of Appeals of West Virginia in support of a $3.5 million jury verdict rendered against a residential care facility on behalf of two developmentally disabled individuals who had been abused as children.

As April is Child Abuse Prevention Month as well as Sexual Assault Awareness Month, Sharon was proud to argue on behalf of her clients before the Supreme Court of Appeals of West Virginia.

To learn more about Sharon and her work, visit this link.

To learn more about the work of Bailey Glasser on behalf of the survivors of sexual abuse, visit here.

Partner D. Todd Mathews Named a “Super Lawyer”

BG partner Todd Mathews has been named a 2024 Super Lawyer. Todd dedicates his career to fighting for people injured by defective products like asbestos, hernia mesh, 3M’s combat earplugs, as well as on behalf of survivors of sexual abuse. We thank everyone who took part in Todd receiving this recognition. For more about Todd and his work, please visit here.

In addition to this accolade, Todd is a member of the National Trial Lawyers Top 100, an invitation-only organization composed of premier trial lawyers from each state or region, and is a lifetime member of the Million Dollar Advocates Forum, one of the most prestigious groups of trial lawyers in America. In 2024 he was also recognized by Best Lawyers in America in three categories: Mass Tort Litigation / Class Action – Plaintiffs, Medical Malpractice Law – Plaintiffs, and Product Liability Law – Plaintiffs.

Partner Todd Mathews on the Mass Tort News Legalcast

In the most recent episode of the Mass Tort News Legalcast, Bailey Glasser partner Todd Mathews discusses how the firm is helping survivors of sexual abuse at the hands of the State of Maryland acting through the Department of Juvenile Services and its predecessors find closure, healing, and accountability.

The discussion also touches on other states’ approaches to addressing child abuse cases, with some implementing limited windows of opportunity for survivors to file claims. Todd points out the challenges of addressing these cases, especially the need for a sensitive and compassionate approach, avoiding the re-traumatization of survivors.

Switching gears, the conversation touches on recent developments in the legal field, particularly in relation to Johnson & Johnson (J&J) and its potential third bankruptcy filing. Todd expresses his concern and disapproval of such actions, which he views as an abuse of the bankruptcy process to delay compensating victims further. He also addresses the viability of the Camp Lejeune docket, highlighting how recent issues with case attrition and unethical practices in the legal field can impact its resolution.

Bailey & Glasser, LLP Fighting for Maryland Sex Abuse Survivors

This has been a significant week for survivors of sex abuse in the state of Maryland. On Sunday, the new Maryland Child Victims Act of 2023 went into effect, eliminating the statute of limitations for child sexual abuse cases. On the same day, Bailey Glasser and a consortium of 3 other law firms filed six lawsuits against the State of Maryland on behalf of over 50 survivors abused while in Maryland’s juvenile justice system.

We are grateful for the all the public interest in the fight for justice for these survivors. If you’d like to learn more about these lawsuits or our team of attorneys, you can read our press release and other media coverage here.

The Bailey Glasser team includes Sharon F. Iskra leader of the Institutional Abuse & Neglect team, founding partner Brian A. Glasser, Mass Torts Practice Group leader David L. Selby II, and mass torts partner D. Todd Mathews. The other law firms representing the survivors include Walsh Law PLLC; Rhine Law Firm; and DiCello Levitt.

#survivorsrights #ChildVictimsAct #BaileyGlasser

BG Lawsuits Covered in Washington Post Article: “Lawsuits Allege Dozens Were Sexually Abused in Md. Juvenile Facilities”

BREAKING NEWS: “It’s a tragedy, but it’s also a tremendous opportunity to do the right thing,” said Sharon Iskra, Bailey & Glasser, LLP’s Institutional Abuse & Neglect practice team leader in the Washington Post article, “Lawsuits allege dozens were sexually abused in Md. Juvenile facilities.”

The article discusses the Maryland Child Victims Act, which took effect Sunday and eliminates the civil statute of limitations, and spotlights the six lawsuits filed on the same day by Bailey Glasser along with three other law firms on behalf of hundreds who survived systemic abuse as children while in the Maryland juvenile justice system.

Sharon, one of the lead attorneys for the survivors, discusses the need for a trauma-focused approach to her legal representation, saying, “On every level, it’s our effort, it’s our hope, our desire — and we’re doing everything we can — to make this a trauma-informed intake process.”

Other members of the Bailey Glasser team include firm founder Brian Glasser, partner Mass Tort Practice Group leader David Selby II, and mass tort partner D. Todd Mathews. Co-counsel include Alexandra Walsh and Kim Channick of Walsh Law; Joel Rhine and Martin Ramey of Rhine Law Firm; and Nick Horattas of DiCello Levitt.

Read the full article here.

#survivorsrights #sexualabuse #childvictimsact #baileyglasser

Lawsuit Filed Against State of Maryland on Behalf of Juvenile Hall Sexual Abuse Survivors

Bailey Glasser and three other law firms filed suit against the State of Maryland yesterday on behalf of over 50 male and female survivors of horrendous sexual abuse suffered while minors in the custody of the Maryland Department of Juvenile Services.

The Bailey Glasser team is comprised of partner and Institutional Abuse & Neglect team leader Sharon Iskra, founding partner Brian Glasser, Mass Torts Practice Group Leader David Selby II, mass torts partner Todd Mathews, and Cary Joshi. Our co-counsel firms include Walsh Law PLLC; Rhine Law Firm; and DiCello Levitt.

As alleged in our lawsuits, previous administrations of the State of Maryland systemically allowed the rape, sodomy, threats, retaliation, and egregious abuse (physical, mental, and emotional) of hundreds of youths in its juvenile detention centers over decades. The State failed to monitor and, more importantly, failed to fix its system despite numerous external investigations documenting serious abuse dating back to 1967, prior class action lawsuits alleging civil rights and Constitutional violations, and explicit complaints from the children themselves.

We look forward to working with the current Maryland state administration in pursuing justice and closure for these survivors and an improved system that protects today’s children.

For more, please visit here.

#justice #baileyglasser #protectchildren #survivorsrights

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