Sex Assault & Abuse Victims Coming Forward in 2017
This year, there has been a boom in the reporting of sex assaults and sexual harassment. Media coverage of sex assault scandals in Hollywood has caused a domino effect. The extensive allegations against Bill Cosby, Harvey Weinstein, etc., have given victims the courage to come forward.
Firm partner Brian Kent is a leading sex assault victims’ lawyer who first helped victims as a sex crimes unit prosecutor in the criminal justice system before he began his career in the civil arena, filing sex assault lawsuits against perpetrators and any entities that harbored them, i.e., churches, schools, medical facilities, etc.
This year, Mr. Kent has obtained significant national and local news coverage. His firm, Laffey, Bucci & Kent, has taken on several high profile sex assault and abuse cases across the country, including multiple lawsuits against Massage Envy, two lawsuits against Penn State as part of the Jerry Sandusky scandal, and numerous others. Here’s a look at recent media coverage of Mr. Kent and his cases.
ABC Good Morning America – Massage Envy Sex Assault Lawsuits
On November 27, 2017, Good Morning America featured one of Mr. Kent’s clients, Susan Ingram, discussing her allegations of sexual assault while at a Pennsylvania Massage Envy. Ingram’s lawsuit is one of several filed across the country alleging that the national franchise is liable. Click here to watch the ABC News video.
The national media attention in the Massage Envy sex assault lawsuits began after a BuzzFeed report which indicated that over 180 women have come forward alleging sexual assault during a massage at a Massage Envy location.
Fox News – Penn State, Jerry Sandusky Sex Abuse
Last week, Brian Kent was interviewed by Fox News about pending lawsuits against Penn State. They involve allegations that Jerry Sandusky sexually abused two men when they were children in the mid-2000s. Sandusky was convicted of sexually abusing 10 boys in the 1990s. One incident occurred on Penn State grounds and was witnessed by a sports assistant who reported the incident to Penn State administrators. But law enforcement was never contacted. Sandusky was arrested some 10 years later, during which time, it’s alleged that he abused Mr. Kent’s clients. See http://www.foxnews.com, Penn State still fighting 2 Sandusky abuse claim lawsuits (December 2, 2017).
Washington Post – Sex Assault at Christian School for Troubled Youth
Earlier this year, attorney Brian Kent was interviewed by the Washington Post about his representation of victims who say they were physically and sexually abused while attending Miracle Meadows in West Virginia. One school official was recently convicted of child neglect.
“In many ways, the children were the perfect victims, said Brian Kent, an attorney for the two former students who has spoken to other victims.” See https://www.washingtonpost.com, A Christian school said it helped troubled kids. It covered up sex abuse instead, lawsuit says. (February 7, 2017).
For more information, visit the PA & NJ Sex Assault Law Library.