This week an internal investigation by Greater Atlanta Christian School in Gwinnett County revealed 10 former students of the private school reported sexual misconduct by three former male employees. The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports that the school sent a letter to current students, staff, families and alumni apologizing for the inappropriate handling of the sexual misconduct reports.
Two of the known incidents happened in the late 1970’s and 1980’s and involved female students in grades 10 through 12 and grades 8 through 11. Another incident was reported in the 2000s when a male employee engaged in sexual misconduct with a 17-year-old student. The letter admits that school leadership at the time of the sexual misconduct did not alert law enforcement or child protective services.
Penn Law is a voice for victims and works for survivors to hold abusers, and the institutions that employ or protect them, accountable. We have represented sexual abuse survivors in lawsuits against the Darlington School in Rome, Georgia and other schools, as well as the Boy Scouts of America, the Catholic Church, and other entities. We pride ourselves on advocating for survivors to prevent others from becoming victims of these horrific crimes.
The attorneys of Penn Law have an understanding of the immense strength and courage it takes to acknowledge the devastating harm caused by sexual abuse. We know there are many emotional obstacles faced by those who seek to hold their abusers and the abusers’ institutions accountable. We are careful to protect survivors and are diligent in our fight to obtain compensation for our clients for damages that last a lifetime.
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Penn Law Attorneys Receive High Accolades On This Year’s Georgia Super Lawyers Listing
Penn Law is a voice for victims handling complex civil litigation in state and federal courts across Georgia and the Southeast.
Our team of attorneys covers cases including wrongful death, sexual abuse, product liability, trucking and auto collisions, medical malpractice, entertainment, and intellectual property cases. We work to make life more livable for clients who have suffered grave and extreme losses.
The firm would like to congratulate our attorneys on being recognized as 2024 Georgia Super Lawyers and Rising Stars: Darren W. Penn and John D. Hadden for inclusion in the Georgia Super Lawyers Top 100; Darren W. Penn, William L. Ballard, Laura H. Penn, and John D. Hadden for being recognized as Georgia Super Lawyers; and Kevin M. Ketner for being named a Rising Star.
Super Lawyers is a rating service where lawyers in each state are asked to nominate the top attorneys they have worked with or observed in action. The approved nominees then go through a rigorous evaluation process with 12 indicators including verdicts/settlements, client representation, experience, awards, community work and other outstanding achievements. The nominees then go through a peer evaluation by practice area. Finally, all candidates are grouped into four firm-size categories allowing solo and small firm lawyers to be compared with other solo and small firm lawyers and large firm attorneys to be compared with other large firm attorneys. Only five percent of all attorneys in a state are recognized as Super Lawyers.
The Rising Stars selection process is just as rigorous with an additional qualifier that all candidates must be attorneys who are 40 years old or younger or have been practicing for 10 years or less. Only 2.5% of all attorneys in Georgia receive this distinction.
Super Lawyers compiles the list of honorees each year to act as a resource for those needing an attorney. The results are published each year and found on the Super Lawyers website (https://www.superlawyers.com).
Help Improve Availability of Information Under Consumer Product Safety Act
Since 2014, the Consumer Public Safety Commission (CPSC) has been trying to amend federal regulations to make it easier for consumers to become aware of unsafe products. This has been opposed by the corporate/manufacturing lobbying interests and trade groups. The effort has received very little support from the consumers it is designed to protect because this is very technical and obscured from daily public attention.
Continue readingHB189: Why A Truck’s Weight Matters
Georgia’s House Bill 189 looks at increasing the weight limit of tractor trailers and loads from 80,000 pounds to up to 95,000 pounds with a special waiver. The proponents of the bill say the weight increase will help with supply chain issues and make Georgia’s weight limits on par with neighboring states and that fewer trips needed for transport will help reduce emissions.
Here’s the Problem: Raising the weight limit is dangerous for Georgians.
Continue readingUS Women’s Soccer Under Investigation for Recent Abuse Allegations
When we think of sexual abuse, we often think of decades old allegations. But this week, an independent report investigating abuse allegations within The National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) and The United States Soccer Federation (USSF) found very recent systemic verbal and emotional abuse and sexual misconduct by coaches.
Continue readingNew federal law eliminates statute of limitations for people who were sexually abused as minors to file civil claims in federal court.
On September 16, 2022, President Biden signed into law the Eliminating Limits to Justice for Child Sex Abuse Victims Act. This Act amends 18 U.S.C.A. § 2255 by eliminating the statute of limitations for survivors of childhood sexual abuse to file civil claims and is the most expansive federal law on childhood sexual abuse. Previously, survivors only had until their 28th birthday to file a lawsuit in federal court.
Continue readingPenn Law’s Sbaity on Treatment Courts for Survivors of Child Sexual Exploitation
Penn Law’s Hannah Elias Sbaity recently co-published a paper in the Mitchell Hamline Law Journal of Public Policy and Practice looking at the effectiveness of Treatment Courts for survivors of the Commercial and Sexual Exploitation of Children (CSEC).
Continue readingScathing Report Released on Sexual Abuse in the Southern Baptist Convention
A comprehensive report released this week by the Southern Baptist Convention (SBC) reveals that the religious governing body has been purposely mishandling sexual abuse accusations against church leaders for more than 20 years. Guidepost Solutions, an outside investigative firm, created the report after analyzing the organization’s response to alleged abuse by church leaders, pastors, church employees, and officials. The report found that survivors who reported abuse were ignored, disbelieved, or met with inaction. The Guidepost report found that many allegations were not only disregarded but some survivors were even intimidated by leaders while their abusers remained protected.
Continue readingPenn Law Attorneys Honored As “Super Lawyers” in Atlanta Magazine
ATLANTA, February 21, 2022 – The attorneys of Penn Law including founder Darren Penn, partner Alexandra “Sachi” Cole and firm attorneys Laura Penn, and William “Bill” Ballard have been recognized by their legal peers for excellence. The four are featured in the March 2022 edition of Atlanta magazine.
Continue readingGA 2022 Legislative Session: Child Victim Protection Act
The recent settlement reached by the Darlington School and 20 survivors of childhood sexual abuse at the hands of Roger Stifflemire, a former teacher and dorm parent at the school, provided compensation and some closure to the survivors and their families. The settlement also confirmed Penn Law’s continued commitment to be a voice for victims.
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