BROADSTEP-ACADEMY VENICE ABUSE LAWSUITS

Fighting for Survivors of Abuse at Broadstep-Academy Venice in South Carolina

The people trusted to protect vulnerable children should never be the ones causing them harm. If you or a loved one has been harmed at Broadstep-Academy Venice contact us today.

Abuse Allegations at Broadstep-Academy Venice in South Carolina

Examples of alleged abuse, and of conditions likely to lead to abuse, include the following:

• In November 2022, it was reported that the Department of Health and Environmental Control (DHEC) had received 23 complaints against Broadstep-Academy Venice over the past five years.

In November 2022, arrest warrants revealed two instances of staff members allegedly being physically abusive to children at Broadstep-Academy Venice.

In October 2022, an employee named Rufus Timmons turned over the mattress of a young patient who wouldn’t get up. Timmons then grabbed the child by the neck from behind, squeezed it, and dragged them.

Staff member Tasha Smith hit a minor in the face after the child pushed a roller chair into another employee.

Do I Have a Case?

You may have grounds to file a civil legal action if:

• You were sexually abused by a guard, counselor, nurse, or other youth residential treatment or juvenile detention center staff member.
• The abuse occurred at any youth residential treatment or juvenile detention facility.

Levy Konigsberg represents survivors in civil lawsuits that aim to hold youth residential treatment facilities,  juvenile detention centers, private healthcare companies, and other facility operators accountable for their failures to stop abusive staff members and protect young residents.

As civil claims, these cases are separate from any criminal proceedings that may arise from abuse and focus instead on holding institutions liable for damages. This means you may still have a claim even if:

• Your abuser is no longer alive.
• Your abuser was never charged with or convicted of a crime.

Recoverable Damages in Sexual Abuse Claims

In addition to providing accountability and a sense of justice, civil sex abuse lawsuits allow survivors to recover financial compensation for their damages, which may include:

• Past medical and mental health expenses
• Future mental health expenses, including therapy, medications, etc.
• Pain and suffering
• Emotional anguish and psychological harm
• Lost income
• Other economic and non-economic damages

South Carolina Sexual Abuse Attorneys

The statute of limitations is a law that limits the amount of time you have to start a legal case after something wrong or illegal has happened. Under current South Carolina law, survivors of childhood sexual abuse typically may file a civil lawsuit up until age 27 or three years after the victim realizes that the abuse caused injury–whichever comes later. However, a proposed bill (S 0148) introduced in 2025 offers hope for change. This bill would provide better opportunities for victims to seek justice if passed. If passed, the bill would extend the statute of limitations for sexual abuse to age 59 or 8 years from discovery, whichever is later, and open a 1-year revival window to file civil lawsuits for child sexual abuse.

Levy Konigsberg's experienced attorneys can help evaluate claims under these laws, including those for abuse that occurred years or even decades ago, and explain your rights and options.

Levy Konigsberg is actively investigating allegations of sexual abuse at South Carolina youth residential treatment facilities.

We are committed to protecting the most vulnerable members of our society and seeking justice for survivors of sexual abuse in juvenile detention centers and youth residential treatment facilities. Our experienced team is dedicated to providing legal representation and support to survivors, and we are actively investigating allegations of abuse. We are working tirelessly to ensure that survivors have access to justice and that future generations of young people are safe from harm within these institutions.