ST. JOHN’S YOUTH ACADEMY SEXUAL ABUSE LAWSUITS

Fighting For Survivors Sexually Abused at St. John’s Youth Academy

Incidents of abuse forced St. John’s Youth Academy to close in 2022. The scandal raised not only immediate questions about the management of the facility but also broader issues about the juvenile justice system and the safety and treatment of young people confined within it. 

If you or someone you love was a resident of St. John’s Youth Academy and experienced sexual abuse, Levy Konigsberg can help you in your fight for justice. We can help you find out what your compensation options are, and get you everything you deserve. 

History of Sexual Abuse in St. John’s Youth Academy

St. John’s Youth Academy has a troubling history of misconduct. Reports reveal what appear to be significant systemic failures and a lack of proper oversight, fostering an environment where vulnerable youth experienced neglect and abuse.

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

• In February 2013, a staff member named Dwayne Ross allegedly took a 16-year-old youth into the kitchen so they could supposedly do chores. Ross allegedly then initiated sexually explicit conversations with the boy while showing him pornographic images. Ross then allegedly engaged in oral sex with the boy and recorded the sexual act. 

In April 2015, a search warrant at Ross’s home turned up a number of videos and images that showed children involved in sexual activities, leading to his conviction on 10 child pornography charges.

• In October 2022, accusations emerged that personnel at St. John’s Youth Academy had been instigating fights among the youth held there and had been inappropriately involved with them. One youth alleged that a staff member he was accused of assaulting was sexually involved with other inmates, and another female staff member corroborated his claims.

Prompted by these serious allegations, the Department of Juvenile Justice (DJJ) moved to terminate its contract with Sequel Youth and Family Services, the private company that was running the facility. 

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

Florida Sexual Abuse Attorneys

The amount of time that a victim of childhood sexual abuse in Florida has to file a lawsuit depends on the facts and circumstances of the particular case. We recommend that you reach out to us if you have questions about the statute of limitations in your case.  For those who were sexually abused in privately-operated Florida juvenile residential facilities when they were under age 16, and were born after July 1, 1988, there should be no statute of limitations that applies. So, in most cases, this means that a person who experienced sexual assault when under age 16 is permitted to file a civil lawsuit at any time so long as they were born after July 1, 1988 (i.e. the person did not turn age 22 as of July 1, 2010).

Levy Konigsberg is actively investigating allegations of sexual abuse at Florida 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.