Latest news with #youthDetention
The Independent
7 hours ago
- Politics
- The Independent
New Hampshire lawsuit seeks to stop politicization of youth center abuse victims' fund
Lawyers representing hundreds of men and woman who claim they were abused at New Hampshire's youth detention center filed a class action lawsuit Friday seeking to prevent the independent administrator of the state's settlement fund for victims from being replaced with a political appointee. Lawmakers created the settlement fund in 2022, pitching it as a 'victim-centered' and 'trauma-informed' alternative to litigation that would be run by a neutral administrator appointed by the state Supreme Court. But the Republican-led Legislature changed that process through last-minute additions to the state budget approved Thursday and signed into law by Gov. Kelly Ayotte on Friday. Under the new provisions taking effect July 1, the governor will have the authority to hire and fire the fund's administrator, and the attorney general — also a political appointee — would have veto power over settlement awards. In affidavits filed with their complaint, the lead plaintiffs said the change amounts to a bait and switch that reignited the skepticism they initially felt about the settlement process but tried to put aside. 'I never would have shared the full story of what happened to me if I did not think I would be heard by someone impartial,' said a woman identified only as Jane Doe, who said she ran away from home to escape sexual abuse only to be further abused in state custody. 'I feel incredibly betrayed by the state's actions, but this is just the latest in a long list of betrayals by the state, so maybe I should not be surprised,' she said. 'This also makes me wonder whether the state will next betray the promise of confidentiality, because it seems like their word does not mean anything to them.' Another plaintiff, Andrew Foley, described being diagnosed with PTSD, not from his time as a combat soldier in Iraq but from the physical and sexual abuse he suffered as a child. 'As I understand it, the State will now decide for itself how much my claim is worth. That is the opposite of a fair process,' his affidavit said. 'As I always believed, the state cannot be trusted.' Neither Ayotte nor Attorney General John Formella responded to requests for comment Friday. More than 1,300 people have sued since 2020 alleging that they were physically or sexually abused in state custody as children, most of them at the Sununu Youth Services Center in Manchester. Only one case has gone to trial, resulting in a $38 million verdict, though the state is trying to slash it to $475,000. Two other cases have been settled for $10 million and $4.5 million. The state also has brought criminal charges against former workers, with two convictions and two mistrials so far. Many of the alleged victims put their lawsuits on hold and applied to the settlement fund, which caps payouts at $2.5 million. As of March 31, 296 cases had been settled, with an average award of $543,000, according to the most recently available statistics. The lawsuit filed Friday seeks a temporary restraining order to prevent the governor from firing the current administrator, former state Supreme Court Chief Justice John Broderick.
Washington Post
10 hours ago
- Politics
- Washington Post
New Hampshire lawsuit seeks to stop politicization of youth center abuse victims' fund
CONCORD, N.H. — Lawyers representing hundreds of men and woman who claim they were abused at New Hampshire's youth detention center filed a class action lawsuit Friday seeking to prevent the independent administrator of the state's settlement fund for victims from being replaced with a political appointee. Lawmakers created the settlement fund in 2022, pitching it as a 'victim-centered' and 'trauma-informed' alternative to litigation that would be run by a neutral administrator appointed by the state Supreme Court. But the Republican-led Legislature changed that process through last-minute additions to the state budget approved Thursday and signed into law by Gov. Kelly Ayotte on Friday.
ABC News
09-05-2025
- Entertainment
- ABC News
Angela Heathcote
Sought-after pieces of coral are sold all around the world, including at rave-like trade shows known as "frag swaps". The insatiable demand for a "piece of the reef" has put coral harvesting in the spotlight. 2h ago 2 hours ago Fri 9 May 2025 at 7:15pm For three years a NSW government department fought to stop the release of footage of an alleged assault on a teenager at a youth detention centre. Wed 7 May Wed 7 May Wed 7 May 2025 at 3:09am Popular video games are utilising harmful tactics to trap kids into spending more cash and more time gaming, a new consumer report finds. Thu 17 Apr Thu 17 Apr Thu 17 Apr 2025 at 12:29am Australian schooling is changing, with more than 1.5 million students now attending private schools, new data reveals. Mon 17 Feb Mon 17 Feb Mon 17 Feb 2025 at 6:45am The number of Britons in Australia on working holiday visas is at an all-time high after the eligibility was broadened, but experts warn the relaxing of rules is "discriminatory". Thu 30 Jan Thu 30 Jan Thu 30 Jan 2025 at 7:55pm News of dangerous animal encounters tend to travel very fast in Australia, but the sometimes "racist" victim blaming that follows can compound the mental anguish of survivors. Wed 27 Nov Wed 27 Nov Wed 27 Nov 2024 at 7:21pm In a fossil-rich pocket of northern New South Wales, two pioneering palaeontologists have spent decades digging up rare relics of the past, striking deals with collectors and opal miners and unlocking our understanding of deep geological history. Fri 1 Nov Fri 1 Nov Fri 1 Nov 2024 at 4:28am In his home workshop, Melbourne engineer Girius Antanaitis designed a way to help stranded whales who could not be saved. He wants to use his skills to make the world a better place, especially for wildlife. Sun 7 Jan Sun 7 Jan Sun 7 Jan 2024 at 10:44pm Back in 1982, Ashley Miskell was given a sea urchin following a trip to Lord Howe Island. He's since become an international expert on the creatures, running one of the world's only dedicated sea urchin museums. Tue 1 Aug Tue 1 Aug Tue 1 Aug 2023 at 12:16am Alan Henderson grew up idolising Sir David Attenborough. Now he works alongside him as a bug wrangler — and knows all the tricks of the trade. Sun 18 Dec Sun 18 Dec Sun 18 Dec 2022 at 9:36pm Rehabilitating birds of prey that have been shot, poisoned, caught in netting or hit by cars is a challenging role, especially when sharp talons and beaks are involved. Tue 29 Nov Tue 29 Nov Tue 29 Nov 2022 at 4:50am
