When Survivors’ Names Are Exposed: Why Victim Privacy Must Always Come First
The recent disclosure of unredacted documents tied to the Epstein estate and the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) has triggered a fresh reckoning in how our justice system treats survivors of sexual assault. Dozens of victims found their names and identifying information exposed in publicly-released records, triggering panic, harassment, intrusion and a potent reminder: survivor privacy […]
Florida Sting Highlights the Widespread Epidemic of Human Trafficking
In our ongoing work at Andreozzi + Foote, we know that human trafficking is never a distant headline; it is a brutal, deeply entrenched assault on human dignity and autonomy. The recent law-enforcement action in Pennsylvania and now Florida underscores how pervasive, how hidden, and how urgent this crisis remains. According to a recent article, […]
Minnesota Survivor Pushes for Stronger Grooming Laws and What Parents Need to Know to Protect Their Kids
In Minnesota, survivor Hannah LoPresto* is doing what every system should: shining a light on the gaps that allow predators to keep teaching. After coming forward about being groomed and sexually assaulted by her band director, LoPresto learned that because there was no criminal conviction he still held a valid teaching license. Now, she’s urging lawmakers to […]
Maryland Audit Reveals Foster Children Placed with Sex Offenders
We Must Do Better I wish I could say I was shocked by the latest audit of Maryland’s Social Services Administration, but the truth is, as someone who has spent my career fighting for survivors, this is heartbreakingly familiar. The report found that children in state care were placed in homes where registered sex offenders lived […]
BIPOC Mental Health Month
July is BIPOC Mental Health Month—a time to elevate the unique mental health struggles experienced by Black, Indigenous, and People of Color. This is especially true for those navigating trauma without equitable access to care or justice. At Andreozzi + Foote, we see the lifelong ripple effects that child sexual abuse has on survivors. But what […]
P. Diddy Verdict: A Systematic Failure
When the headlines dropped about P. Diddy and the explosive allegations of sex trafficking, rape, and abuse, the world was shocked at least momentarily. But for survivors and those of us who stand with them, the news about P. Diddy was not a revelation. It was confirmation of what we’ve always known: those with wealth and power […]
NJ Institutions Held Responsible for Staff Abuse
In 2006, the New Jersey Supreme Court ruled in Hardwicke v. American Boychoir School that private organizations can be held liable for sexual abuse by employees. The Court said this applies when the institution acts in place of a parent. The Boychoir School met this standard because it controlled students’ meals, sleep, clothing, and daily routines. The […]
Pennsylvania Schools No Longer Immune
In November 2019, Pennsylvania took a monumental step toward justice for survivors of childhood sexual abuse. Under Governor Wolf, the legislature passed HB 962, which amended the Political Subdivision Tort Claims Act (PSTCA) to create a “sexual abuse exception.” For the first time, public schools could be held civilly liable not just for abuse by […]
Missouri Passes Trey’s Law
A Victory for Survivors, A Warning to Institutions That Shield Abusers Missouri has enacted Trey’s Law a piece of legislation that voids non-disclosure agreements (NDAs) in cases involving child sexual abuse. This law makes Missouri the first state in the nation to categorically bar the use of NDAs to silence victims of child sexual abuse, setting a new […]