SCOTUS Could Reshape Title IX Employee Rights
For decades, Title IX has been synonymous with students. It is the law that transformed athletics, expanded educational opportunities for women and girls, and became one of the most powerful tools for addressing sexual harassment and sexual violence on college campuses. But the Supreme Court is now poised to answer a question with enormous consequences: […]
Minnesota Finally Makes Child Grooming a Felony
For years, survivors, advocates, and child protection experts have said the same thing: grooming is not harmless behavior. It is not simply “crossing boundaries.” Nor poor judgment. It is often the first step in a deliberate process that predators use to gain access to children. Now, Minnesota has taken a major step forward. On May […]
Honoring Women’s History Month by Confronting Sexual Violence
March is Women’s History Month, a time to celebrate the achievements, resilience, and leadership of women throughout history. But it is also an important moment to reflect on the challenges that women and girls continue to face, including the persistent and devastating reality of sexual violence. This year’s theme, Leading the Change, honors the bravery and commitment […]
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 […]