Prep School Ex-Students Call for 2nd Probe Into Abuse Claims

[Periwinkle]

Short answer, yes, the schools are liable. There have been many similar cases in recent years. This is not a theoretical issue for debate.

Search for “Rhode Island child abuse settlements.” http://www.providencejournal.com/article/20141121/news/311219992

In 2002, the Rhode Island diocese reached a $13.5 million settlement with victims (36 lawsuits.) The abuses, from the newspaper’s timeline, seem to fall in the same rough period of time, 70s to 80s.

The Catholic Church has been hit with many lawsuits, due to child abuse. http://www.bishop-accountability.org/settlements/

The courts have found them liable for not reporting abusers.

There are penalties for mandated reporters who do not report child abuse.

Approximately 48 States, the District of Columbia, American Samoa, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands, and the Virgin Islands impose penalties on mandatory reporters who knowingly or willfully fail to make a report when they suspect that a child is being abused or neglected.2 (…) In seven States and American Samoa, in addition to any criminal penalties, the reporter may be civilly liable for any damages caused by the failure to report.6

https://www.childwelfare.gov/pubPDFs/report.pdf(I left in the sections which apply to Rhode Island. More information at the link.)

In Massachusetts, the District Attorney (in 2004) indicted Groton School’s entire board for failure to report one student’s claim.