Sexual Abuse
On this page, we will discuss sexual abuse civil lawsuits against the Charles H. Hickey School (the “Hickey School”) juvenile detention facility in Maryland. Over the years, awful things have happened to many children at Hickey. Many child detainees at the Hickey School were sexually abused by staff.
A new Maryland law now enables these victims to come forward and file a civil sex abuse lawsuit against the state to get financial compensation.
Our lawyers are handling these claims and will fight for victims to receive full compensation for the harm that has been done to them.
If you were mistreated at a juvenile detention hall like the Hickey School, contact our lawyers today for free consultation. Contact us online or call us at 800-553-8082.
The Hickey School
The Hickey School, a juvenile detention center under the jurisdiction of the Maryland Department of Juvenile Services, is situated in Parkville, Maryland. This facility traces its origins to the mid-19th century when it was established as the “House of Refuge” on Frederick Avenue in Baltimore City. This marked the inception of juvenile detention practices in the state that separated juvenile offenders from adult convicts.
In the early 20th century, the facility underwent significant transformations, including a relocation to its current premises on Old Harford Road and a renaming to the Maryland Training School for Boys. This move symbolized a pivotal shift in the state’s approach to juvenile detention, emphasizing reform and rehabilitation.
The facility was later renamed the Hickey School in 1985 in honor of Charles H. Hickey, a former Baltimore County Sheriff recognized for his dedicated service to the community. Between 1991 and 2004, the Hickey School’s operations were entrusted to private entities under state contracts, and they were marked by significant operational challenges. In 2004, recognizing the need for direct oversight, the Department of Juvenile Services reclaimed control over the facility’s management.
Currently, the Hickey School accommodates male juvenile offenders, categorized into those awaiting court proceedings or placement into treatment programs and those already sentenced to detention. The committed residential component of the school was closed in November 2005.
Despite its historical evolution and attempts at providing a structured environment, the facility has faced criticism for discontinuing its “treatment program,” raising concerns about the adequacy of rehabilitative efforts. Juvenile detainees are housed in dormitory settings, receiving educational and medical services, yet the effectiveness and quality of these provisions have come under scrutiny.
More specifically, there are scores of allegations of rape, sexual assault, child abuse, and other unimaginable suffering from the employees of the Hickey School.
New Lawsuits Allege Sexual Abuse at Charles Hickey School
Earlier this year, a new Maryland law called the Child Victims Act was enacted. This law eliminated the statute of limitations for civil lawsuits involving child sexual abuse. It enabled victims of childhood sexual abuse to bring lawsuits decades after the fact.
The Child Victims Act empowers victims to hold institutions accountable for enabling or failing to prevent abuse. Victims no longer face the challenge of deadlines to file a lawsuit that previously barred them from seeking justice. This new legal landscape has shifted the focus to the Hickey School’s responsibility for the heinous acts committed by its staff and the state’s duty to provide a safe environment for juvenile detainees.
Shortly after the new law took effect, a group of over 50 individuals filed a civil lawsuit alleging that they were victims of sexual abuse at the Hickey School and several other Maryland juvenile detention facilities, such as the Waxter School.
The lawsuit alleges that certain staff members at Hickey School and other facilities sexually abused and assaulted the victims when they were detainees at the detention center. In most cases, the sexual assaults occurred while the victims were locked in their rooms at the Hickey School.
Victims of Child Sex Abuse Can Now Get Compensation
Individuals who were victims of child sexual abuse or assault at the Hickey School or any other juvenile correctional facility can now bring civil claims and get financial compensation and settlements.
Under Maryland’s new law, the Child Victims Act of 2023, it doesn’t matter how long ago the sexual abuse occurred; victims are still able to file a civil lawsuit at any time. The new law removes all statute of limitations time bars previously applied to these cases.
How is Sexual Abuse Defined?
Sexual abuse or sexual assault is legally defined as intentional sexual contact (either directly or through clothing) of the intimate parts for degrading or humiliating the victim or sexually gratifying the abuser. This definition covers everything from forcible rape to indecent exposure. Compensation is warranted for all these crimes.
The critical element that defines all types and categories of sexual abuse or assault is the lack of consent. Without consent, any form of sexual contact is actionable as sexual abuse or assault. Children (under the age of 18) lack the legal capacity to give consent to sexual contact. Therefore, any intentional sexual contact by an adult with a minor is necessarily considered sexual abuse.
Holding the Hickey School Liable for Abuse
The Hickey School and the Department of Juvenile Services have an obligation to ensure that juvenile detainees at the facility are safe and not subjected to sexual assault and sexual abuse by staff or by other detainees.
The Hickey School habitually failed to protect detainees adequately. This means that the Department of Juvenile Services can be held liable for negligence in a sex abuse civil lawsuit.
Settlement Value of Hickey School Sex Abuse Lawsuits
The settlement value of sex abuse lawsuits against the Hickey School and other facilities is based on several factors. Below is a list of the primary factors that tend to drive the value of these sex abuse cases up or down.
- Evidentiary Strength: The strength and quality of the evidence showing that sexual abuse happened are one of the most critical factors impacting the value of abuse cases. When there is solid, reliable evidence to substantiate the plaintiff’s abuse allegations, the case has a much higher value. But… that said, these cases may also get bundled into a settlement matrix that ignores evidentiary strength.
- Abuse Severity: The severity and nature of the sexual abuse can also drive the case’s value upward. The frequency and duration of the abuse also come into play here. A case involving a single incident of abuse will be worth less than one involving regular abuse lasting years. A Hickey School settlement matrix will almost certainly include abuse severity.
- Your Lawyer: Who you hire as a lawyer will impact your settlement compensation. The experience and skill of the attorneys representing both the victim and the church or company can influence the settlement process and the final settlement amount.
The Maryland Child Victims Act does impose a maximum cap on the amount of damages that plaintiffs can be awarded in civil cases. When the defendant is a state agency, like the Hickey School, the cap is $890,000.
Contact Us About Sex Abuse Lawsuits
If you are thinking about bringing a sexual abuse lawsuit against a juvenile detention facility like the Hickey School, contact our sex abuse lawyers today for free consultation. Contact us online or call us at 800-553-8082.