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(USGovernment-News.Com, August 01, 2012 ) Providence, Rhode Island – Rhode Island child abuse attorney Timothy J. Conlon is petitioning the Massachusetts legislature to pass House Bill 469. The bill extends the statute of limitations for civil child sexual abuse actions from three years to 25 years after the victims turn 18. Conlon urges all people who care about stopping child sexual abuse to join him in voicing their support of this measure.
The legislature will close next week and might not vote on the bill; if so, Conlon vows to step up his campaign through next fall. Unfortunately, the current version of the bill removed increased penalties for mandated reporters who failed to disclose suspected abuse. This omission is particularly disappointing in light of the released Penn State report and the sentencing of Msgr. William Lynn, the first Catholic official to be imprisoned for failing to report sexual abuse perpetrated by a priest under his supervision.
Attorney Conlon, an advocate for children’s rights, understands the legislation is not perfect, but still believes the remaining provisions to be extremely important. “It takes an unimaginable amount of courage to speak out and admit you were a victim of child sexual abuse. Allowing only three years after reaching age 18 is insufficient to afford some victims the time they need to come forward. This legislation is important to not only victims, but society as a whole as it allows more opportunity to expose sexual abuse perpetrators and those who prioritize institutional reputations over the safety and wellbeing of children.”
Rhode Island family lawyer Timothy Conlon has worked on behalf of child sexual abuse victims for over 30 years. In his early years of practice, Conlon had been horrified to learn how common children were abused in institutionalized settings and how frequently such abuse was ignored and concealed. Since then, he has worked within the civil justice system to hold perpetrators and enablers accountable, and in recent years has championed several dozen successful civil cases for victims of clergy abuse and abuse by other persons in a position of trust, including coaches, teachers and medical professionals.
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