Hecht Kleeger & Damashek Represent Teenage Victim of Sex Abuse

Digital Journal
September 7, 2012

http://www.digitaljournal.com/pr/872190

A complaint was recently filed with the Supreme Court of the State of New York County of Kings on behalf of a man who, when he was 14 years old, was allegedly molested by one of the staff members at Freedom Village, a home for troubled teens in Upstate New York (Complaint Index No. 17412/12). The victim is being represented by the attorneys at Hecht Kleeger & Damashek, PC. The assailant pled guilty to first degree sexual abuse and endangering child welfare in 2008, according to the U.S. Department of Justice Sex Offender Registry.

Freedom Village is a non-profit organization run in conjunction with Gates Community Chapel of Rochester. Both institutions as well as the lead pastor acted as the employer of all staff members at the time of this incident and had the duty to ensure that all employees were competent to perform their job duties and were also responsible for investigating their backgrounds for criminal behavior.

Hecht Kleeger & Damashek, PC alleged in their complaint that their client was actually at Freedom Village when he was approached by one of the staff members who then proceeded to assault, molest and cause him to be seriously injured. The firm is alleging negligence, recklessness and carelessness that led to the incident happening. The complaint alleges that, if Freedom Village had properly supervised its employees and properly screened them before hiring, then the incident would not have happened.

In New York, according to § 130.65 of the penal code, first degree sexual abuse is sexual contact without the consent of the other party. If the individual is under the age of 17, the age of consent in New York, then sexual contact will automatically be considered sexual abuse. Not only did the assailant plead guilty, but Hecht Kleeger & Damashek, PC is now seeking to hold his employer, Freedom Village and Gates Community Chapel, liable for failing to provide the care necessary so that this incident didn’t happen in the first place. Hecht Kleeger & Damashek, PC is proud to stand up for the rights of sexual abuse victims.

Hecht Kleeger & Damashek, PC is a New York City firm that represents clients who have been wrongfully injured. Since 1999, the firm has obtained more than $100 million dollars on behalf of their clients. They are members of the American Association for Justice and the New York State Trial Lawyers Association. To learn more about the firm, please visit their website at