Abuse Victims Back Statute of Limitations Reform Legislation

By Amanda Hoskins
FOX 56
May 15, 2019

https://fox56.com/news/local/abuse-victims-back-statute-of-limitations-reform-legislation

Victims of sexual abuse by a Pennsylvania doctor are asking for their chance to file suits against him and the institutions they say covered it up.

Backing a Senate bill introduced in April, the victims took their stories to the state capitol Wednesday.

Just this week New Jersey's governor signed a statute of limitations bill into law, making it the 11th state to do so.

Victims hope the more they share their stories, the more pressure it will put on lawmakers in Pennsylvania to act too.

“He fondled and penetrated me as an 11 year old,” explained Ashley Krzanowsky.

She said what happened to her inside Dr. Johnnie Barto's office 22 years ago has scarred her.

Her sister has the same scars.

“My mother was informed to go over there. And he blocked her view, stood right in front of her and did his piece,” said Anne Plummer.

Wednesday, they and other victims shared their stories and they called for support for Senator Katie Muth's statute of limitations reform legislation.

“I speak for my fellow sister and brother survivors when I say the agencies that employed Dr. Barto knew about his abuse,” said Amanda Dorich, who also said she was abused at the hands of Barto.

While Barto was convicted and sentenced to more than 100 years in prison, many victims didn't get the chance to file criminal charges against him. And even more can't file civil claims because their statute of limitations timed out.

“It’s important to be heard and to have your voice and to have people acknowledge that they knew what was going on a did nothing to help you,” explained Jennifer Goetz.

Goetz said she always has a feeling what happened to her inside Dr. Barto’s office as a child was out of the ordinary

SB 540 sits alongside four other passed house bills aimed at helping victims. But the freshman Senator saif her bill goes even further, eliminating the statute of limitations completely and not delaying a two-year retroactive window.

“I think we've delayed for over 20 years so at this point the four house bills are a cowardly negotiation. We can do better,” explained Muth.

Muth said me she has spoken with the chairperson of the Judiciary Committee and expects to have a hearing for the bill so victims can share their stories.