Victims of Sexual Abuse Attorney Jeff Herman is Today’s Honoree, Jeff won the nation’s largest jury verdict for a sexual abuse case in 2011.

by Sol Reform 2 Replies latest watchtower child-abuse

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  Sol Reform

  In 2011, Herman won a $100 million verdict for a victim of Father Neil Doherty, a priest of the Archdiocese of Miami accused of drugging and raping church youths. The result was the nation's largest jury verdict for a sexual abuse case in 2011 and one of the year's top 20 verdicts overall.

  Victims of Sexual Abuse Attorney Jeff Herman is Today's Honoree

  Posted on November 14, 2012

  Jeff Herman is a nationally recognized attorney for victims of sexual abuse. Herman first garnered national attention for his work representing victims in hundreds of clergy sexual abuse cases around the country, but if recent headlines are an indicator, his work is far from over.

  In 2003, Herman represented the victim in the first sexual-abuse lawsuit against the Archdiocese of Miami allowed to go to trial. In 2011, Herman won a $100 million verdict for a victim of Father Neil Doherty, a priest of the Archdiocese of Miami accused of drugging and raping church youths. The result was the nation's largest jury verdict for a sexual abuse case in 2011 and one of the year's top 20 verdicts overall.

  Today, the trailblazing attorney continues the seemingly endless fight against sexual abuse cover-ups in institutions like the Catholic Church, Boy Scouts of America, schools, daycares, hospitals, and residential care facilities.

  Herman devotes 100% of his practice to representing victims of sexual abuse, he is active in several non-profit organizations dedicated to the prevention of child sex abuse, and he travels around the country to speak out on behalf of survivors in conferences and national media appearances.
  Herman has been recognized for his unique child forensic interviewing technique and he trains professionals from various child welfare organizations on helping sexually abused children heal through disclosure.

  According to Herman, victims of sexual abuse often find healing and empowerment in coming forward with their stories.

  "The most important thing I can do for a survivor is to help them heal," Herman said, "To do that I try to empower them; I help them go through that process and take back control in their life. There's no reason to suffer in silence."

  Jeff Herman has been featured in The New York Times, USA Today, Forbes and New York magazine and he has contributed to The O'Reilly Factor, MSNBC, and CNN. While on MSNBC discussing the Jerry Sandusky sex abuse scandal, Herman coined the term "pedophile speak", describing the way pedophiles talk about and justify abusing children.

  Herman is the founder of The Sexual Abuse Victims' Equal Rights (SAVER) Foundation, a non-profit organization dedicated to providing pro bono legal services to survivors of sexual abuse, rape and incest. He also serves on the Board of Directors of the KidSafe Foundation, a non-profit organization dedicated to preventing the sexual abuse of children. He was recently selected by JAFCO (Jewish Adoption and Foster Care Options) to serve as the master of ceremonies in their 3rd annual Chanukah Miracles Luncheon.
  Visit Jeff Herman for more information.
  Posted in Award, celebrity, honoree, Recognition | Tagged Archdiocese of Miami, Attornery, Boy Scouts of America, Catholic Church, equal rights, expert, heal, JAFCO, Jeff Herman, Jerry Sandusky, media personality, non profit, penn State, prevention, priest, save lives, SAVER, sexual abuse, Today's Honoree, trailblazer, Victims | Leave a comment

  http://todayshonoree.com/

  http://www.hermanlaw.com/blog/2012/11/14/attorney-jeff-herman-named-todays-117522
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  Scott77

  Could be a good idea to add Attorney Jeff Herman to Conti's defense team? Just a thought. What do you think?

  Scott77
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  Sol Reform

  Archdiocese of Miami attacks attorney Jeffrey Herman in his latest lawsuit against them.

  Archdiocese of Miami Hit With New Sex Abuse Lawsuit, Responds By Targeting Attorney

  By Michael Miller Thu., Nov. 15 2012 at 2:52 PM

  Former Miami priest Neil Doherty has been accused of molesting another child This afternoon, local attorney Jeffrey Herman held a press conference to announce yet another lawsuit against the Archdiocese of Miami. According to the suit, Father Neil Doherty -- now in prison -- drugged, molested, and raped then 15-year-old Miami resident Dennis Montero.

  Before the press conference, however, the Archdiocese sent reporters a list of "questions that you should keep in mind" for the attorney including "Is the Archdiocese of Miami the only organization/person Mr. Jeffrey Herman sues?"

  "It seems to me like it's deflecting from the issue," says Herman, "which is why was Neil Doherty working there for decades when he was molesting children?"

  In his lawsuit, Montero says he met the priest in 1984 at the Keystone Trailer Park in Miami:Doherty took Dennis and his friend to a trailer, where another adult male lived. In this trailer, Doherty gave Dennis wine. The wine was drugged and caused Dennis to lose consciousness. When Dennis awoke, he was naked with Father Doherty also naked sleeping next to him. Dennis could feel the residue of semen on his leg. Dennis was confused and upset, and Doherty calmed him down. Father Doherty offered Dennis Money.The alleged abuse continued for 18 months. According to the suit, "Doherty also took nude photos of Dennis... 'blessed' Dennis, made him feel special, and told him that his job was to share God's love."

  Montero is not the first person to claim that Doherty molested him. Far from it, in fact.
  Back in 2008, New Times reported on allegations that Doherty has abused dozens of young men. A year ago, a local jury issued a $100 million settlement against the priest for abusing as many as 26 teenage boys.

  Herman handled that lawsuit, along with many others against the Archdiocese. In its email sent out earlier today, the Archdiocese listed these questions for reporters:-

  Is the Archdiocese of Miami the only organization/person Mr. Jeffrey Herman sues?-

  Who are the other people that Mr. Herman sues?-

  Why doesn't he hold press conferences for those people he is suing?-

  Has Mr. Herman spoken with Fr. Doherty's personal attorney?-

  Does Mr. Herman know where Fr. Neil Doherty is right now?

  Herman says the Church's attempts to target him are dangerous. "I don't know what they are doing," he says. "It appears to me that they think that I just pick on them, when in reality I pick on any institution that protects child predators. They just seem to have a lot more of them."

  "Instead of making it safe to come forward, they attack me, they attack the victims. It's disgusting," he continues. "I'm a big boy. I can take it. I'm not the one who was abused... but I am the voice for victims who have been abused. And these attacks will not silence me. It just makes me want to fight harder for these victims."

  The Archdiocese released a statement on the new lawsuit this afternoon.
  "The Archdiocese of Miami's policy on sexual abuse allegations is very clear: a report is made to the State Attorney's office; our internal Archdiocesan Review Board reviews the allegation; and pastoral care and counseling are offered to any alleged victim," according to the statement. "As always, the Catholic Church's concerns are for the victims and a prevailing sense of justice and healing. Over these past ten years, the Archdiocese has been forthcoming and taken steps to keep children safe through training and background screenings of all its employees, volunteers, clergy and teachers."
  Follow Miami New Times on Facebook and Twitter @MiamiNewTimes. Follow this journalist on Twitter @MikeMillerMiami.

  http://blogs.miaminewtimes.com/riptide/2012/11/archdiocese_of_miami_hit_with.php