On February 6, 2023, RAM Law partner, Jay Mascolo, was successful in winning a jury verdict in the Superior Court of New Jersey against a public entity for its negligence that led to the sexual abuse of a minor by its former employee. The jury verdict was the first in the State of New Jersey under New Jersey’s 2019 landmark law that extended the statute of limitations in civil lawsuits for victims of sexual abuse. The RAM Law trial team included partner, Matthew Bonanno and co-counsel, Michael Pfau and Vincent Nappo of the Pfau Cochrane law firm.
From 1988 to 1994, the client was sexually abused as a minor by a former firefighter of the Perth Amboy Fire Department. The firefighter plead guilty to the crimes, along with those committed against two other victims, in 2019 and was sentenced to prison. RAM Law filed suit against the City of Perth Amboy in 2020 as evidence existed that a portion of the client’s abuse occurred at Perth Amboy firehouses and as a result of negligent supervision. After a 10-day trial, the jury of 8 in Middlesex County agreed and found Perth Amboy negligent. In addition, the jury awarded Perth Amboy to pay the victim $331,000 in damages. This amount was increased to $450,000 under a pre-verdict agreement reached between the parties.
Press Coverage
- Law.com | Lack of Supervision Has Its Cost: Employer of Sexual Abuser Ordered to Pay $450K
- NJ.com | Jury finds N.J. city was negligent when firefighter repeatedly sexually assaulted boy
- TapInto.net | Verdict Reached in Hallmark New Jersey Sexual Abuse Case Against Perth Amboy
- MyCentralJersey.com | Jury rules Perth Amboy is liable for ex-firefighter’s ‘horrific’ child sexual abuse
- MSN.com | Jury rules Perth Amboy is liable for ex-firefighter’s ‘horrific’ child sexual abuse
- Yahoo.com | Jury rules Perth Amboy is liable for ex-firefighter’s ‘horrific’ child sexual abuse
- CanadaToday.news | Jury rules Perth Amboy is liable for ex-firefighter’s ‘horrific’ child sexual abuse
