Some six million children are the victims of child abuse ranging from neglect to beatings to sexual assault each year in the United States, with an estimated 1,800 – nearly five per day – resulting in death.
In some of the cases, those responsible for youngsters’ welfare perpetrate crimes against them. In other cases, public agencies fail to properly monitor caseloads or caregivers so that the children are protected.
Kline & Specter, PC, is concerned about the welfare of children. With more than 35 attorneys, five of whom have worked as city prosecutors, the law firm has the resources to investigate potential incidents against children and has successfully taken civil action against those responsible for harming society’s most vulnerable citizens.
If you have concerns about a possible case of child abuse in Pennsylvania, New Jersey or Delaware, you may want to contact one of our child abuse lawyers to get a free evaluation of the case.
Among the child abuse lawsuits handled by Kline & Specter was one involving the highly publicized case of convicted child abuser Jerry Sandusky. Tom Kline represented Victim No. 5, obtaining in 2013 the first confidential multi-million dollar settlement with Penn State University for a child who was sexually abused by the former assistant football coach. (See coverage)
In another case, Kline in 2011 won a settlement expected to reach $3.8 million against an unlicensed therapist who had sex with a teenage patient. The agreement also compelled the therapist to make a lengthy public admission and apology in open court and to never practice again in the United States. (See coverage)
Among other cases litigated by Kline & Specter are several in which the City of Philadelphia’s Department of Human Services was responsible for supervising children’s care and well-being. The scope of problems at DHS came into wide public view with a series of articles by The Philadelphia Inquirer examining the deaths of more than 20 children.
Kline & Specter cases include those involving abuse to children as young as infants and others as old as 17 in which the suspected abusers were relatives or acquaintances of caregivers.
Nationally, a report of child abuse is made every 10 seconds – and many more cases are never reported. One national group estimates that between 60-85 percent of child fatalities due to maltreatment are not recorded as such on death certificates.
In some cases, especially when a government agency fails in its responsibility to safeguard children, what is needed is a law firm with the experience and resources to investigate possible abuses. Contact a child abuse attorney today.