Until its closing in 2022, Naselle Youth Camp was a school and detention center in Washington state designed to hold male juveniles. At the time, hundreds of young people lived at the facility, where the stated goal was to rehabilitate them and prepare them for adulthood.
Instead, the camp ultimately closed after being the subject of numerous child sexual abuse allegations. If you are a survivor of sexual abuse at this facility, now is the time to act. A compassionate attorney can help you navigate the process of joining the Naselle Youth Camp sexual abuse lawsuits.
Abuse at Naselle Youth Camp
Naselle Youth Camp has been the focus of a number of investigations and civil lawsuits involving allegations of child sexual abuse. To date, hundreds of former residents of the facility have spoken out or filed civil lawsuits related to their treatment. Their allegations vary, with many claiming that guards and counselors subjected them to sexual violence. Efforts by the juveniles to report these assaults were often met with retaliation.
The lawsuits that survivors have filed so far do more than expose the abhorrent treatment children faced at these facilities. They also bring attention to the negligent hiring practices by Naselle Youth Camp that allowed dangerous predators into positions of trust.
Some of these lawsuits have already been successful. According to the Seattle Times, the State of Washington paid out a settlement of over $800,000 in 2021. It is important to note that this sexual abuse lawsuit represented only a fraction of survivors from Naselle Youth Camp.
Compensation for Survivors
There is no question that child sexual abuse can lead to trauma that lasts into adulthood. When a survivor files a lawsuit and prevails, they could be entitled to a wide range of damages.
In most injury cases, an important consideration is the cost of medical care. While these damages are available to the victims of sexual abuse, other types of compensation are often a bigger priority. This is especially true years after the abuse occurred. In addition to treating physical wounds, a settlement could also cover the cost of therapy and counseling.
Victims can also seek damages for their pain and suffering. This includes the physical pain they experienced as part of the assault as well as the emotional scars that can last for years to come. The distress and anguish of being victimized as a child can be life-altering, and survivors deserve to be compensated. Other damages might include:
- Lost wages
- Diminished earning potential
- Loss of enjoyment of life
These lawsuits give the survivors of Naselle Youth Camp sexual abuse a path to justice that might not otherwise be available.
Deadlines for Filing a Lawsuit
The statute of limitations is a legal deadline that applies to sexual abuse cases. Often, plaintiffs pursuing injury claims only have a few years to file suit, but state law extends this deadline for child victims of sexual assault in some cases.
Since June 2024, the statute of limitations for childhood sexual assault claims has been eliminated in Washington, allowing victims time to process what happened and prepare themselves to pursue justice against their abusers.
Unfortunately, this law only applies to actions that occurred on or after June 6, 2024. With Naselle Youth Camp closing in 2022, survivors of sexual abuse at that facility are bound by the old deadline for filing a lawsuit. For people who were juveniles at the time of their abuse, this time limit usually expires on their 21st birthday.
Talk to a Lawyer About a Sexual Abuse Lawsuit Against Naselle Youth Camp
If you experienced sexual abuse while a resident at a juvenile detention facility, you deserve justice. The fact that Naselle Youth Camp is no longer operating does not shield those responsible from liability for what happened to you.
Let Phillips Law Group help you get the compensation you deserve. Call today to discuss joining the Naselle Youth Camp sexual abuse lawsuits.
Available 24/7