During 2017 and 2018, the ridesharing company Uber received 5,981 reports nationwide of serious sexual assault allegedly inflicted by Uber drivers. These allegations ranged from groping to rape. When releasing the data, the company noted that these incidents represent a small fraction of rides compared to the total of 2.3 billion during those two years.…
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Notwithstanding recent high-profile criminal prosecutions for sexual abuse, individuals in positions of power continue to take advantage of unsuspecting and often underaged victims. Four separate civil lawsuits have been initiated against Terry Flemings, a 71-year old wealthy businessman. The most recent alleges that Flemings lured the victim to his residence with promises of money and…
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Many young women are victimized on college campuses. Unfortunately, one in three will be sexually assaulted at some point during their college years. Due to the high risk of sexual assault on college campuses, it is essential that students and parents arm themselves with the facts. Knowledge combined with smart actions is the key to…
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According to data from the FBI, midair reports of individuals being sexually assaulted have almost doubled in the past two years. In fact, reports of sexual assault on airplanes have steadily climbed every year since 2014. Incidents tend to be more prevalent on redeye or overnight flights, where offenders have more opportunity in darkened cabins.…
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A week-long Arizona human trafficking sting resulted in 37 arrests of suspected child sexual predators last week. The undercover sting, known as ‘Operation Broken Hearts,’ was a multi-agency collaboration between Homeland Security, the Arizona Attorney General’s Office, and the Police Departments of Phoenix, Tempe, Chandler, and Mesa. According to an official statement released by…
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In New York, a judge has ordered Johnson & Johnson to pay $120 million in damages in a talcum powder lawsuit. The award is in favor of a couple who filed the lawsuit after the wife developed a type of cancer strongly associated with asbestos exposure. It is a reduction from $325 million that a…
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Sexual abuse cases use different terminologies– sexual abuse, sexual assault, sexual harassment, and rape. Sometimes they are used interchangeably, but they have different legal meanings. Any type of sexual offense is unacceptable but knowing what to call it can make the difference between winning and losing a civil court case. How Does Arizona Define…
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Before May of 2019, a victim of child sexual abuse in Arizona had only two years past the date of their 18th birthday, to file a lawsuit against the perpetrator or their employer. For survivors, that was devastating. By the time they turned 20, they no longer had a legal avenue for filing a civil…
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As part of the screening process, rideshare companies like Uber and Lyft take steps to avoid hiring drivers that may present a risk to their passengers. Unfortunately, in some cases, these companies fall short in the screening process. One of those failures involves an Uber driver accused of committing sexual assault and kidnapping in Scottsdale,…
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Mainstream social media sites are being utilized to prey on underage victims for sex trafficking. Showard Law Firm is currently accepting cases involving sex trafficking victims recruited this way. Victim Files Lawsuit Against Social Media Giant Facebook “Jane Doe,” a 15-year-old sex trafficking survivor from Houston, sued Facebook in 2019 after three years…
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