In a landmark settlement, insurance companies have agreed to pay $6 million to resolve a lawsuit brought against Kiwanis International and local Kiwanis clubs by seven men who were sexually abused at a Centralia group home for boys decades ago.
Washington state established the Kiwanis Vocational Home in Centralia in 1979 as a residential facility for boys aged 11 to 17 who struggled to adapt to foster families. However, what was intended to be a safe haven for troubled youth turned into a nightmare for many.
Reports of abuse at the Kiwanis Vocational Home surfaced as early as the early 1980s. Boys were subjected to sexual abuse by other boys, staff members, and directors of the facility. In some cases, the boys were sent to work at homes in the community, where they faced further abuse. Shockingly, when one boy called the police for help, the executive director of the home intervened to downplay the report, highlighting the systemic failure to protect the residents.
The recent settlement marks the end of a lengthy legal battle, with the state of Washington having previously paid $29.6 million to settle claims brought by 54 former residents. This settlement underscores the severity of the abuse and the failure of the state to protect vulnerable youth.
The lawsuit against Kiwanis International and local Kiwanis clubs alleged that the organizations were aware of the abuse and mismanagement at the facility but failed to take action to protect the residents. The settlement was reached just before the trial was set to begin in Pierce County Superior Court.
Kiwanis argued in court that the local clubs had no direct involvement in the day-to-day operation of the boys home, which was overseen by an entity called Lewis County Youth Enterprises. While the board members of this entity were required to be Kiwanis members, the boys ranch maintained that it was not responsible for the facility's operations.
The plaintiffs sought to hold Kiwanis entities accountable for the abuse suffered by the boys, alleging that Kiwanis knew of the abuse allegations but allowed the facility to remain open. This case highlights the importance of accountability and oversight in protecting vulnerable individuals from abuse and neglect.
If you or someone you know experienced similar abuse to the Kiwanis Vocational Home and wish to pursue legal action, our experienced team is here to help. Contact us today at (206) 335-3880 or (646)-421-4062 for a confidential consultation and take the first step towards seeking justice and closure.
In a landmark legal settlement, the Archdiocese of Los Angeles has agreed to pay $880 million to resolve over 1,300 claims of childhood sexual abuse. This payout is the largest ever made by a Catholic diocese, signaling the ongoing reckoning within the Church over decades of sexual misconduct involving clergy and other Church officials.
The settlement stems from a wave of lawsuits filed after California passed a law in 2019 that temporarily removed the statute of limitations for sexual abuse claims, allowing survivors to file cases regardless of how long ago the abuse occurred. The three-year window, which ended in December 2022, prompted thousands of claims, overwhelming many dioceses across the state.
The Archdiocese of Los Angeles has agreed to pay a historic $880 million settlement to 1,353 survivors of childhood sexual abuse, marking the largest known single payout by a Catholic diocese. The settlement covers claims of abuse dating back to the 1940s, involving clergy, laypeople, and priests from religious orders and other dioceses who were active within the Los Angeles archdiocese.
This agreement comes in the wake of California’s 2019 law that temporarily lifted the statute of limitations on childhood sexual abuse claims, allowing victims to file lawsuits up to the age of 40. Over 3,000 cases were brought forward against Catholic institutions in California during the three-year window, leading to numerous settlements and the bankruptcy filings of several dioceses, including those in Oakland, San Francisco, and San Diego.