Because of the sensitive nature of sexual abuse, many settlements include confidentiality of the amounts paid to victims and the names of the parties. Case names and amounts shown reflect publicly available information only.
$10M+
Clergy abuse settlement, Kansas City, MO
$10M+
Federal class action, military veterans
$1.29M
Verdict — therapist sexual misconduct
40+
Years exclusively representing victims
Bartlesville, Oklahoma — TV Broadcast
Bartlesville, Stan Spero — TV Broadcast
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Selected Cases
Representative Verdicts & Settlements
Miscellaneous Cases of Clergy Sexual Abuse
Court: Kansas City, Missouri
Outcome: Settlement
After commencement of numerous cases against the Catholic Church, a settlement process was initiated resulting in individual awards totaling Ten Million Dollars. Each case involved sexual abuse of minors by Catholic priests. Attorney Spero stated: "Their only real concern throughout this process has not been monetary concerns, but to protect children in the future." — NBC Action News, 8/20/08.
Rand v. Prudential and USA
Court: U.S. District Court, Massachusetts
Outcome: Confidential Settlement
Successfully recovered through a federal class action lawsuit against a major insurance company and the government for collecting excess insurance premiums. Millions of dollars in insurance benefits were paid to thousands of military veterans who had been double-charged for coverage as they transitioned from active duty into reserve status.
Riley v. Presnell
Court: Essex Superior Court
Outcome: Confidential Settlement
Young adult male patient was sexually abused and turned into a Valium addict by a psychiatrist, then abruptly abandoned when the psychiatrist relocated. The Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court held in Riley v. Presnell, 565 N.E.2d 780 (Mass. 1991) that the statute of limitations does not begin to run until the patient discovered — or reasonably should have discovered — the injury caused by the therapist's conduct. A landmark precedent for victims of professional exploitation.
Jane Doe vs. Jeffrey Leighton
Court: Hampden Superior Court, Case No. 91-233
Outcome: Verdict — doubled under M.G.L. c. 93A
Unlicensed hypnotherapist sued for violating professional boundaries with a vulnerable patient. The jury returned a $550,000 verdict. On July 6, 1994, the Court applied the Massachusetts consumer protection statute (M.G.L. c. 93A) and doubled the award to $1,100,000. The Court also enjoined the defendant from practicing hypnotherapy until he presented a proper supervision proposal.
John Doe and Mary Doe v. G.F.
Court: Middlesex Superior Court
Outcome: Verdict
Licensed social worker negligently provided psychotherapy to an adult male while also treating the patient's wife. The therapist took sexual liberties with the husband during individual, group, and couples sessions. Evidence showed the therapist forced the husband into a homosexual relationship under the guise of therapy. Husband and wife both recovered damages.
Jane Doe v. MD et al (2 cases)
Court: Worcester Superior Court
Outcome: Combined Settlement
Psychiatrist sued for negligently treating a female patient suffering from multiple personalities. Numerous professional boundary violations ensued including sexual acts and assault. In a related case involving the same treater, the psychiatrist violated professional boundaries by dining with a patient, giving gifts, and allowing the patient to work on other patients' medical files. Plaintiffs also sued for negligent supervision.
Jane Doe v. John Doe
Court: Middlesex Superior Court
Outcome: Confidential Settlement
Married patient underwent bioenergetic psychotherapy with a therapist and his supervisee. The therapy involved extensive physical contact between providers and patient, causing extensive financial loss and emotional distress. A consortium claim was also asserted on behalf of her husband.
Jane Doe v. John Doe
Court: Middlesex Superior Court
Outcome: Confidential Settlement
Various female patients became involved in treatment with a psychiatrist who considered himself a "guru." This provider improperly directed his patients' lives, persuaded them to make career and lifestyle choices he alone considered suitable, frequently spoke about his personal problems during sessions, improperly socialized with patients, and utilized them as employees.
Jane Doe vs. R.
Court: Berkshire Superior Court
Outcome: Confidential Settlement
Litigation commenced against an elderly minister serving as a pastoral counselor. The patient suffered from multiple personality dissociative disorder. The counselor committed numerous boundary violations, engaged in a sexual relationship with one of the patient's alters — a minor child — and the patient was also a member of the minister's congregation. Consortium claims were filed on behalf of the patient's husband and family members.
Jane Doe v. Brallier
Court: Middlesex Superior Court
Outcome: Confidential Settlement
Suit commenced on behalf of a couple who adopted children with a history of horrific sexual abuse. Following the adoption, the children continued their abuse, which spread to others in the family. Suit was brought against the adoption agency and others who had not disclosed the children's troubled history to the adoptive parents.
K. v. XXX University et al
Court: Middlesex Superior Court
Outcome: Settlement
Female worker suffered serious injuries from carbon monoxide poisoning while working as a waitress/baker in a small restaurant within a larger commercial mall. Suit was commenced against the owner of the property and managing agent for negligent maintenance. The plaintiff was a highly educated Ivy League college graduate who suffered from depression, physical limitations, and impaired earning capacity.
Jane Doe v. Bustamante
Court: Massachusetts
Outcome: Confidential Settlement
A girl receiving therapy for post-traumatic stress syndrome reported that the therapist made sexual advances during sessions. The state Board of Registration of Psychology found that the therapist told the patient he wanted to have sex with her and appeared to have a personal relationship with her beyond any conceivable therapeutic need. The board revoked his license for at least three years. Attorney Spero stated: "The man is a rogue. He has no sense of limits or boundaries." — Associated Press, August 29, 2000.
Jane Doe v. Dr. P.
Court: New Jersey Superior Court
Outcome: Confidential Settlement
Suit commenced against a plastic surgeon who negligently conducted breast implant surgery, severely disfiguring the patient and causing significant pain and suffering.
XYZ vs. John Doe
Court: Middlesex Superior Court
Outcome: Confidential Settlement
Female patient entered into combined therapy involving counseling with biofeedback training. The therapist violated professional boundaries and commenced a personal and sexual relationship with the patient, causing great emotional distress.
Additional Results
Further Recoveries On Behalf Of Clients
Recovered from a psychiatrist who, through deceit and trickery, manipulated a troubled female patient into a sexual relationship.
Recovered from the Massachusetts state trial court for sex discrimination to gain back pay and employment rights for a female court officer.
Recovered from a therapist specializing in bioenergetic treatment for sexualizing treatment with the patient, causing depression and suicidal ideation.
Recovered from a therapist who was counseling a gay patient regarding childhood abuse issues while simultaneously sexually abusing the patient.
Recovered for a client, her husband, and children against a psychiatrist who negligently supervised a clinician's therapy with patients beyond his skill and competency.
Recovered from a male therapist who treated a married couple in individual and marriage counseling, seducing the male patient into a homosexual relationship and causing sexual identity issues, depression, and suicidal ideation.
Recovered from a psychiatrist who violated professional boundaries by buying valuable gifts at low prices from a disabled patient and selling unneeded property to the same patient.
Recovered from a licensed social worker who extorted sex from a patient under the guise of therapy.
Recovered in a case involving a sexual and social relationship between a male therapist and a female patient whom the therapist had also treated with her husband in couples counseling.
Recovered in two New Hampshire cases involving psychological malpractice and sexual misconduct by therapists, with various claims against the State and higher educational institutions.
Recovered in a multi-party psychological malpractice case in St. Louis, Missouri, against a prominent educator and psychologist, institution, and Board of Directors, involving multiple boundary violations.
Recovered in a psychological malpractice case against a licensed doctor/lawyer/psychologist who diagnosed a patient with Borderline Personality Disorder and then expedited termination of therapy to employ the patient as live-in help.
Recovered in multiple psychiatric malpractice cases against a prominent local psychiatrist charged by more than fifteen patients with engaging in sexual misconduct during psychoanalysis and psychotherapy over several decades.
Recovered in a multi-party psychotherapeutic malpractice case against a drug and alcohol abuse counselor involving sexual misconduct, questionable diagnoses, and various claims against the managed care organization and corporate employer.
Recovered against a hospital mental health worker and his hospital for an improper personal/sexual relationship with a recently released former patient.
Recovered in several cases against parents for sexually abusing their children and for negligently permitting the incest to occur. Attorney Spero also recovered from the family psychologist for failing to report the abuse discovered through therapy with the child.
“Their only real concern throughout this process has not been monetary concerns, but to protect children in the future.”
Attorney Stanley Spero — NBC Action News, 8/20/08
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