Source: http://wapleshanger.com/practice-areas/rights-of-children/
Timestamp: 2019-04-20 10:32:54+00:00

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Children are one of the most vulnerable populations in our state, with many unmet legal needs. Over the last decade, our firm has litigated important cases on behalf of children, and devoted legal expertise and energy in professional activities that have led to substantial changes in public policy. Over the next decade, our firm will continue to devote major resources in litigating, advocating and working toward public policy reform in matters critical to the well being of children. Immediate areas of concern include: right to stay in school, reforming school discipline and ending zero tolerance policies, specialized training for juvenile justice and law enforcement officials on interacting with youth, reforming or improving detention center or correctional conditions of confinement, ending disproportionality and racial disparities in government services for children, securing adequate mental health care, and improving access to counsel for all youth. Please visit our Children and the Law page for additional resources.
Merriweather v. Marion County Sheriff Federal lawsuit brought on behalf of a juvenile inmate who was sexually assaulted by another inmate, contending that jail staff knew the perpetrator was a threat to him and failed to protect him. Settlement achieved for client in 2007.
Phelps v. City of Indianapolis et al. Federal lawsuit alleging excessive force and false arrest of a father and two sons, all with developmental disabilities, while en route to school on a bus carrying students with special needs. Settlement achieved for our client in 2004.
Ratliff v. Cohn State court lawsuit brought on behalf of 14 year-old girl at Indiana Women's Prison challenging her incarceration with adult offenders on both state and federal constitutional grounds. The trial court’s dismissal of the case was reversed on appeal by the Indiana Supreme Court on federal constitutional grounds, prompting the ultimate settlement that resulted in her removal from an adult correctional facility in 1998.
Sater v. Indiana Department of Correction State court lawsuit brought on behalf of youth who was assaulted by an officer at a juvenile correctional facility, involving claims for battery, negligence, negligent retention, and 14th Amendment deliberate indifference to reasonable bodily integrity needs. Settlement achieved for client in 2010.
Timberman v. Clay Consolidated School Corp. State court lawsuit brought by parents of teen who died during basketball practice after he had not been medically cleared to play. Jury verdict was achieved for our client, and we prevailed on appeal in 2009, when the Indiana Supreme Court issued a watershed ruling that children should be presumed not to be contributorily negligent under Indiana law.
Weeks v. Indiana Deaf School Lawsuit brought by a former student who was physically and sexually assaulted by another student allegedly known to the school to be a dangerous sexual predator who had previously threatened and intimidated the victim and other students. Settlement achieved for our clients in 2001.

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