2 hours ago by Cary Barbor (WGCU)
Photo: Artur Aldyrkhanov
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Floridians who may have been sexually abused in New York State will want to know about the extension of a law.
The Child Victims Act, passed in 2019 in New York State, allows people who were sexually abused to file civil charges against their abuser even if the statute of limitations for that particular crime has run out.
The lawsuit identifies the teachers as Ralph Petrozello and Thomas Herman, whom it says taught art at Meadow Hill Elementary School – a Newburgh school that has since closed – and Balmville Elementary. The case names Petrozello as a defendant but not Herman, who died in 2015 at age 75.
Petrozello is now 69 years old and lives in San Diego, according to the lawsuit and public records. Records seem to indicate that he and Herman moved to San Diego in 1976 and lived together until Herman s death.
Petrozello s attorneys deny the allegations and have asked the judge hearing the case to remove their client s name from court documents and replace them with his initials, granting him the same anonymity that the accuser is seeking. Justice Sandra Sciortino hasn t ruled yet on their request.
The Tablet April 14, 2021
My dear brothers and sisters in the Lord,
Sexual Assault Awareness Month, observed each April, is a campaign that aims to increase awareness about the causes and risk factors for sexual assault, empower individuals to take steps to prevent it in their communities, and especially to inform minors of ways to be aware of sexual abuse and how they can protect themselves.
Unfortunately, sex abuse has always been a societal issue. As we have seen in the last 20 years, the Church has been made aware of the sexual abuse by those in its own ranks. We must look forward, however, in finding ways to prevent sexual abuse, especially in institutions. As we know, the Boy Scouts of America had over 96,000 cases of sexual abuse and this entity declared bankruptcy.
Bemus Point Elementary School Teacher Named in Child Victims Lawsuit
A Bemus Point Elementary School teacher has been named in a pending child victims lawsuit for allegations of sexual abuse.
According to a petition filed in
Chautauqua County Supreme Court on Friday, the victim claims they were a student at Maple Grove High School when the abuse occurred. The teacher named in the case is Lori Conti.
Both the
Bemus Point Central School District, the Bemus Point School Board, as well as Conti, are being sued by the alleged victim. The victim is being represented by attorney Jerry Kristal of Buffalo.
Bankrupt Diocese Selling Assets, Closing Schools
April 12, 2021
The Diocese of Rockville Centre (DRVC) has sold its Pastoral Center for $5.2 million, which will be used to pay creditors. It also announced three more schools would not reopen after this school year, in addition to seven grammar schools that have closed in the past year because of declining enrollments.
The sale of the Pastoral Center has been approved by the Bankruptcy Court. The Diocese and the Official Committee of Unsecured Creditors have agreed that all proceeds from the sale will be used exclusively to compensate creditors.
Synergy Holding Partners LLC acquired the five-story office building at the corner of North Park Avenue and Sunrise Highway and the adjacent 58-space parking lot in Rockville Centre, N.Y. As part of the agreement, the diocese will continue to occupy the building until Aug. 31, 2021, while it completes its transition to new facilities. A location for a new headquarters has not been determine