“Knowing that I can help others, knowing that this is not going to happen again from this person, is huge.”
After a long and tireless fight for justice, CEASE has secured a verdict of approximately $4.3 million for a client who is a survivor of child sexual abuse and commercial sexual exploitation. With our client’s permission and informed consent, we are honored to share some of her story.
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A parent should protect their child from any foreseeable harm, as is their legal and moral duty. For our client Caroline, home was not a refuge from the dangers and stresses of life, but the headquarters of these dangers. Caroline was abused by her parents from early childhood until the age of 22 in both Quebec and in Georgia. The initial harm of this abuse was twofold. First, Caroline suffered the most horrific abuse a child can suffer. Second, and perhaps more tragically, these actions were perpetrated in a way that prevented Caroline from recognizing them for what they were: sexual abuse.
The memories of Caroline’s trauma surfaced in adulthood. Through counseling, Caroline realized that her experiences were not normal but rather constituted abuse. Ultimately, Caroline made the difficult decision to file a lawsuit against her parents under the Hidden Predator Act of 2015, which provided a 2-year window during which survivors of child sexual abuse could file civil claims against their abusers, even after the statute of limitations had lapsed.
“I would go to bed at night knowing that I needed to [file the lawsuit]. I would wake up in the morning knowing that I needed to do it,” Caroline said in a recent podcast interview with Voice Up for the Voiceless (S2, E14). With the assistance of a personal injury attorney, Caroline filed the initial lawsuit within the temporary window opened by the Hidden Predator Act, ensuring the statute of limitations would not run out. In the meantime, Caroline searched for an attorney specializing in child sexual abuse claims – which she found in criminal and civil trial attorney Senator Esther Panitch, and the Wilbanks CEASE Clinic.
Caroline’s parents sought dismissal of the case, arguing that Caroline’s claims were time-barred, and that the revival provision of the Hidden Predator Act violated Georgia’s constitutional ban on retroactive laws, as well as the Due Process and Equal Protection clauses of both the U.S. and Georgia Constitutions. When the trial court largely denied the defendants’ motions, they filed an appeal. The Georgia Supreme Court granted interlocutory review to determine: 1) whether Georgia or Quebec law should apply; 2) did the Hidden Predator Act revive claims for acts of abuse that did not occur in Georgia; and 3) did the revival of claims violate Georgia’s constitutional ban on retroactive laws, as well as the Due Process and Equal Protection clauses of the U.S. and Georgia Constitutions?
Supervised by CEASE Clinic Director Emma Hetherington (J.D. ’11), Devin Mashman (J.D. ’21) argued on Caroline’s behalf before the Georgia Supreme Court during his third-year under Georgia’s Law Student Practice Act. The court issued an opinion on June 21, 2021, holding that Caroline’s claims could go forward. Significantly, Caroline was able to pursue claims for child sexual abuse that occurred in both Quebec and Georgia. The Court concluded that “OCGA § 9-3-33.1’s definition of childhood sexual abuse is broad enough to cover acts that occurred outside of Georgia.” The Court also held that the open window provision of the Hidden Predator Act “does not violate Georgia’s constitutional ban on retroactive laws or the [defendants’] due process or equal protection rights.”
The impact of this ruling cannot be overstated. The Court’s ruling not only allowed Caroline to go forward with her claims, but could also allow countless other survivors in the state of Georgia future opportunities to seek justice.
Caroline finally received her day in court in April of this year. The case was tried before the Hon. Judge Erica Tisinger of the Carroll County Superior Court. Caroline was represented at trial by second-year law students Hannah Peters and Ellis Schmitt under the supervision of CEASE Staff Attorney Brian Atkinson (J.D. ’13), as well as by CEASE’s co-counsel, Esther Panitch of Panitch Ivory Law Group, P.C. Additional support was provided during the trial by CEASE Social Work Advocate, Jocelyn Crumpton, social work intern Simone Hayes, and Hetherington.
The trial court issued a favorable verdict on May 21, 2025, finding that Caroline’s father had committed acts of Sexual Interference, Sexual Exploitation, Assault, and Invitation to Sexual Touching in Quebec and acts of Child Molestation, Intentional Infliction of Emotional Distress, and Assault in Georgia. The Court issued an award for damages in the amount of $2.49 million (Canadian) for the Quebec claims and $2.49 million (US) for the Georgia claims, for a total award of approximately $4.3 million (US).
“We’ve set a precedent,” Caroline said, reflecting on the verdict in her interview with Voice Up for the Voiceless. “I think the biggest part for me is knowing that I stepped forward. I was able to provide a way for people to engage in the civil courts.”
CEASE is proud to have assisted in the representation of Caroline and help secure this historic verdict. The fight for justice in this case was long, and required the tireless efforts of many individuals. At CEASE, student interns from the School of Law and the School of Social Work form a multidisciplinary team, working collaboratively, using their specialized skills and expertise to support our clients’ legal and emotional needs. Testifying in court can be a nerve-racking experience, particularly when testifying means recalling traumatic events. To help Caroline prepare for this, prior to trial CEASE staff and interns met with her in person to practice cross-examination in a courtroom setting. Caroline described this practice session as “phenomenal, because I was able to walk through what it would look like to be on the stands, I was able to experience it, feel it, grieve it… They were there supporting me, and then the testimony was a week later.” CEASE Social Work Advocate Jocelyn Crumpton and social work intern Simone Hayes worked with Caroline to develop grounding techniques. During the trial itself, they provided Caroline with fidgets, which, together with these grounding techniques, helped her stay focused while in the witness stand and during the defendant’s testimony; during breaks in testimony, they provided Caroline affirmation and further emotional support.
On behalf of Caroline and per her wishes, we would like to acknowledge and thank the many individuals who assisted with this case, including CEASE legal and social work staff and interns.
As we look ahead to the Spring 2026 semester, CEASE looks forward to welcoming its next cohort of law and social work students to continue to advocate for survivors of child sexual abuse.
Written by Alice Hayes, in careful consultation with Caroline.