AMICUS ADVOCACY PROJECT
The Amicus Advocacy Project
An amicus brief comes from the Latin term “amicus curiae” which means “friend of the court.” Although most amicus briefs are persuasively written to support one side of a case, they allow interested, third parties the chance to provide the court with information that is relevant and helpful to the case but that may not otherwise be brought to the court’s attention.
CHILD USA files amicus briefing in cases whose outcomes impact the civil rights of children. We have been delighted to work with numerous attorneys across the United States, and welcome partnerships with law firms to work on pro bono matters with us.Â
If you are an attorney who needs amicus support or would like your firm to have the opportunity to work on cutting edge amicus briefs involving child protection, please contact us at info@childusa.org.
BRIEFS
AMANDA BRANDT v. ROY POMPA
In July 2021, the Supreme Court of Ohio accepted a petition to consider whether the cap on non-economic damages for child sexual abuse claims is unconstitutional. CHILD USA and the American Professional Society on the Abuse of Children wrote this amicus brief, arguing that Ohio’s cap on...
M.R. v. ESCONDIDO UNION SCHOOL DISTRICT, ET AL.
In 2019, the California Legislature amended Cal. Civ. Proc. Code § 340.1 to revive previously-expired civil claims for child sexual abuse. The Defendant argues that the revival provisions are unconstitutional under the California Constitution as applied in this case. CHILD USA wrote this amicus...
J.D. v. ROMAN CATHOLIC DIOCESE OF BROOKLYN and ST. FRANCIS OF ASSISI ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH, BOROUGH OF QUEENS, CITY OF NEW YORK and BISHOP NICHOLAS DIMARZIO
In 2019, the New York General Assembly passed the Child Victims Act. Defendants in this case have challenged whether a claim for Breach of Fiduciary Duty can apply to the relationship between the Plaintiff and the Defendant. CHILD USA wrote this amicus brief, arguing that the unique dynamics of...
MICHAEL TAYLOR V. THE PINEY GROVE VOLUNTEER FIRE AND RESCUE DEPARTMENT, INC. AND MICHAEL TODD PROGRAM
In 2019, the North Carolina General Assembly passed the Sexual Assault Fast Reporting and Enforcement Child Act. Defendants in this case have challenged the constitutionality of the Act’s provisions that revive claims for child sexual abuse, claiming they have a vested right in a statute of...
WE THE PATRIOTS USA, INC.; CT FREEDOM ALLIANCE, LLC; CONSTANTINA LORA; MIRIAM HIDALGO; ASMA ELIDRISSI v. CONNECTICUT OFFICE OF EARLY CHILDHOOD DEVELOPMENT; CONNECTICUT STATE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION; CONNECTICUT DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC HEALTH; BETHEL BOARD OF EDUCATION; GLASTONBURY BOARD OF EDUCATION; STAMFORD BOARD OF EDUCATION
Connecticut law requires that students receive certain vaccinations prior to enrollment in public or private school and removed a religious exemption to that law on April 28, 2021. Plaintiffs in this case have argued that that the broad and neutrally applicable vaccine requirement designed to...
JANE DOE RP v. MARIANIST PROVINCE OF THE UNITED STATES AND MARIANIST FAMILY CENTER
CHILD USA wrote this amicus brief in support of Plaintiff’s request to proceed under pseudonym on her claims arising from childhood sexual abuse by two clergymen while on Defendants property. The Defendants in this case challenge Plaintiff’s request for anonymity absent a protective order from the...
MAHANOY AREA SCHOOL DISTRICT v. B.L.
CHILD USA signed onto this amicus brief in support of Plaintiff’s argument that off-campus speech that is neither threatening nor harassing should not be entitled to First Amendment protection. In this case, Plaintiff made non-threatening, non-harassing statements using a social media account...
TAMMY SMATHERS, INDIVIDUALLY & ON BEHALF OF THE ESTATE OF HARMONY BROOKLYN RAYNE CARSEY v. RICK GLASS, EXECUTIVE DIRECTORY OF PERRY COUNTY CHILDREN’S SERVICES ET AL.
An Ohio toddler died as a result of on-going severe abuse and neglect, and evidence suggests that Perry County Children Services (PCCS) is responsible. The lower Ohio courts refused to allow the toddler’s estate and the grandmother their day in court, disregarding evidence that PCCS could have...
S.Y./W.F. V. ROMAN CATHOLIC DIOCESE OF PATERSON AND SALESIANS OF DON BOSCO a/k/a SALESIAN SOCIETY a/k/a SALESIANS DON BOSCO CANADA AND EASTERN USA
A series of amicus briefs were written in response to Defendants’ challenge to the constitutionality of the revival window provision of N.J. Stat. Ann. §§ 2A:14-2b, which allows victims of child sex abuse to bring civil claims, even when their claims have previously expired. CHILD USA argues that...