Amicus Advocacy
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.
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 [email protected].
Briefs
Savan Desai v. West-Windsor Plainsboro Regional School District
CHILD USA filed this brief supporting the Plaintiff's appeal to the New Jersey Superior Court - Appellate Division. The Defendant claims the New Jersey Child Sexual Abuse Act did not excuse the notice of claim requirement for claims against government entities. CHILD...
MCKINNEY v. GARY SCOTT GOINS and THE GASTON COUNTY BOARD OF EDUCATION
CHILD USA wrote this amicus brief urging the North Carolina Supreme Court to reverse a three-judge panel's decision invalidating the SAFE Child Act's revival window for child sexual abuse claims under the North Carolina State Constitution. In this brief, CHILD USA...
JOSEPH KASTNER v. JOHN SA DOE, ET AL.,
In 2019, the New York General Assembly passed the Child Victims Act that revived child sexual abuse claims for one year. Defendant in this case challenged, the constitutionality of the Act. With its pro bono partner, Lowenstein Sandler LLP, CHILD USA wrote this amicus...
VIRGINIA L. GIUFFRE v. PRINCE ANDREW, DUKE OF YORK, a/k/a ANDREW ALBERT CHRISTIAN EDWARD, in his personal capacity
In 2019, the New York General Assembly passed the Child Victims Act that revived child sexual abuse claims for one year. Due to the judicial barriers caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, including court closures, the Legislature extended the revival window for an...
JONATHAN R., MINOR, by NEXT FRIEND, SARAH DIXON, ET AL., v. JIM JUSTICE, IN HIS OFFICIAL CAPACITY AS GOVERNOR OF WEST VIRGINIA, ET AL.
In July 2021, the Southern District of West Virginia granted the Governor of West Virginia’s Motion to Dismiss a case brought by a group of children who are or were placed in the foster care system. Despite the plaintiffs’ claims that the foster care system in West...
EMMETT W. CALDWELL v. CITY OF NEW YORK; NYC BOARD OF EDUCATION, et al.
In August 2021, the Southern District of New York dismissed the case of the plaintiff, finding that the provisions of the New York Child Victims Act that revive claims for child sexual abuse are limited to those for which the plaintiff is under age 55. CHILD USA wrote...
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...
COURTNEY WILD V. UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT FOR THE SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF FLORIDA
On September 24, 2007, federal prosecutors entered into a secret, pre-indictment non-prosecution agreement (NPA) with Jeffrey Epstein to resolve multiple civil claims for sexual abuse, including those of Courtney Wild. CHILD USA and the Marsh Law Firm wrote this...
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....
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...
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...
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...