Always Call Prior Employers During Background Checks: Teacher on Paid Leave for Sexual Abuse Hired to Teach at a Second School

KIPP Academy in Nashville, TN is where Michael Ligon taught 9th grade while on paid administrative leave from another school, STEM Prep, after being accused of kissing a thirteen-year-old student and touching her inappropriately.

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Federal Judge Rules Insurer Must Defend Hotel in Sex Trafficking Case

In a case stemming from a lawsuit filed by a minor under the Trafficking Victims Protection Act, alleging that she was trafficked for sex at a hotel owned by Northbrook, the Judge found, amongst other things: 1. The abuse and molestation exclusion didn’t apply because the minor’s alleged injuries did not arise solely from abuse or molestation; and 2. The assault or battery exclusion was deemed inapplicable as the minor did not allege that physical force was used or threatened against her.

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Instagram Rolls Out New “Safety” Features for Teen Accounts

Instagram will automatically apply new “teen accounts” privacy settings to all users under the age of 18, with 16- and 17-year-olds being able to manually change the app back to their preferred settings, but 13- to 15-year-old users will be required to obtain parental approval for any changes.

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VA Adopts Statewide “Bell-to-Bell” Cell Phone Ban in Public Schools

The Virginia Department of Education released final guidance for a "bell-to-bell" cell phone-free policy in K-12 public schools, to take effect 1/1/25, which aims to reduce distractions, improve student focus, and address mental health issues caused by cell phones and social media.

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OK School District Settles Sexual Abuse Lawsuits of 14 Students for $7.5 Million

Ninnekah Public Schools has agreed to pay $7.5 million to settle a lawsuit filed by 14 Jane Does who accused former girls’ basketball coach Ronald Akins (who has pled guilty to 10 felony charges and is serving prison time) of grooming and sexual assault, and 4 officials of ignoring their complaints.

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H.O.T.E.L. Act Promotes Trafficking Prevention for Federal Travel

The “Halting of Trafficking and Exploitation in Lodging” Act would encourage federal employees traveling for business to choose hotels with anti-human trafficking programs and would ensure that the U.S. government’s preferred accommodations for conferences and employee travel are committed to training staff to recognize, prevent and respond to human trafficking.

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WA Assisted Living Facility Sued After Claiming the Twice Sexual Assault of a Dementia Patient was Consensual

The victim, who can’t walk, needed full-time assistance at Brookdale Senior Living Foundation in Federal Way, Washington, and can’t give consent due to diminished mental capacity, was sexually assaulted twice, on surveillance, by a resident, with staff claiming that she seemed to be “enjoying” herself during the assault.

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Catholic Diocese in Missouri Accused of Concealing Child Sex Abuse in Federal Lawsuit

In a lawsuit filed by 11 individuals, the Catholic Diocese of Springfield-Cape Girardeau is accused of enabling and concealing the sexual abuse of minors by 7 priests and clergy during 1980s and 1990s, only one of whom appears on the diocese's published list of clergy with allegations of abuse.

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