“Lara St. John, the famed violinist who alleged that she was sexually abused by her teacher at the prestigious Curtis Institute of Music in the 1980s, on Monday joined calls for statute of limitation reform in Pennsylvania, the same day the legislature moved on a compromise still criticized as not going far enough,” writes Ellie Silverman in Monday’s (11/18) Philadelphia Inquirer. “ ‘The most important thing for me, obviously, is justice for people who were children at the time,’ St. John said … standing alongside [leaders of] CHILD USAdvocacy.… On Monday, a state Senate committee moved on bills that would make it easier for victims to seek justice. Pennsylvania law says criminal charges for child sexual abuse must be brought before the victim turns 30, and civil lawsuits before the victim is 50.… The Senate Judiciary Committee on Monday approved measures that raise the age of victims for civil suits to 55, remove the statute of limitations for criminal cases, and call for a two-year window for victims to file civil suits against offenders and institutions if the statute of limitations has expired…. The bills will now go to the Senate floor for a vote expected this week.”
Posted November 20, 2019
