Heroux v Carpentier, et al
Rhode Island Superior Court litigation stating claims against a Rhode Island priest and the diocesan hierarchy for child sexual abuse, and raising claims of fraud and concealment on the part of the hierarchy. This is one of at least 30 such cases presently before the Rhode Island Superior Court. Mr. Conlon chairs the Plaintiffs' Counsel Committee.
Documents referenced in the complaint prepared by Attorney Richard Cappalli and Attorney Conlon regarding the prior knowledge of Rhode Island's bishops also are available for public review.
Smith v O'Connell, et al
Federal Court litigation stating claims against a now-deceased Rhode Island priest and the diocesan hierarchy for child sexual abuse. This litigation involves the validity of the Church's assertion of "first amendment" protection from child sexual abuse claims, the "repressed memory" issue as it relates to adult claims of child sexual abuse, the "false memory syndrome" defense to such claims, and allegations of fraud and concealment on the part of the diocesan hierarchy. Plaintiffs are pursuing appeals from a district court ruling that their conditions as a result of sexual abuse did not "disable" them for the purposes of Rhode Island's statute of limitations tolling provision, G.L 1956 (1997 Reenactment) §9-1-17.
In re: Donald G., et al
Family Court litigation on behalf of all children placed by the RI Department for Children, Youth and Their Families in a locked residential treatment facility operated by a private corporation. This litigation led to a Rhode Island Family Court consent decree freeing 14 status offenders from confinement in the facility, and establishing standards that still govern the detention and treatment of juvenile non-offenders and status offenders.
***** and ***** v. D'Amario
Family Court litigation on behalf of a mother and father of a special needs child alleging traumatization of the child by the State Department for Children, Youth and Families. Litigation resulted in an injunction restricting the state child welfare agency's contact with the child, and yielded a 95 page report recommending systemic changes in training of child abuse investigators.
Gill v. Gelineau, et al, Doe v. Gelineau, et al; Doe v. Gelineau, et al; Roe v. Gelineau, et al
Counsel of record for 4 children and the families of three of those children in pending civil actions arising out of allegations of ongoing sexual abuse, and failure to report same in a defunct orphanage formerly operated by a corporation under the aegis of the Diocese of Providence.
Tavano v. Messa et, al; LaFlamme v. Messa, et, al; and Ferrara v. Messa, et, al
Companion civil actions brought on behalf of child victims and their families against Thomas Messa, a former Providence School teacher convicted of six counts of second degree child molestation, and various administrators in the Providence school system for negligence in their supervision of Messa.
Doe v. McKenna et, al;
A related matter arising out of negligent supervision of Messa. In a ten-page decision released May 8, Superior Court Judge Alice Gibney referenced repeated incidents, years before Messa's arrest, in which school officials learned that Messa had been accused of touching students on the rear end or in the private parts. These incidents were not reported by school officials, or documented in Messa's personnel file. Judge Gibney therefore rejected Ricci's argument for immunity and summary judgment.
Croce v. RCA Service Corp., et al;
Irons v. RCA Service Corp., et al;
Maldavir v. RCA Corp., et al
Companion civil actions pursued on behalf of former residents of a private residential treatment center formerly located in Cranston, RI.
Nadeau v. Nadeau
The firm represents father in Rhode Island trial court and appellate proceedings arising out of an interstate contested custody matter with crossing allegations of psychological abuse. In an eighteen page decision released July 21, the Rhode Island Supreme Court ruled that the Parental Kidnapping Prevention Act prohibits mother from removing children from the jurisdiction, alleging abuse, and then maintaining out-of-state custody proceedings. Trial is anticipated in August of 1998.
Herbert R. v. Barbara R.
Attorney Conlon was brought in after a hearing on the merits divided 13.5 million dollars '50/50,' and used computer forensics to document substantial investment assets that were not divided. Although the party that failed to disclose these assets claimed they had only 'speculative value,' a review of computer files revealed detailed net worth statements prepared by that party in advance of the divorce showing the marital estate at roughly 24 million.
The innocent party was awarded 55% of the whole, and counsel fees as a result.
Attorney Conlon has presented several seminars for attorneys on the use of computers in litigation, and electronic discovery and computer evidence in Divorce and Family Law.
