Lawsuit:Childplace,Inc.

“Earlier this year, a New Albany woman was convicted of having a sexual relationship with 14-year-old boy and resident of Childplace Inc. in Jeffersonville where the she worked as his caregiver.

Now the boy and his mother are seeking monetary damages from the business via a lawsuit filed in U.S. District Court in New Albany.

Childplace, located along 10th Street in Jeffersonville, is a nonprofit agency that provides residential and foster care services for abandoned, abused and neglected children and adolescents.

Megan Ralston, 26 years old at the time of the sexual abuse, was employed at the business in 2013, when the child — a Jeffersonville High School student — made allegations that the two had a sexual relationship.

The plaintiffs’ attorneys make many negligence claims against Childplace, including that the nonprofit’s supervisors were aware of the inappropriate relationship but failed to stop the sexual activity between Ralston and the child.

According to the complaint, some of Ralston’s co-workers became aware of the sexual relationship with the boy while it was ongoing.

“We allege that they [employees of Childplace] told supervisors of the sexual behavior, not that they should of known, but that they knew,” said Jeff Herman, one the plaintiffs’ attorneys.

Childplace Executive Director Nathan Samuel said Wednesday that he was very limited in the comments he could make as the litigation is ongoing. Samuel did say that Ralston was terminated from the business “almost immediately” after he was first informed of the allegations of the sexual activity by the Jeffersonville Police Department.

“We have and continue to be fully cooperative with any law enforcement investigation since [Childplace] administration was made aware of the issue,” Samuel said.

Herman said damages sought by his clients must exceed to $75,000 to be heard in the court, but it is likely much more money will be paid through a settlement or requested during a jury trial.

“From my perspective, and all I do is sex abuse cases, I believe anytime an adult has sexually abused a child, the damages will run well into the millions of dollars,” Herman said. “Ultimately, a jury will decide what the number is, but we will be seeking a substantial number.”

The plaintiffs — who are not identified by name in the suit — are arguing that the abuse of the child resulted from the Childplace failing to enforce adequate policies and procedures.

“As a direct and proximate result of these breaches of duty, [the boy] has suffered severe psychological, emotional and physical injuries and damages, shame, humiliation, the inability to lead a normal life, regression, lost wages and costs associated with medical/psychological care and treatment,” according to the complaint. “Additionally, the foregoing breaches of duty aggravated and exacerbated [the child’s] pre-existing psychological and emotional conditions.

“The injuries and damages are permanent and continuing in nature, and [he] will suffer such losses in the future.”

CRIMINAL CASE

Ralston pleaded guilty to one count class D felony sexual misconduct with a minor in Clark County earlier this year. Through a plea agreement, she was sentenced in May to six months of home incarceration to be followed by 30 months of probation.

Before her arrest by JPD in May 2013, the child had reported that sometime after Aug. 15, 2012, Ralston began coming to his bedroom at Childplace and initiated and performed oral sex with him.

The child also claimed Ralston initiated and had sexual intercourse with him in a Childplace transport van near McDonald’s restaurant on Charlestown Road in New Albany the following October.

After the child alerted authorities of the activity, Ralston was questioned by police investigators

Ralston told police of approximately 10 occurrences of physical contact with the student.”

Abuse case at Childplace spurs filing of lawsuit[NT 8/20/14 by Gary Pop]

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