September 24, 2024

Progress on the path to justice

The Settlement Fund and litigation are both gradually moving forward. We are working through both channels to achieve the best possible outcome for you. In the meantime, we will keep you looped into all new developments concerning your case and any information we receive from the state.

Litigation

Judge Schulman in Rockingham County has ordered that we send cases to trial based on the filing date. Our team is working diligently to prepare cases for trial to comply with that order. We will be sure to update you as we know more specifics about who will go to trial when. The court will determine trial dates and times, and our ability to control that determination is very limited, so please be patient as we work through this process.

In the meantime, we continue fighting the state in the New Hampshire Supreme Court. We are asking the state Supreme Court to uphold Judge Schulman’s order allowing for multiple-plaintiff trials, which would significantly speed up the justice process. Currently, the state does not provide this option, so we have no choice but to take one plaintiff to trial at a time. We are also asking the Supreme Court to recognize that New Hampshire law provides a longer statute of limitations for claims against the state based on sexual assault, which would make it much easier for cases against the state to proceed.

Remember, we encourage you to consider entering the Settlement Fund even if you are pursuing trial. We will keep your court-filed lawsuit moving simultaneously with your settlement claim. You do not need to accept any settlement offer from the state, so if you are not happy with the outcome of the Settlement Fund process, you can proceed with your lawsuit. 

Settlement Fund

We’ve seen a slow start to the Settlement Fund since the pause was lifted last month. Right now, we are transitioning to the Fund’s new Case Management System, which allows us to file claims electronically going forward. We will need to transfer data from our current forms into the new system. The system will launch soon, so we can start submitting claims, but it has not yet opened up to us, and we cannot file new claims until it does.

• If your claim has already been filed, we do not need to re-file it. However, if your claim was filed after June 16, please expect a call from us to review your packet and ensure it aligns with the new Settlement Fund rules.
• If you are awaiting confirmation that the state received your claim or are waiting to hear if your claim is complete, please be patient. We are starting to see claim confirmation emails trickle in from the state. However, the Administrator’s Office has not yet told us when we can officially expect to receive these letters. We will notify you once we receive your claim confirmation. 
• If you are awaiting an offer from the Attorney General’s Office or Administrator Broderick’s Office, we will call you as soon as your offer comes in. You are always welcome to check in with our Nixon/Rilee team on the status of your claim.

You can reach Nixon/Rilee through the Case Status App or Call Center. We have a team of victim specialists on hand to help you navigate your case and answer any questions you have. The fastest and easiest way to communicate with us is through Case Status. You can also reach us via phone at 603-628-4060 and ask to speak with a victim specialist.

News from the Administrator’s Office

Good news for clients engaged in the Settlement Fund process or considering a claim: The Administrator’s Office has added a new assistant administrator, retired Superior Court Judge Diane Nicolosi.

With Judge Nicolosi on board, the Administrator’s Office estimates it will soon be able to hold up to ten hearings per week. We are optimistic that the addition of Judge Nicolosi, in conjunction with other process improvements, will help the state resolve your claims more quickly.

Group home cases (Filed in Merrimack County)

As the Merrimack County cases proceed into discovery, we will work with you to complete record releases. These releases are similar to the ones you completed when you joined our office. Record releases are only valid for one year, after which they must be redone.

We have a team that is working to complete these record releases. If we have not yet reached out to you regarding your release, please keep an eye out for any communication from our office and respond as soon as possible. We will be reaching out to clients over the next several months.

Addition to the office

We are excited to introduce you to Jennifer Dickinson, our new victim specialist. Jennifer will  help  answer your questions and provide support services when needed.

If you are struggling to connect with support services, our Nixon/Rilee Victim Specialist team is here to help.

Case Status App

Thank you to those who have downloaded the app.  If you message the office on the app, expect a response within 24–48 hours. We enjoy interacting with you through the app and  appreciate your engagement in this new means of communicating about your case.

If you haven’t received an invite to the app, please call us at 603-628-4060 and ask for a Case Status invitation.

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