August 21, 2025

Stopping the state from implementing changes to YDC Settlement Fund

To Our Clients—

Yesterday, our team at Nixon/Rilee was in court for our class action lawsuit challenging the state’s unfair and destructive changes to the YDC Settlement Fund. Our goal is to stop the state from implementing a new process that would (a) make the Settlement Fund administrator a politically appointed position and (b) give the attorney general the ability to reject an award if he thinks it is too high or otherwise disagrees with it. We called several witnesses to testify against the changes and emphasize the harm they inflict on those who signed onto the Settlement Fund. Judge Daniel St. Hilaire in Merrimack County Superior Court heard powerful testimony from a variety of people, including:

• Administrator John Broderick on how the State’s changes to the Settlement Fund have destroyed the victim-centered, trauma-informed claims process you were promised.  
• Two victims on the severe personal harm they feel because of these changes.

The governor and attorney general maintain that the changes to the Settlement Fund are insignificant and somehow make the process more transparent (despite a recent audit finding that Administrator Broderick’s management of the Fund was flawless).  We disagree, and we are confident that we made a compelling case in our favor during today’s hearing.

Now, we have a second hearing next week, on August 27, where we will call additional witnesses and make our legal arguments to the judge. We will then have to wait for a decision, but we will let you know as soon as we get a ruling and break down the next steps.

No matter what the court ends up determining in this case, we believe we are sending a powerful message and keeping the pressure on the state to do what is right. The Governor and Attorney General’s Office would like nothing better than to be able to sweep this stain on our state under the rug and focus on other priorities. The media remains focused on this injustice, and the drumbeat of press coverage increases pressure on the state and makes it harder to deflect attention. Just yesterday, a group of influential NH citizens sent this open letter apologizing to the State’s victims and expressing their anger about how the State is treating you: https://indepthnh.org/2025/08/20/op-ed-group-of-granite-staters-apologizes-to-ydc-victims/

We will keep you posted as this case progresses. As always, be sure to check Case Status regularly for updates. You can also call the main Nixon Peabody phone number (603-628-4060) and ask to be connected to the YDC Client Update line to listen to a recorded update.

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