Rising Ground Sexual Abuse Lawsuits

Compensation for Survivors of Institutional Abuse in New York

Rising Ground sexual abuse threatened the well-being and safety of hundreds across multiple residential treatment centers in New York. Injury Lawyer Team is committed to thoroughly investigating all allegations and holding those involved accountable for allowing predators access to vulnerable individuals.

If you suffered from sexual abuse at a Rising Ground treatment center, you may be eligible for a civil lawsuit. Contact us today for a free, confidential, and no-obligation consultation about taking legal action.

Sexual Abuse Allegations Against Rising Ground

Rising Ground is a nonprofit in New York. Its services include housing assistance, developmental education, and preventing violence against women. The organization was founded in 1831 and has expanded its reach over the decades, now operating over 138 locations.

It runs the Biondi Education Center, a residential treatment facility, and juvenile detention facilities, including New Bridge NSD, Carpenter NSD, and Ryer LSP.

Despite the organization’s claim to protect families, concerning allegations have raised questions about its integrity. In July 2023, Sandy Carazas-Pinez, a former teacher at Biondi Education Center, was arrested and charged with sexually abusing a 16-year-old student with schizophrenia and other complex emotional needs.

The indictment alleges that the abuse occurred from November 2022 to February 2023. Carazas-Pinez, a married mother of three, made concerted efforts to groom the boy through compliments and special privileges. She allegedly drove him to different addresses to have sex with him and gave him day passes to visit nearby locations.

When the boy considered ending the relationship, she responded by threatening to remove his school privileges. As the Biondi Education Center also provides housing and access to psychiatric care for residents, this was a serious threat.

School officials only sensed something was amiss when complaints arose about her being in close contact with the boy at school and driving him around in her car. She was fired in February and refused to deny the sexual abuse in a recorded call around March.

If found guilty, Carazas-Pinez faces up to life in prison.

A Pattern of Negligence at New York Youth Facilities

Sadly, institutional negligence at Rising Ground is not an isolated incident, but a systemic issue that has destroyed the lives of survivors nationwide. A United States Senate report released in 2024 has brought additional focus to how residential treatment facilities like Biondi Educational Center fail to prevent sexual abuse or safeguard the well-being of all individuals in their care.

The 136-page report outlines multiple types of abuse, including neglect, non-consensual sex acts, and physical violence involving both residents and staff.

New York organizations were explored in significant detail within the report. At one facility, staff falsified bed checks. A teen escaped the facility and was fatally struck by a truck in the early hours of the morning. Staff only learned of the escape around 7 am, long after the teen had died over 4 miles away.

Such a serious infraction warranted a closer examination of the facility, where state officials from the State of New York found that staff were not keeping residents within arm’s reach as required by their treatment plan.

The report also highlighted the alarming number of residents experiencing sexual abuse while in these facilities. One survivor, when asked what action would improve their care, simply responded that bringing down the number of sexual assaults would dramatically improve conditions.

Another survivor pointed out that, in addition to the high number of assaults, molested residents receive better treatment than those who are not abused, leading to resentment and conflict between residents.

Thousands of vulnerable individuals have experienced abuse at these institutions, often with the full knowledge of other staff and supervisors. Despite the many laws in place to protect young people, the mistreatment continues, demonstrating significant systemic failures.

What Laws Govern Child Sexual Abuse Cases in New York?

Firstly, the Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act is a federal law that governs any institution that receives federal funding, requiring them to report any kind of abuse, including sexual abuse.

New York law defines sexual offenses with the term “sexual contact” to acknowledge that both men and women can be assaulted (New York Penal Law Article 130). Specific offenses include sexual abuse, sexual misconduct, forcible touching, and rape.

School employees, healthcare providers, residential facility employees, and counselors are mandated reporters, which means they are required to take action if they recognize signs of abuse (Social Services Law §413).

Residential treatment centers like Rising Ground are also required to comply with these procedures and may face penalties, such as civil lawsuits or fines, if they fail to report sexual abuse or attempt to conceal abuse (SSL §§411–428).

Once an allegation has been made, authorities must take prompt action to protect the survivor. This can include visiting the resident and interviewing them without a parent or guardian’s permission. When necessary, these departments can take the minor into protective custody while conducting their investigation (18 NYCRR Part 432).

What Is the Deadline to File a Claim Under the Child Victims Act?

Underage sexual abuse survivors have until the age of 55 to file a claim (§208(b)). Adults have a shorter timeline to file of 20 years after the abuse occurred (§213-c).

Despite the extended statute of limitations, it is still crucial to consult with an experienced attorney as soon as possible. This allows us time to preserve key evidence, such as employment records and medical reports, while also conducting interviews with witnesses. Contact us as quickly as possible for a free, no-obligation, and confidential consultation.

Who Can Be Held Liable in Sexual Abuse Cases Involving Rising Ground?

These cases are often complex and include multiple liable parties. Individuals and institutions we can hold accountable include the following.

• Individual Perpetrator: Those who have inappropriate relationships or engage in sex with underage residents are typically the first defendant, as their actions directly harmed the survivor.
• Other Staff Members: Others who worked at the center may have known about what was happening or even provided cover for those perpetrating sexual abuse. These employees had a moral and legal obligation to report their concerns and protect survivors.
• Social Workers: If you were visited or treated by social workers or therapists, and they did not take your complaints seriously, they can also be liable.
• Treatment or Detention Center: Vicarious liability means that an institution can be held liable for any abuse committed on its grounds, even without express knowledge.
• Rising Ground: The agency itself can also be brought to justice for allowing sexual abuse to happen through negligent hiring, training, or supervision.

Holding Staff Members and the Institution Accountable

No one should ever have to experience sexual abuse, especially in a place meant to offer healing and resources. We will file claims not only against the individual perpetrator, but against systems that provided abusers with access to vulnerable people.

Our lawsuits will consider institutional failures like negligent background checks, inadequate training, insufficient reporting procedures, and negligent supervision, all of which contribute to an unsafe environment for both workers and residents.

What Compensation Can Victims Recover?

A civil lawsuit provides compensation for the tremendous harm that experiencing sexual abuse can cause. Damages that you may recover can include:

• Medical bills
• Lost wages
• Loss of future income
• Psychological treatment
• Physical pain and suffering
• Emotional distress
• Loss of normal life

How Injury Lawyer Team Can Help

Our sexual abuse law firm provides comprehensive legal services to survivors and their families, ensuring they have the necessary funds to recover and heal. These cases are often difficult, not just because of the deep trauma, but also because people may not disclose abuse until years afterward.

As members of the National Association of Personal Injury Attorneys and the National Trial Lawyers Association, we have an unparalleled track record of success in securing justice for those harmed by negligent institutions. Our full legal support will include the following.

• Case Evaluation: Every abuse case is different, and there is no set settlement amount. As such, we will tabulate your overall damages, including both economic and non-economic damages, to create a strong demand letter.
• Investigation: Our team will meticulously uncover evidence of abuse through information like work records, medical reports, psychological evaluations, and witness statements.
• Witness Testimony: The witness’s story is often the centerpiece of the lawsuit, providing a powerful narrative that highlights the many ways that institutions failed to safeguard them. We understand the significant fear and trauma that abuse can cause, which is why we take a compassionate approach to interviewing witnesses. Our goal is to ensure that you feel empowered to share your story.
• Expert Opinions: As members of the American Association of Justice (AAJ), we have cultivated a network of peerless professionals, including psychologists and other medical experts. These professionals can offer their unbiased opinion on the mechanics of the abuse.
• Negotiation: We always push for the maximum possible compensation, countering institutions’ attempts to evade accountability. This process typically involves submitting a demand letter, waiting for a counteroffer, then considering it before submitting another offer. The process continues until either you are satisfied with the settlement or until we choose to file a lawsuit.
• Trial Representation: While many cases settle out of court, we may need to pursue claims through the legal system. Our team will file a complaint with the relevant court, share information with the other parties through discovery, and present the evidence before a judge and jury.

Settlements & Verdicts for Sexual Abuse Victims in New York

We have earned our place on the Million Dollar Advocates Forum by securing over $450 million in settlements and verdicts for our clients over the past two decades. These are just some of the many successful claims we have secured.

• $15,000,000: Several boys were groomed and molested by a sports coach, who warned them that they might be expelled from the school if they disclosed the abuse to anyone. We demonstrated that the coach’s supervisors and other employees were aware of what was happening but refused to say anything.
• $5,000,000: Two men were abused by a therapist when they were minors. The therapist groomed them by sympathizing with them before pressuring them to perform sex acts in his office. When they refused to comply, the therapist would use the painful secrets they had divulged as psychological manipulation.
• $1,160,000: A teen at a youth detention center was abused by a guard, who would enter his room at night and molest him while the other residents slept. The guard would manipulate the boy by telling him that his parents couldn’t visit unless he performed these sex acts.

FAQs

Do I Have to Use My Real Name to File a Lawsuit?

No, you do not have to use your real name to file a lawsuit. The legal system recognizes that forcing survivors to provide their real names may prevent them from coming forward out of fear of retribution. We can file a claim under a pseudonym, such as John Doe.

What if the Person Who Abused Me No Longer Works There or Has Passed Away?

You can still file a sexual abuse claim if the perpetrator no longer works at the institution or has passed away.

If they have left their job at the institution, we can still pursue claims for the abuse you experienced while they worked there. We will verify that they were employed at the institution through employment records, offer letters, and other information.

For claims involving a deceased person, we can instead file a claim against other parties, such as fellow employees or the institution itself.

How Much Does It Cost to Hire Your Firm for My Case?

We are committed to assisting all survivors on a contingency fee basis. This means that you do not have to pay us anything unless we earn compensation on your behalf. There is no obligation to work with us if you request a consultation, and all consultations are confidential.

What if I never reported the abuse?

Many survivors never press charges or report what happened to anyone because they are afraid of what their families may think, or because the perpetrator manipulates them into silence.

You do not have to have reported the sexual abuse to seek justice through a civil lawsuit. Criminal and civil cases are two separate legal processes, meaning that you can pursue both or only one, depending on the statute of limitations and the available evidence.

While a police report or other official record can provide vital evidence, we can also substantiate your claims through additional evidence, such as private communications, witness interviews, and medical records or psychological evaluations.

Book a Free, Confidential Consultation

We are committed to seeking justice for young people who have been mistreated by school employees and staff. Our services are provided on a contingency fee basis, meaning that you owe us nothing unless we earn compensation for you.

Throughout the claims process, we will protect your privacy while supporting you through the healing process. Contact us today for a free, confidential, and no-obligation consultation.

All content undergoes thorough legal review by experienced attorneys, including Jonathan Rosenfeld. With 25 years of experience in personal injury law and over 100 years of combined legal expertise within our team, we ensure that every article is legally accurate, compliant, and reflects current legal standards.