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Decades-Old Allegations, Big Payouts: Is NH the Latest Target in Nationwide Lawsuit Strategy?
- Chris Thompson
- Aug 4
- 6 min read
Updated: Sep 10
CONCORD- More than 1,500 former juvenile detainees have filed claims against New Hampshire over alleged sexual and physical abuse at the former Youth Development Center (YDC), now the Sununu Youth Services Center. The claims, many dating back decades, have triggered hundreds of millions of dollars in potential state liability and prompted a reckoning about the state's treatment of youth in custody.
To date, 11 former YDC staff members have been arrested as a result of the accusations made by children who committed crimes. Due to juvenile records being sealed, the Granite Eagle was unable to verify details of the crimes the YDC abuse accusers commited prior to being 18 years old.
Of the 11 YDC staff members arrested, Stanley Watson was found guilty of three counts of aggravated felonious sexual assault. Bradley Asbury was found guilty of being an accomplice to aggravated felonious sexual assault. At the age of 70, he was sentenced to at least 20 years in prison. Frank Davis was deemed incompetent to stand trial, and Gordon Thomas Searles died prior to his trial.
Trials for two other defendants, Victor Malavet and Stephen Murphy, resulted in hung juries, and the state intends to retry these cases. The remaining YDC staffers arrested have pending trials.
But New Hampshire is not alone. In fact, what is unfolding in the Granite State mirrors a growing and coordinated pattern across the country. From California to Maryland, states are facing a surge in retroactive abuse claims tied to changes in statute-of-limitations laws and well-organized legal efforts.
Legal Changes Open the Door to Historic Claims
New Hampshire's YDC Settlement Fund was established after years of media attention, criminal investigations, and legislative pressure. Victims had until early 2025, to file with the fund, which has already paid out over $130 million to more than 400 claimants. That number could skyrocket as additional claims are processed. But the volume and timing of claims in NH aligns with a broader national push.
Over the last five years, more than a dozen states have passed laws expanding the timeframe in which alleged victims of child sexual abuse can sue. These "revival windows" have led to dramatic increases in lawsuits, particularly against public institutions like state-run juvenile detention centers. Legal advocates argue these laws give survivors long-denied access to justice. Critics say the long delays and lack of evidence make the claims difficult to verify and expose taxpayers to financial risk.
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National Pattern, Similar Tactics
Nevada where the Schmidt National Law Group has launched public outreach campaigns targeting former residents of state-run juvenile facilities who may have experienced abuse. The firm’s website highlights its willingness to assist survivors of physical and sexual abuse that occurred in facilities such as the Caliente Youth Center and Summit View Youth Center—both of which have faced allegations of staff misconduct in recent years.
California saw more than 6,800 claims flood in against Los Angeles County, leading to a record-setting $4 billion proposed settlement in 2025. Most of the claims date back decades and were enabled by a 2019 law that opened a three-year window for filing.
Maryland removed its statute of limitations in 2023, and more than 3,500 claims have been filed against state agencies, including hundreds tied to the Charles H. Hickey Jr. School and other youth facilities. State officials estimate billions in potential payouts and have expressed concerns about the state's ability to investigate such old allegations.
New Jersey has faced more than 350 lawsuits from individuals who say they were abused in youth detention, prompting the courts to consolidate cases and the state to consider facility closures.
Illinois, Pennsylvania, and Washington have each seen hundreds of lawsuits emerge after legislative changes. In Washington, a 2024 law eliminated the statute of limitations for civil claims, resulting in over 360 lawsuits involving juvenile facilities.
In each case, the claims were filed in bulk, often represented by the same national law firms. Attorneys behind the suits have appeared repeatedly across jurisdictions, advertising hotlines, conducting media campaigns, and coordinating filings to maximize legal leverage. One example is the Schmidt National Law Group, which has targeted both Nevada and New Hampshire through coordinated advertising campaigns aimed at former juvenile detainees, suggesting a multi-state strategy driven by the same legal actors.
Questioning the Legitimacy of All Claims
New Hampshire officials have acknowledged the difficulty of verifying allegations that are often 30, 40, or 50 years old. Many of the alleged perpetrators are deceased or unavailable for questioning. Evidence is limited. Yet settlements are being paid based solely on survivor accounts.
Concerns about potential fraud or opportunism have been raised nationwide. In California, lawmakers required claimants over age 40 to obtain a mental health evaluation affirming that their claim had a reasonable basis. In Rhode Island, revival laws restricted lawsuits to only the individual perpetrator unless institutions knowingly enabled abuse.
New Hampshire lawmakers are now grappling with the consequences. If every YDC claimant receives a payout similar to the average so far, the state could be on the hook for over $800 million. Some are warning that if the settlement fund runs dry or fails to resolve claims quickly, lawsuits will move into the courts, creating even greater exposure. Disproportionate Numbers Raise Questions
The sheer volume of YDC claims also raises questions of scale and plausibility. In recent years, New Hampshire law enforcement has recorded between 1,000 and 1,500 sexual assaults annually across the entire state. According to FBI and Bureau of Justice data, sexual assaults in New Hampshire typically total fewer than 40 incidents per 100,000 residents each year. Yet more than 1,500 people have now filed claims against a single state-run youth facility. For reference, in 2019, NH reported 522 total rapes statewide.
This would suggest that a single juvenile detention center in Manchester, housing on average, between 50 and 150 youths at any one time , accounts for more alleged sexual assaults than the entire rest of the state in a given year. If true, it would make YDC one of the most abusive institutions of its kind in the country.
The contrast has led some lawmakers and observers to question whether every claim is legitimate. While many survivors may be credible and deserving of compensation, the mathematical disconnect between historical reporting levels and the sudden volume of claims adds another layer of scrutiny to a process already fraught with legal and financial risk.
A Coordinated Legal Effort
The scale, timing, and structure of these claims suggest a coordinated national campaign, not isolated grassroots actions. The same law firms, legal arguments, and legislative tactics have appeared across multiple states. In New Hampshire, what might seem like a unique reckoning is actually one chapter in a much larger legal and financial story playing out across the country.
This growing wave of retroactive juvenile detention abuse claims is forcing states to confront decades-old allegations under new legal standards. While some of the claims are surely credible and deserving of redress, the speed and scale of the filings, the near-total absence of verifiable evidence, and the national coordination behind the litigation raise difficult questions about fairness, cost, and credibility.
As New Hampshire prepares for more litigation, it does so as part of a national trend and one that could reshape public liability, legal precedent, and the definition of justice for decades to come.
Legitimate Questions
When you hear the details of the accusations being made and the sheer volume of former YDC residents who have come forward claiming abuse, it raises obvious concerns. How can it be that 30 years after they left YDC, over 1,000 former residents suddenly remember they were abused. The other legitimate concern is related to the amount of money each former resident received to settle their abuse claims. Through June 20, 2025, 436 claims have been resolved, totaling $210 million. That is an average of $481,651 paid per claim. Is it possible that money has motivated the accusers and some of the accusations are blatant lies?
The Granite Eagle is commited to exposing the truth and will do everything in its power to ensure those who made false accusations and ruined the lives of innocent people are exposed and held accountable.
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