“Retired Massachusetts pediatrician pleads not guilty to abusing young patients” – Erika O'Donnell Quoted in Article
Erika O’Donnell’s insights were featured in AP News’ article, “Retired Massachusetts pediatrician pleads not guilty to abusing young patients”
“The allegations against Dr. Kauff are truly disturbing,” Erika O’Donnell, a partner with the law firm Shepard O’Donnell who is representing nine accusers, said in a statement.
“Not only did he victimize children, but he did so right in front of their parents — using his position as a trusted physician to deceive victims and their parents,” she continued. “At their most vulnerable, he broke their trust and his victims and their families are paying the price.”
Are You Considering Filing Physician or Educator Sexual Abuse Charges? We Have Your Back.
We understand that coming forward in a sexual abuse case and pursuing legal action is one of the most difficult and painful experiences anyone can go through. We applaud your bravery.
If you are a victim of physician or educator sexual abuse or sexual assault, you may feel confused, embarrassed or ashamed and we know that you may be hesitant to share your experience. Our place is not to judge. We are here to listen to your story and answer any questions you may have about the process of filing a claim, what happens next and what is involved in moving a lawsuit forward. You will not have to pay us out-of-pocket for any confidential conversations or our legal services.
When you decide the time is right for you to pursue legal action, we are here to help you understand your options and choose the one that’s right for you. We pursue civil actions against the individuals involved, as well as the affiliated institutions that failed to prevent or stop the abusive behavior. You will speak with a female attorney who is empathetic, compassionate and experienced in working with victims of trauma. Together, we will determine your comfort level and where we go from here.
“One of the most important things I can do for victims of sexual abuse is to listen to their experience and support them through the process,” says attorney Erika O’Donnell. “Whether they are ready to fight, or want to proceed at a more cautious pace, I will meet them where they are. My job is to be by their side while we seek justice for their life-changing trauma.”
If you choose Shepard O’Donnell as your legal partner to hold those individuals who flagrantly breached your trust accountable for their actions, you will work with the same attorney for the duration of your case. While some firms might pass you around a team of lawyers, we value your privacy and understand that a single point of contact can be comforting. Whether you prefer virtual or in-person meetings, or if you’d rather text or call, we will tailor our communication to fit your needs.
We are empathetic yet fierce defenders of your honor and promise to do everything in our power to hold sexual offenders, and the institutions that employed them, accountable for the harm they’ve inflicted. At this time, we are actively evaluating claims of sexual abuse against Dr. Richard Kauff, Dr. Derrick Todd, and faculty members at Miss Hall’s School in Pittsfield, Massachusetts, including former teacher Matthew Rutledge.
Please call us at (800) 451-4471 if you’d like to have a confidential, no obligation conversation about filing a potential physician or educator sexual abuse lawsuit. We are here to help.