Predator doctor Johnnie Barto and his practice hit with first lawsuit since he was jailed

A boy and three girls who say they were molested by the Pennsylvania pediatrician filed the first lawsuit against Barto.

The alleged victim, who is identified as “JOHN PT DOE,” along with his mother, sister and three Jane Does, are suing Barto, the clinic in suburban Johnstown, Pennsylvania, where he worked with Confer, and a local hospital he was affiliated with.

It’s the first lawsuit filed since Barto, 71, was convicted of 69 counts of aggravated indecent assault, indecent assault, and endangering the welfare of children and sentenced in March to up to 158 years in prison. read more »

Sex Abuse Scandal May Drive Boy Scouts of America to Bankruptcy

The Boy Scouts of America is considering filing for bankruptcy as the scope of a decades-long sex abuse scandal becomes clear.

A researcher for the youth organization, hired to analyze records from 1944 through 2016, said she has identified 12,254 victims of sexual abuse in the youth organization, along with 7,819 abusers. Critics say the actual number could be much higher, as many incidents were likely never reported.

That information has led to a spike in lawsuits against the Scouts and officials tell the Los Angeles Times they’re considering the Chapter 11 filing to halt the suits as they negotiate settlements. read more »

Police raid Dallas Catholic Diocese offices, alleging officials haven't been forthcoming about sex abuse

Dallas police officers on Wednesday morning raided several Dallas Catholic Diocese offices after a detective said church officials have not cooperated with investigations into sexual abuse by its past clergy members.

Since a Dallas police investigation began last fall, at least five new allegations of sexual abuse have surfaced within the Catholic Diocese, according to Maj. Max Geron, who oversees the special investigations division. read more »