Former residents of a New Hampshire’s state-run youth detention center have filed more than 1,200 lawsuits against the state alleging abuse spanning six decades. The first one that was filed four years ago goes to trial this week, the Associated Press reports. The trial is expected to last for weeks and will be the most public instance in which the state attorney general’s office is simultaneously prosecuting perpetrators and defending the state against allegations raised in the civil cases.
The lawsuit seeks at least $1.9 million for past and future lost income, plus compensation for pain and suffering, injury and loss of quality of life. Plaintiff David Meehan alleges he was routinely beaten, raped hundreds of times and held for months in solitary confinement. The state denies those allegations and said it is not liable for the criminal conduct of “rogue” employees. Jury selection is expected to be completed Tuesday morning, followed by opening arguments.
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