Jeff Anderson & Associates

06/02/2026

Mark Berndt left a dark legacy across the Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD) and Miramonte Elementary.

The former teacher, who led elementary classrooms from 1979 to 2011 at the school, was arrested in 2012 on 23 counts of lewd contact with a child. In 2013, he pled no contest to the charges and was sentenced to 25 years in prison.

Mark Berndt left a dark legacy across the Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD) and Miramonte Elementary. The former teacher, who led elementary classrooms from 1979 to 2011 at the school, was arrested in 2012 on 23 counts of lewd contact with a child.

06/01/2026

In an opinion piece, Mark Crawford urges Rhode Island lawmakers to act on long-delayed sexual abuse legislation, arguing survivors deserve the opportunity to seek accountability from institutions that enabled or concealed abuse.
https://www.providencejournal.com/story/opinion/columns/2026/05/28/rhode-island-must-vote-on-sexual-abuse-legislation-opinion/90283494007/?gnt-cfr=1&gca-cat=p&gca-ds=timeout

05/31/2026

Minnesota has enacted a new law making the sexual grooming of children a felony. The bipartisan measure, signed by Gov. Tim Walz, strengthens child-protection efforts by criminalizing grooming behavior, expanding investigations into educator misconduct, and increasing training for mandatory reporters.

Gov. Tim Walz signed a bill into law aimed at preventing the sexual grooming of children. Championed by a former student, the bill passed with rare unanimous bipartisan support in a divided Legislature.

05/29/2026

Time doesn’t fully heal trauma. Over years and years, survivors learn how to cope with trauma, but it doesn’t completely go away. Learning to recognize some of the long-term effects of abuse can help survivors to better manage their symptoms.

Science is only beginning to understand the long-term effects of childhood sexual abuse on the body, brain, and emotions. The more we learn about and understand the effects of trauma, the more we can help ourselves and others.

05/29/2026

A former principal of the Academy of American Studies High School is currently set to largely escape punishment despite sexually assaulting numerous staff and an underage student.

Under the current agreement, William Bassell will face no criminal charges and will likely continue to receive a $200,000 pension from the school. Attorney Doug Herring discusses the importance of holding perpetrators like William Bassell accountable.

05/26/2026

Attorney Kelsey Constantine discusses the recent removal of Fr. Jose Molina from active ministry in the Archdiocese of Chicago. Fr. Molina, assigned to St. Francis of Assisi Parish, was accused of having “inappropriate communications” with women and children relating to sexual abuse. A thorough and transparent investigation is necessary to continue to protect children in the Catholic Church.

05/26/2026

Child sexual are expert manipulators and are able to blend in and appear normal. This allows them to get access to kids.
You can make your safer by preventing abuse when you recognize this behavior.

Child sexual predators are cunning and work for years to trick children and communities into thinking that abuse is “okay,” and the predator is innocent. While all predators’ behavior is different, you can make your community safer by preventing abuse when you safely address and recognize this...

05/24/2026

Many people ask: Can I file a lawsuit if the abuser is dead?
You typically are able to, even if the abuser is dead. But, to be confident in your legal options, speak with an attorney. A lawsuit could prevent abuse in places that are covering it up.

The civil and criminal justice systems are different, with different goals and outcomes for survivors of child sexual abuse. In the United States, there are two separate bodies of law whose purpose is to deter or punish wrongdoing or to compensate the victims of wrongdoing. Criminal lawsuits are ini...

05/23/2026

In this blog, we answer some common questions about compensation after filing a sexual assault lawsuit.

While no amount of money will cure trauma, receiving compensation can help survivors to access therapy, lower financial stress and help support their family.