NEW YORK, July 15, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — Levy Konigsberg and co-counsel filed lawsuits today on behalf of over 100 survivors of sexual abuse against Cook County and the State of Illinois, bringing the total number of cases to more than 900 dating back to May 2024. The lawsuits allege that Cook County and the State failed to protect children from rampant sexual abuse perpetrated by adult employees at juvenile detention facilities throughout the state. These lawsuits are the latest in a string of juvenile detention abuse lawsuits spearheaded by Levy Konigsberg along with its co-counsel across the State of Illinois and the United States.
The suits filed by Levy Konigsberg were brought under the recently amended Childhood Sexual Abuse Act as codified at 735 ILCS 5/13-202.2. The Childhood Sexual Abuse Act provides legal pathways for victims of this type of sexual abuse to pursue damages from their abusers and from the institutions that enabled the abuse by increasing the time in which survivors of sexual abuse are permitted to come forward and file civil lawsuits.
The Survivors who have filed clams so far include those who suffered sexual abuse as far back as the 1990s and up through recent years. The Plaintiffs, who are now adults, were sexually abused as children ranging from age 9 to 17. The perpetrators of the sexual abuse were supervisors, correctional officers, counselors, supervisors and other staff.
In announcing Monday’s lawsuits filed against the State of Illinois and Cook County, Levy Konigsberg Partner Jerome Block stated:
“After more than 900 victims of childhood sexual abuse have come forward, the ongoing apathy from Cook County and Attorney General Kwame Raoul speaks volumes and underscores a tragic lack of concern for Illinois youth in custody. More than one year after the filing of the first group of cases, Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul recently filed a new motion to dismiss arguing that the survivors were required to come forward before turning age 19. The State’s outrageous and callous legal position ignores the deep trauma of childhood sexual abuse and the rights granted by the Illinois Childhood Sexual Abuse Act.”
Levy Konigsberg has filed more than a thousand lawsuits on behalf of survivors of sexual abuse nationwide and is at the forefront of litigation in New York, Maryland, New Jersey, Illinois, Pennsylvania, and other states.
Levy Konigsberg represents over 900 survivors of childhood sexual abuse at Illinois youth centers and plans to continue fighting tirelessly on their behalf.
For additional information about Illinois youth center sex abuse lawsuits spearheaded by Levy Konigsberg, and its co-counsel, media members and journalists are encouraged to reach out to Attorney Jerome Block by using the law firm’s contact form: https://www.levylaw.com/contact-us/.
Media Contact: Attorney Jerome Block; [email protected]
SOURCE Levy Konigsberg
