Jewish American Heritage Month

Posted By richards on September 10, 2014

Lawyer Accuses Judges of 'Blatant Abuse of Judicial Power' By Paul Berger

Published September 09, 2014.

A group of former students who say they were sexually abused at Yeshiva University High School for Boys have asked a full federal appeals court to reconsider a smaller judicial panels ruling that upheld the dismissal of their lawsuit.

The students attorney, Kevin Mulhearn, submitted a petition September 8 calling for an en banc, or full court, hearing of the United States Court of Appeals for the 2nd Circuit after a three-judge panel from the same court supported the dismissal of the students $680 million lawsuit.

The appeals followed an earlier judges rejection of the suit on the grounds that the statute of limitations for trying it had passed.

Calling the three-judge panels conduct manifestly unjust, grossly improper, and a blatant abuse of judicial power, Mulhearn argues in his petition that the court improperly assumed the role of Yeshiva Universitys advocate and attorney.

If the court refuses to rehear his case, Mulhearn has vowed to appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court.

The 34 students sued Y.U. in 2013, claiming that they were abused by Rabbi George Finkelstein, an administrator who rose to become principal of Y.U.s high school, and Macy Gordon, a Talmud teacher. Both men were employed by Y.U. for about 25 years.

The students say that, rather than investigate the reports of these staff members conduct and take appropriate action, Y.U. covered up the allegations of abuse and misrepresented the safety of the school.

The incidents of abuse are alleged to have occurred during the 1970s, 80s and 90s.

Read more from the original source:

Yeshiva University Victims Appeal Over Heads of Appeals Court Panel

Category: Talmud
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