O.J. Simpson…they were not after his money. They wanted justice and when the jury found him not guilty they chose another avenue.
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Not necessarily. I think that is an oversimplification . Sometimes civil court is the only way to obtain justice and suing for damages is required.
The statement released by the Ebelings suggest that they will not settle out of court. If that is the case, then the matter will be decided by a judge or jury.
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Agreed. And most of the time, it isn’t a serious problem. Even when teens act stupidly, drink stuff they aren’t allowed to, etc.
But in this instance, there is a serious allegation of wrongdoing resulting in harm. And the alcohol that Jane Doe consumed was central to how that alleged wrongdoing transpired. And that could mean negligence and related culpability for the adults to whom the alcohol belonged.
Of course, this all presupposes that the allegations are true, and can be proven by a preponderance of the evidence.
Last… I am not trying to sound uncaring or insensitive to Jane Doe… I just want to be careful how I word things.
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My only point was that assuming that minors having access to alcohol in the home means the parents are ipso facto negligent is a tad judgmental towards parents. As I said – I bet most teenagers in this country have access to alcohol in the home. Yet another reason I’m so happy to have ADULT children. 
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Do you really believe that you can understand the motives of people you don’t know and have never met?
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Do you know the alleged victim personally in order to make this statement with such confidence? Otherwise it’s a gross assumption. Civil suits are often about justice, when justice can’t be achieved through the criminal court system.
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The serial killer that killed my friend when he was 41 started his criminal history as a 16 year old raping a single mom with two children at knifepoint and stating he would kill her and the kids if she screamed or fought. He pled out in juvie before the prosecutor could get the judge’s order to try him as a adult. Florida changed their state law to allow minors to be more easily tried as adults because of him.
There is a world of difference between that and some high school jock who thinks he is God’s gift to high school girls (and some of them agree with him) and quite the sophisticated adult with a twist top bottle of Boones Farm or Annie Green Springs and a freshman date.
So I’m not unaware that kids can do bad things. I am struggling with the alleged language in the complaint. I’m trying to think of a 15 year old boy who would have a clue what grooming is or how to go about it. That takes patience and patience is what adults develop not kids.
I think I’m going to drop out of discussion on this one. They are all too young.
Edited for typing errors.
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Thank you.
If the complaint is correct and if there have been other allegations against BE then the plaintiff is likely to prevail.
Those are two very big IFS.
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I agree that the timing of the news during Aachen is quite suspicious.
I always question the delay in reporting in all these cases.
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The timing could just be when the minor reaches majority or feels strong enough to endure a trial or other reasons.
Sometimes the delay isn’t innocent. Sometimes it is.
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100% agree. Questioning timing ignores the very real obstacles to coming forward about things like this.
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Honestly if you want to file a suit or charges against any successful person or rising star, your accusations will some arrive to interrupt some plan or victory or new endeavour because their lives are a succession of such things.
Our close scrutiny of another combined trial and upcoming civil suit has shown how long these things can take, and that they get filed when they get filed. I expect the timing of filing of the civil suit would be more related to what was or was not happening on the criminal side of things.
As far as civil suits focusing on dollar awards. Yes, they do. That is because all our legal system offers is criminal trial and civil suit for damages. Indeed if you can’t prove damages there’s no point going to suit. In Canada if you can’t prove loss of wages or future income, you can’t really sue.
There are no other mechanisms to prove responsibility. So people are stuck trying to make one or the other stick.
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Filing time may have been intentional to Aachen or may have been done as the last thing of business to finish right before people take their vacations at the beginning of the 4th of July weekend.
Does it matter though in the scope of the seriousness and gravity of the situation?
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Or highlights those obstacles.
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First off, rape is rape, and it is a heinous awful crime.
I am wondering when the criminal investigation began? It seems that since this was awhile ago, one would have to wonder what triggered this to be started now.
As had been mentioned, I have no idea how you address the forensics. How do you prove that she was drugged? Or raped? Obviously, Jane Doe knows that this happened to her, and how it happened, but it seems like a big push to get an indictment after all this time, and given the lack of forensics, and the fact that they were both minors. Perhaps there are some witnesses to his behaviour?
I feel for her- this is an awful situation.
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Hypothetical legal question.
If several other victims come forward and tell a similar story, does that overcome the lack of physical evidence that would be available after a time lapse of several years?
Where? SS or the civil trial? If the latter then it’s up to the jury where the burden of proof is preponderance of the evidence.
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Edit to erase post due to an objection.
I think it is an inappropriate conversation to have on this thread.
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My post wasn’t suggesting for a conversation here, simply for private thought.
