The law firm of Cerri, Boskovich & Allard sued the YMCA of the Silicon Valley in 2014. The case settled favorably for the victims.

The settlement was a significant step forward in holding the YMCA accountable for the sexual abuse that had occurred within its programs and facilities. The settlement also highlighted the importance of continued vigilance and commitment to preventing sexual abuse and ensuring the safety of vulnerable populations.

It’s important to note, however, that not all YMCA locations or staff members have been involved in incidents of sexual abuse. The YMCA has policies and procedures in place to prevent and respond to allegations of abuse, and many local YMCAs take additional steps to ensure the safety of the children and adults they serve.

What policies does the YMCA have in place to prevent sexual abuse?

The YMCA has a number of policies and procedures in place to prevent sexual abuse and ensure the safety of children and adults in their programs and facilities. However sometimes those policies are not followed, leading to the sexual abuse of minors.

If you belong to or participate in a YMCA program, keep vigilant for the following:

1. The YMCA has a code of conduct that outlines appropriate behavior for staff and volunteers when working with children. The code of conduct prohibits any form of abuse, harassment, or inappropriate behavior.
2. Supervision: The YMCA requires that staff and volunteers are never alone with a child and that there is always at least two adults present in any interaction with children.

The YMCA is one of the largest non-profit organizations in the world, with more than 10,000 locations in 120 countries. It continues to offer a wide range of programs and services designed to promote healthy living, youth development, and social responsibility. But when the organization fails minors, we are here to hold it accountable.

Reports are surfacing that accused child molester, Nick Lhermine of the Morgan Hill YMCA, may have sexually abused numerous children at the Paradise Valley Elementary School daycare facility. The YMCA of Silicon Valley is responsible for the administration of 12 Association Centers in the area. This includes the Mt. Madonna YMCA,which operates the YMCA – Paradise Valley summer child care day camp on the premises of Paradise Valley Elementary School in Morgan Hill. Furthermore, the lawsuit claims that Lhermine was hired as an aide in February of 2011.

Citing court documents and interviews with law enforcement, reports from the news media indicate that at least four children have come forward indicating they were victims of Lhermine’s sex abuse at the Morgan Hill YMCA’s childcare facility located at Paradise Valley Elementary School. As a result, Nicolas Lhermine is accused of molesting children as young as 5 and 7 years old.

Similarities to CDI Trace Elementary School Molestations

According to child molestation victims’ rights attorney Robert Allard, this case resembles that of CDI Trace Elementary School. Mr. Allard represented the families of numerous children who were abused by convicted child molester Keith Woodhouse. According to Allard, Woodhouse confessed to molesting numerous children at the day care facility. As a result, his lawsuit against CDI alleged that the children should never have been molested if Woodhouse had been properly supervised according to the law intended to protect children. Furthermore, for parents who find themselves facing alleged molesters like Nicolas Lhermine at the Morgan Hill YMCA – Paradise Valley Elementary School, Mr. Allard has this advice:

Beware of Statutes of Limitations

Statutes of limitations often prohibit people who experienced childhood sex abuse from obtaining civil justice. Mr. Allard urges the parents of child molestation victims to come forward. The law firm of Cerri, Boskovich & Allard can help victims of the Morgan Hill YMCA – Paradise Valley Elementary School molestations. Thus, when you are ready to move forward, we stand ready to help. Call our San Jose office at 408-289-1417. Finally, you can contact us online to schedule your free confidential consultation.

Update:

September 19, 2013 — New sexual assault charges filed against 20-year-old Morgan Hill resident Nicolas Lhermine added two more children – including a 3-year-old girl – to the YMCA employee’s list of victims, authorities said.

May 28, 2014 — Sexual abuse lawsuit filed against the YMCA of Silicon Valley.