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U.S. DISTRICT COURT Men's sex-abuse lawsuits dismissed over time delay Seven accuse late probation officer of abusing them as children Comment By Shaun Hall Grants Pass Daily Courier MailTribune.com By Shaun Hall Grants Pass Daily Courier Posted Jun. 26, 2015 at 10:35 AM By Shaun Hall Grants Pass Daily Courier Posted Jun. 26, 2015 at 10:35 AM » Social News Ruling they waited too long, a federal judge has dismissed lawsuits brought by seven men who said officials looked the other way when they were sexually abused as boys by late Josephine County juvenile probation officer Raymond X. Luckey. By law, the plaintiffs needed to file within two years of the damage, or realizing the damage, but did not do so, U.S. District Judge Ann Aiken ruled May 19. Instead, it's been decades since the alleged abuse. The plaintiffs are appealing to the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in San Francisco. Some lawsuits go forward years after the abuse, on the basis that the damage done isn't realized until years later, but the judge said the defendants knew long ago about some of the harm done. "I find that the statute of limitations bars plaintiffs' claims," the judge ruled. The men filed suit in U.S. District Court in Medford in 2012, claiming abuse by Luckey, who shot himself in 1994 at the age of 41 as a grand jury was scheduled to hear testimony on possible sex-abuse charges. Each defendant sought $6 million in damages from the county, alleging they were coerced for sexual favors by Luckey and that county officials had received notice of Luckey's inappropriate contact with juveniles in his charge and failed to take action. Aiken found that the men knew or should have known they were injured at the time of the abuse, or at least by the time they turned adults. "No plaintiff asserts that he did not know or realize that Luckey's abuse caused him injury at the time," the judge wrote in her opinion. "Further, given plaintiffs' allegations about the severity of the abuse, they would have known that Luckey's actions caused them injury." The plaintiffs — all listed as John Does in court records — are now in their 30s and 40s. They allege ongoing psychological injuries, including depression, anxiety, substance abuse, violence, post-traumatic stress and difficulties with relationships. The plaintiffs argued that they did not realize the cause of their problems, but the judge said the statute of limitations clock starts running even though the full extent of the injury is not then known. Aiken said she had empathy for the plaintiffs, but could not alter federal common law. "I recognize that the insidious nature of child sexual abuse — particularly when committed by a person in a position of authority like Luckey — may result in further tragedy when the attendant fear and shame prevents a victim from disclosing the abuse or seeking legal recourse for his or her injuries within the limitations period," she said. The case was appealed last week. Lead attorneys for both sides did not return requests for comment. Josephine County Counsel Wally Hicks said the county will continue to defend the case. "The judge decided based on the statute of limitations," Hicks said. "That was the county's argument all along." Hicks refused to discuss any possible payments to the plaintiffs to settle the case. Court records indicate at least one previous lawsuit in the case was settled in the mid-1990s. "I should withhold comment about settlements," Hicks said. By Shaun Hall Grants Pass Daily Courier MailTribune.com By Shaun Hall Grants Pass Daily Courier Posted Jun. 26, 2015 at 10:35 AM » Comment or view comments Reader Reaction » STAY INFORMED Email NewsLetter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. Southern Oregon Directory Featured Businesses Loading... 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