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	Six More Sue St. Francis Hospital in Reardon Sex Abuse Case By Arielle Levin Becker Hartford Courant May 13, 2010 http://www.courant.com/news/connecticut/hc-hc-reardon-lawsuits-0513.artmay13,0,326813.story Six more people have filed suit against St. Francis Hospital and Medical Center alleging abuse by Dr. George Reardon, who worked at the hospital for 30 years and is believed to have sexually abused as many as 500 children. The newest plaintiffs — five men and one woman — bring the number of people suing the hospital to 149. Their complaint, filed Wednesday, alleges that Reardon molested them and forced them to pose naked for photographs in his hospital office, in some cases, with their faces covered by sheets or bags. Reardon also forced one plaintiff to penetrate another boy while Reardon photographed them, the lawsuit says. The complaint alleges that the hospital was negligent in failing to stop Reardon or supervise him adequately. It also accuses the hospital of systematically covering up Reardon's sexual misconduct and following a policy of discouraging the spread of information about sexual misconduct involving doctors and minors. Reardon, the hospital's chief of endocrinology, gained access to many children by claiming that he was conducting a growth study. An expert's report filed with the lawsuit says that the hospital failed to monitor Reardon's work, as required by several U.S. and international standards for research involving human subjects. New Haven attorney Joel T. Faxon, whose firm, Stratton Faxon, represents more than 50 plaintiffs in the case, including the six who filed the latest complaint, said it remains difficult for victims to come forward. "This latest round of child victims found the inner strength to confront this issue, seek to hold St. Francis accountable and, by their actions, protect other vulnerable children," he said in a written statement. "I'm sure that cases will continue to be filed as more child victims come to terms with this horrific, disgusting tragedy." A statement from St. Francis on Wednesday said the hospital cannot comment on matters in litigation. In the past, St. Francis officials have said that the hospital did not know of the specific allegations against Reardon until 1993, when state health officials tried to revoke his license. Reardon died in 1998. The first trial in the case is scheduled to begin next March. Three of the new plaintiffs are older than 48, meaning they are beyond the statute of limitations for filing a lawsuit involving child sexual abuse. Fifty-six other plaintiffs also are beyond the age limit. Their cases are moving forward, but could face challenges. State lawmakers have tried twice in the past two years to eliminate or raise the age limit for suing in child sexual abuse cases, but the proposals, which drew opposition from St. Francis and the Roman Catholic Church, have failed. Faxon said victims will push for a similar change when the legislature meets again next year. "The victims will work tirelessly to get that bill passed," he said. "It's not going away."
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