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	First Trial against Ct Doctor Begins By Erin Cox WTNH April 5, 2011 http://www.wtnh.com/dpp/news/crime/first-trial-against-ct-doctor-begins [with video] Waterbury, Conn (WTNH) - The first civil trial in the case of a Connecticut doctor suspected of sexually abusing hundreds of children got underway Tuesday. The defendant, Saint Francis Hospital and Medical Center, where Doctor George Reardon worked, is accused of failing to protect the alleged victims. On this first day, jurors already had to see disturbing child pornography pictures, and they are likely to see many more, as John Doe #2 tries to prove that St Francis Hospital failed to protect him from Doctor George Reardon. Reardon died in 1988, but dozens claim that as children they took part in a growth study at St. Francis Hospital in Hartford, and during visits there, Reardon posed them in sexual positions and took pictures. Lawyers for many of them claim the hospital failed to supervise the study, thereby failing to prevent the abuse. "The jury is going to have to decide the case, and decide whether St. Francis met the standard of care in terms of overseeing the research or not," said Plaintiff's Attorney Joel Faxon. The lawyer for St. Francis Hospital is telling jurors St. Francis did nothing wrong, saying no one ever complained about Dr. Reardon, and staff never saw the photos. He also said this case happened during a more trusting time, when doctors were held in high esteem, and never thought to do any harm. The case centers on some 50,000 photos of underage children. The cache of child porn was hidden inside a wall, when new owners were doing renovations at Reardon's West Hartford home. A police captain testified that some 500 different children were pictured. William Roe was one of them. He testified in the late 1960's as a ten-year-old that Dr. Reardon performed a sex act on him. The jury is expected to hear from other alleged victims. Many of the victims were in the court room Tuesday, wearing blue ribbons showing support for the plaintiff in this first of some 90 lawsuits. Testimony in this case is likely to take about six weeks.
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