NBC Connecticut
April 6, 2011
http://www.nbcconnecticut.com/news/local/Day-2-in-Doctor-Sex-Abuse-Trial-Begins-119319354.html
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Allegations that Dr. George Reardon sexually abused hundreds of children in the 1960s and 1970s came to light in 2007 when a couple living in the doctor's former West Hartford home found 50,000 to 60,000 images of child pornography behind a wall in the basement.
The abuse is believed to have happened as Reardon conducted a study on the sexual development of minors at St. Francis Hospital in Hartford. Several of Reardon's former patients are suing the hospital, claiming the hospital was negligent for supporting the research that led to the sexual abuse of so many.
During testimony on Wednesday, a former hospital administrator, said the hospital paid for film, flashbulbs, photo developing chemicals and equipment that Reardon used during his fake study.
Arthur Shorr, a health care administrator consultant from California who was an administrator during the study, said Reardon submitted hundreds of purchase order requests for film and other supplies.
The trial in the civil suit began on Tuesday, when some of the plaintiffs testified in court about what happened decades ago.
Reardon died in 1998, but the alleged abuse St Francis Hospital is the target of a lawsuit that is now in court because it funded Reardon's research, which provided him access to hundreds of children.
The victims said Dr. Reardon fondled them and forced them to pose naked for lewd photographs that Reardon took in his hospital office. One plaintiff said he was forced to perform sex acts on another minor male patient while Reardon photographed them. Some victims have reported this behavior being forced among siblings.
On Tuesday, three men who are now middle aged, spoke in court and testified against the hospital they said did nothing to stop Reardon.
One said Dr. Reardon took 50 to 100 photos if him in his hospital office, starting in 1967.
A victim, who is not a plaintiff in the case, said Reardon took porn photos of him and his brothers.
St. Francis Hospital officials said the hospital maintains there was no way for them to know what Reardon was doing.
Shorr said on Wednesday that there was no mechanism to supervise Reardon's work. The doctor supervised his own study.
Taking photos in private areas was part of his practice, Paul Williams, the attorney for the hospital said on Tuesday.
"We're certainly not defending in anyway his actions in this case," Williams said.
He called Reardon a "master manipulator who fooled and deceived everyone."
"The victims of Dr. Reardon and St. Francis are very pleased that we can finally get to trial. We have a very strong case and we look forward to the end result here," Joel Faxon, the attorney for the plaintiffs, said.
A man, referred to as John Doe #2 is expected to testify later this week in a trial could run through May.
Between 90 and 100 suspected victims are accounted for, while the identities of at least 400 are unknown.
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