Housing Supervisor Accused of Abusing Nearly 70 Children at Charles H. Hickey, Jr. School in Lawsuit Filed Under Maryland Child Victims Act

BALTIMORE, March 4, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- The State of Maryland and Maryland Department of Juvenile Services (DJS) are being named in a civil complaint filed today alleging negligence that enabled the sexual assault of at least 69 children who were allegedly abused while housed at Charles H. Hickey, Jr. School, a juvenile detention facility. As alleged in the complaint, the state agencies failed to protect children from Ronald Neverdon, who was employed as a housing unit manager and a housing supervisor at the facility from approximately the mid-1960s to the mid-1990s. The lawsuit was filed by attorneys in the Baltimore office of Slater Slater Schulman LLP, a leading, full-service law firm with decades of experience representing survivors of traumatic and catastrophic events.

The complaint details a pattern of negligent supervision that allowed Neverdon to abuse his position of authority at the juvenile facility. According to the complaint, Neverdon allegedly abused the plaintiffs at various locations throughout the facility, including in his office, the gym, residents' rooms, bathrooms, and the showers. The filing also alleges that the abuse extended beyond the facility, with Neverdon sexually assaulting children at his house and the movies.

"When it first opened back in the 1800s, the Charles H. Hickey, Jr. School was reportedly called the 'House of Refuge' – over a century later, it offered anything but that to the children who had the misfortune to be sent there by the state," said Adam Slater, Founding and Managing Partner of Slater Slater Schulman LLP. "These young people were placed in the care of the Department of Juvenile Services by court order, yet the state failed to safeguard them from repeated abuse. The victims continue to suffer the profound, lifelong consequences of this institutional negligence, and we are committed to holding the responsible parties accountable."

"These survivors, many now in their 50s and 60s, have carried the trauma of this abuse for decades," said Benjamin Davis, Managing Attorney of Slater Slater Schulman's Baltimore office. "The complaint details a horrific pattern where Neverdon used his position of authority to isolate and prey on children as young as nine years old. The Maryland Child Victims Act finally gives these brave individuals a pathway to justice."

The complaint alleges that the State of Maryland failed to implement proper supervision protocols and ignored warning signs of inappropriate behavior at the facility. According to the complaint, many of the children housed at the facility were aware of the abuse. According to the filing, Neverdon threatened and manipulated victims to prevent them from reporting the abuse, telling them he would "make their lives miserable" and that "no one would believe them." The plaintiffs report ongoing psychological trauma from the abuse they suffered as children at the state-run facility.

Of particular concern, the filing states that the DJS knew the plaintiffs were being abused and was well-aware that child sex abuse by facility staff has been a persistent problem for decades. The complaint alleges that despite investigations conducted by the DJS's own task force and studies by the U.S. Department of Justice confirming ongoing abuse issues, the agencies failed to take effective action to protect children in their care.

Originally opened in 1850, Charles H. Hickey, Jr. School was the first facility built in Maryland for the sole purpose of housing juvenile offenders separately from adults. The facility was run by DJS and included both a secure detention center and, until its closure in November 2005, a secure treatment program. The DJS was tasked with protecting children within Maryland's juvenile justice system, with a stated mission to "transform young people's lives [by] creating safe communities."

The lawsuit is proceeding under the Maryland Child Victims Act, which was signed into law on April 11, 2023, and recently upheld as constitutional by the Maryland Supreme Court on February 3, 2025. The law allows survivors to file retroactive lawsuits, even if their claims have already expired under an existing statute of limitations, and eliminates the statute of limitations for all future lawsuits based on childhood sexual abuse claims.

NOTE: Individuals seeking to be linked to resources for sexual assault survivors can call 800.656.HOPE (4673) to be connected with a trained staff member from a sexual assault service provider in your area. The National Sexual Assault Hotline operated by RAINN (Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network) provides confidential support from trained staff members and can assist with finding local healthcare resources, help talk through what happened, and offer referrals for long-term support.

About Slater Slater Schulman LLP

Slater Slater Schulman LLP is a leading, full-service law firm with decades of experience representing survivors of traumatic and catastrophic events. Our dedicated attorneys are committed to ensuring the best results for our clients through persistence and compassionate representation. With 11 offices in 10 states, Slater Slater Schulman has achieved successful resolutions in some of the most challenging cases in the nation. We have considerable experience with complex, historical sexual abuse cases involving massive institutions, including academic, religious, and youth organizations. Our firm also represents clients in litigation involving pharmaceutical drugs, product liability, environmental law, employment and labor law, medical malpractice, and personal injury, and has proudly represented thousands of World Trade Center survivors. Learn more at sssfirm.com

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SOURCE Slater Slater Schulman LLP