Dish Network Virginia Child Molestation Case--Every Parent's Nightmare

Ben Glass
Attorney
(866) 735-1102 Ext 320
Posted by Ben GlassJuly 20, 2009 6:57 AM

Every parent's nightmare.

You call the cable or satellite installer and you let them into your house. You don't know it but the installer is a convicted child molester. Easy to check that out these days..you would think.

A case is brewing in Virginia where the allegations are that this Dish Network installer, complete with (as the judge put it) pornography, sex toys and "cheap children's bracelets" arrived at the house to do his work.

The child was in a room different from the room the installer was working in. In a very short time, however, he assaulted her. He is now serving 20 years for that crime.

The family sued for damages the child sustained. When sued, Dish Network tried to have the case removed from state court to federal court, alleging that the family and the offender were citizens of two different states. Judge Henry Hudson, of the Eastern District of Virginia, rejected the removal petition as he found that the evidence was overwhelming that the child molester lived in Virginia. You can see Judge Hudson's full opinion in the Dish Network child molestation case here.

Ultimately this case will revolve around whether Dish Network knew or should have know (by checking more carefully, the family will contend) that this guy was a child molester and that it might not be a good idea to give him a job where he travels alone to houses where children live. Hopefully for the family they wont' be traumatized again by a long litigation process.

1 Comment

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Michael Phelan
Posted by Michael Phelan
July 20, 2009 2:21 PM

Hey Ben:
This is our case. See my parnter's blog about Judge Hudson's decision at the following link:
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In the underlying case, the Dish defendants argue that the sex offender/satellite TV installer they sent to the home was an independent contractor for whom they are not liable. The types of businesses that send workers into our homes with full access the homes seem to go out of their ways to avoid doing background checks on the people they hire. Here is a blog I did about how consumers can protect themselves from this problem.
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Mike

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