Stop Abusing the Abused
I am writing as a parent and retired physician to address every healthcare professional and every compassionate Granite Stater. Please take this moment to consider the suffering of hundreds of NH children, now adults, who were sexually and physically abused by our state employees at the Youth Development Center and other state-run facilities. Many victims were raped, beaten and some even tortured.
The NH Legislature created the YDC Claims Settlement Fund in 2022 and the court appointed former Chief Justice John Broderick as the fund’s independent administrator. Most victims chose not to sue the state for their injuries and chose to entrust their claims to this settlement process. Each harmed individual was promised a compassionate hearing before an independent, trauma-informed board resulting in standardized settlements based on the types of harm suffered.
Recently Governor Ayotte and our Legislature removed Judge Broderick without cause or personal notification. And, they replaced the above independent settlement process with a new, inadequately funded claims process administered by a political appointee answerable to the Attorney General and the Governor. This shell game is equivalent to a trial where the defendant (State of NH) insists on becoming the judge and jury, and the plaintiff’s (abused victims) needs are weighed in an impersonal manner and valued only within a pre-determined budget.
Please call or email Governor Ayotte to stop abusing the abused victims and reestablish an independent, adequately funded and staffed YDC Claims Settlement process that provides a timely and fair settlement to all victims.
Randy Hayes
Canterbury, NH