Professional And Unbiased Independent Sexual Abuse Investigations

If you are an organization or individual that has either been a victim of sexual assault or accused of sexual assault or misconduct and believe that the allegations against you are unfounded, you can hire the Fuggi Law Firm to do an independent sexual abuse investigation.

We work with both 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations and for-profit corporations. The objective of the independent investigation is to come to an unbiased conclusion of whether the allegations of sexual abuse and/or sexual harassment can be verified to a legal and factual standard. The firm, which was formed as a general litigation law firm, morphed over the years into handling complex litigation, civil rights, sexual abuse and other high-profile cases. With excellence and professionalism, we continue to represent those who have been sexually abused and many who have been wrongly accused of sexual abuse.

Services include:

• Verify sexual abuse allegations
• Independent verification of sexual abuse claims for all
• Prepare and issue a report regarding the allegations of sexual abuse and verification
• Confidentially resolve claims of sexual abuse between the victim and the accused
• Discreetly evaluate and promulgate directives for initiatives to protect against sexual abuse allegations
• Provide legal counsel and direction for handling possible claims of sexual abuse, institutional or corporate

Our professional team is aware that there are different sides to each story. We will strive to uncover the truth regarding all allegations of sexual abuse. We aim to provide an unbiased, objective, independent, competent, and comprehensive response to allegations and/or verification of sexual abuse and related sexual crimes.

The Independent Sexual Crimes Investigation Process

We will investigate the allegations of sexual abuse or sexual harassment. Then, we determine the legal implications, whether based on the civil or criminal law of the state, and whether they can be verified or substantiated by competent legal proof. The Fuggi Law Firm will compile all relevant information, consisting of:

• Interviews with all relevant parties with information on the allegations
• The participants
• Background searches
• Relevant medical history of participants
• Documentary evidence
• Expert witness opinion in polygraph testing
• Medical, psychological and legal forensic analysis
• Application of current civil and criminal law

The Fuggi Law Firm will prepare а thorough and comprehensive report outlining all aspects of the independent sexual abuse investigation:

• Evaluation of:
  • All parties involved
  • Background and history of the parties involved
  • The witness accounts of allegations
  • Statements under oath
• Documentary evidence collection, including:
  • Forensic reports
  • Legal research and analysis
  • Findings and conclusions of the purpose

The objective of the Fuggi Law Firm is truth-seeking justice for both the victim and the accused. We value confidentiality in investigations. We use a discreet, confidential investigation process for allegations of all sexual abuse.

Sexual Abuse Assessments And Evaluations For Your Organization

The Fuggi Law Firm can provide institutional assessments and evaluations in relation to safeguarding sexual abuse claims for your nonprofit organization or for-profit company. An assessment is, by nature, proactive. It may be useful for any organization to protect against potential sexual abuse claims. Our process, once hired by your institution, will typically include conducting an overall case evaluation to gain more insight into operations. This may include:

• Interviews of select individuals
• Gathering documents
• Gathering data
• Polygraph examinations
• Additional relevant materials to assess the areas of concern present in the organization

We will provide findings and recommendations in a legal memorandum of law in the evaluation to enhance and protect the organization.

Meet Our Principal Sexual Crimes Attorney

Robert R. Fuggi Jr., Esq., principal of the Fuggi Law Firm, is a prominent trial attorney who has been featured in the prestigious New Jersey Law Journal for his work in the area of sexual abuse. Over the last several decades, he has become а leader in the formation of case law regarding litigation of sexual abuse, victim advocacy, institutional sexual abuse, civil rights and #MeToo cases.

Mr. Fuggi has been involved in numerous high-profile cases that have received statewide, national and international attention. He often accepts complex cases that other firms aren’t interested in. Recently, he was counsel to plaintiffs in the highly publicized Stockton University rape cases. He is currently involved with several high-profile cases with:

• The state of New Jersey
• The New Jersey State Police
• The Catholic Church
• Various public schools
• The Department of Youth and Family Services (DYFS)
• Other entities, both public and not-for-profit

Robert R. Fuggi previously represented 23 plaintiffs in one of New Jersey’s largest clergy sex abuse cases in its history. He has been selected to the prestigious National Trial Lawyers Top 100 from 2012 to 2025. He received the New Jersey Law Journal’s 2020 Innovation of the Year Award for the practice of law in sexual abuse. He has extensive court representation experience in state courts, state appellate courts and state supreme courts, along with numerous federal courts. He has numerous published and unpublished decisions on sexual assault and the changing of sexual abuse law.

Our Team And Our Vision

The Fuggi Law Firm is an independent firm composed of professionals well-versed in the area of sexual abuse investigations. The current staff of sexual crime attorneys, paralegals and investigators has handled some of the most complex sexual abuse cases in New Jersey history, both at the state and federal levels.

Our mission is:

• Seeking justice for sexual abuse victims
• Determining if allegations of sexual abuse can be verified by the accuser
• Protecting all those who have been sexually abused and/or wrongly accused of sexual abuse

Our team is experienced in investigating high-profile sexual abuse cases and verifying sexual abuse allegations, working to bring closure and case resolution to all parties concerned. They are proficient in all areas of sexual abuse law. You can put their knowledge, experience and proven history at the highest level at work in an independent sexual abuse investigation to the test.

Why Pursue An Independent Investigation?

Independent sexual abuse investigations offered by the Fuggi Law Firm do not replace any parallel criminal investigation by the authorities. However, due to the nature of sexual abuse allegations, the victim may not want to come forward or may want to keep the allegations confidential. Independent sexual abuse investigations offer a more private process for all parties involved.

Holding Religious Institutions Accountable

Robert Fuggi is often approached to handle sexual abuse cases against religious organizations and other institutions. He attended Princeton Theological Seminary, where he obtained a Master of Divinity (MDiv) and a Master of Theology (MTh) degrees. Since he had significant trial experience coupled with a theological training, he began to represent victims of institutional sexual abuse. Before the law was changed, many firms wouldn’t take on these cases because of the complexities of the statute of limitations and the tort claim notices. A Monsignor on the opposing side of one of these cases said, “You are doing God’s work,” in the throng of litigation.

Standing Up To Stockton University On Victims’ Behalf

Robert Fuggi filed numerous sexual assault lawsuits against Stockton University in the New Jersey Federal District Court. As a result of the lawsuits, the New Jersey attorney general promulgated new guidelines and directives to New Jersey colleges and universities related to the proper reporting and handling of all sexual abuse allegations.

Stockton University was hit with seven lawsuits this summer from current and former students alleging sexual assault and discrimination, many specifically tied to an off-campus, nonsanctioned fraternity, Pi Kappa Phi, and its members. The lawsuits allege the university did not do enough to protect the students from danger or ensure access to education. The university has said it has done everything it can.

The following are the New Jersey bills intended to address campus sexual assaults, which the Fuggi Law Firm was instrumental in bringing to the forefront:

1. A318: The New Jersey “Assault Assault Violence in Education Act” requires institutions of higher education to adopt anti-sexual assault theater program, report allegations of sexual assault to the county prosecutor and provide students with information on sexual assaults.
2. A1349: Requires institutions of higher education to use procedures in response to allegations of sexual harassment that are consistent with certain federal guidance and to report incidents of sexual assault.
3. A1736: Establishes task force on campus sexual assault.
4. A1763: Establishes Campus Sexual Assault Commission.
5. A1984: Requires institutions of higher education to annually report the total number of sexual assault and domestic violence allegations made by or against students to the attorney general and the secretary of higher education.
6. A2311: Requires institutions of higher education to provide victim-centered training to employees who assist student victims of sexual assault.
7. S486: Authorizes the secretary of higher education to impose a fine against an institution of higher education that fails to appropriately respond to а student’s allegations of sexual assault by another student.

“We didn’t take these cases on for publicity. We took them because it was the morally responsible thing to do. As lawyers, we’re well-educated and have the wherewithal to bring forth positive societal change. We also have an obligation to help out those that are voiceless and innocent.”

– Robert R. Fuggi

Significant Court Decisions And Published Opinions

Below is a sample of significant court decisions and published opinions for which sexual crimes attorney Robert R. Fuggi is responsible:

John Doe V. The Estate Of C.V.O. Jr. And The Estate Of G.A.O.

Appellate Division Docket No.: A-2780-21

Approved For Publication: October 12, 2023

This appeal raised issues of the first impression pertaining to the civil prosecution of statutory and common law personal injury claims arising from allegations of sexual abuse committed 55 years ago against a child by his sister, who was also a minor when the acts occurred. On November 17, 2021, plaintiff John Doe filed Child Sexual Abuse Act (CSAA) N.J.S.A. 2A:61B-1, and common law negligence, gross negligence and negligent infliction of emotional distress claims against defendants, his deceased parents’ estates, the estate of C.V.O. Jr. and the estate of G.A.O., alleging his parents failed to prevent sexual assaults by his minor sister, D.O.

E.C., A Minor By His Guardians, D.C. And S.C., And D.C. And S.C., Individually V. Leo Inglima-Donaldson, Bradley Donaldson And Bloomfield Board Of Education

Appellate Division Docket No.: A-2752-20

Approved For Publication: December 16, 2021

In 2019, the legislature expanded public entity liability for claims based on sexual assaults and other sexual misconduct by enacting N.J.S.A. 59:2-1.3(a), which disables in those instances the immunities provided by the Tort Claims Act. In this action, plaintiff E.C. alleges he was the victim of the sexual misconduct of a teacher employed by the Bloomfield Board of Education. In appealing the partial denial of its summary judgment motion, the board argues that this new statute does not apply unless the public entity itself, and not just the grossly negligent conduct, is involved. The board also contends that even if triggered, N.J.S.A. 59:2-1.3(a) removes only the Tort Claims Act immunities from the public entity, not the two defenses under the act – the verbal threshold, N.J.S.A. 59:9-2(d), and the provision that a public entity ‘is not liable for the acts or omissions of a public employee constituting a crime…,’ N.J.S.A. 59:2-10 – which the board argues are not immunities and remain applicable. We agree that the verbal threshold is not an immunity and applies here, but we otherwise reject the board’s arguments and affirm the denial of summary judgment. 

J.P. V. Smith

444 N.J. Super. 507 (App. Div. 2016)

134 A.3d 977

Decided: March 7, 2016 

In this appeal, we address claims of sexual abuse brought by the plaintiff J.P. against the defendant Southern Regional High School and Southern Regional High School Board of Education (collectively, “the school”). In her complaint, filed in September 2014, the plaintiff alleged that, in 2004, she was subjected to repeated sexual abuse by the school’s assistant band director, defendant Gregory Smith. The acts of abuse allegedly occurred (1) at the school, where the plaintiff was a student; (2) during two school-organized overnight trips; and (3) in the plaintiff’s home. The plaintiff sought damages pursuant to the Child Sexual Abuse Act (CSAA), N.J.S.A. 2A:61B-1 and under various common law theories of tort liability.

B.A. V. Golabek

Civil Docket: 18-CV-17523 (KSH) (CLW)

United States District Court, New Jersey Decided: November 8, 2021

Relying on recent amendments to the Child Sexual Abuse Act, N.J.S.A 2A:61B-1 (the “CSAA“), which greatly expanded the state’s statute of limitations for civil claims of child sexual abuse. Plaintiff B.A. has filed this lawsuit on the grounds that Janet Golabek, his former high school art teacher, sexually abused him approximately 40 years ago. He has sued Golabek and co-defendants Parsippany High School, the Parsippany-Troy Hills School District and the Parsippany-Troy Hills School Board (the “Parsippany defendants”), seeking damages against them for the alleged abuse. 

Before the court is the defendants’ motion to dismiss the complaint under Rule 12(b)(6) (D.E. 62), arguing that B.A.’s claims are untimely and that the complaint should be dismissed for failing to allege any unlawful conduct. The defendants‘ motion is denied. 

Erika Vergara V. Thomas Keyes, New Jersey State Police And State Of New Jersey

Case No.: 3:20-Cv-01460 (BRM)(LHG)

United States District Court, New Jersey Signed: December 30, 2020

Before this court is motion defendants New Jersey State Police and the State of New Jersey (“moving defendants“), seeking to dismiss plaintiff Erika Vergara’s (“Vergara”) complaint (ECF No. 1) pursuant to Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 12(b)(6) (ECF No. 9). Vergara filed an Opposition to the Motion to Dismiss (ECF No. 11) and moving defendants filed a Reply Brief to Plaintiff’s Opposition to the Motion to Dismiss (ECF No. 15). Having reviewed the submissions filed in connection with the motion and having declined to hold oral argument pursuant to Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 78(b), for the reasons set forth below and for good cause appearing, the moving defendants’ motion to dismiss is granted in part and denied in part.

K.J. V. J.P.D., K.M., Galloway Township Police, Township Of Galloway, Et Al

Case No.: 1:20-CV-14177

Opinion Dated: September 30, 2022

The plaintiff is a 38-year-old man who currently resides in Mays Landing, New Jersey. [Am. Compl. ¶1]. In 1995, when the plaintiff was approximately 11 years old and while his parents were going through a divorce, the plaintiff came to know the defendant J.P.D., a Galloway Township Police Officer, who responded to multiple domestic violence calls at the plaintiff’s home. [Am. Compl. ¶¶ 13-15]. J.P.D. eventually gave the plaintiff his pager number so that the plaintiff could notify J.P.D. before the plaintiff’s father visited the plaintiff’s house. [Am. Compl. ¶¶ 16, 18]. J.P.D. developed a rapport with the plaintiff and his family over several months, brought snacks to the plaintiff’s house and brought the plaintiff and his brother to a professional basketball game. [Am. Compl. ¶¶ 23-25].