A landmark verdict was reached in Atlantic County, New Jersey, where a jury awarded $3 million to Rachel Neufeld-Del Rossi, a survivor of child sexual abuse by former Margate City lifeguard Steven Allen Chasens. The verdict, comprising $1.75 million in compensatory damages and $1.25 million in punitive damages, was delivered after a five-day trial that highlighted the prolonged abuse Neufeld-Del Rossi endured starting at the age of 15 in 1979.
The evidence presented during the trial included letters, cards, photos, and plane tickets, illustrating how Chasens groomed and abused Neufeld-Del Rossi in New Jersey and transported her to locations such as Florida and the Cayman Islands for further abuse. Despite Chasens' denials, the jury found him responsible for sexual battery, violations of the New Jersey Human Trafficking Act, and intentionally inflicting harm.
Jeffrey Fritz, the attorney representing Neufeld-Del Rossi from Soloff & Zervanos, praised the jury's decision, emphasizing the importance of condemning child sexual abuse. Neufeld-Del Rossi expressed her relief and vindication, stating the verdict gave her a voice after decades of silence. The case was made possible by the Child Victims Act, a 2019 law allowing survivors to seek justice years after the abuse occurred.
This verdict not only represents a personal victory for Neufeld-Del Rossi but also serves as a beacon of hope for other survivors of child sexual abuse, demonstrating the legal system's capacity to deliver justice long after the crimes were committed. For more information on the Child Victims Act, visit https://www.nj.gov/lps/dcj/agguide/child-victims-act/.
