In April of 2024, Lindsay Wilz and Duane Lillehaug tried to a successful verdict a negligent supervision claim for our client, a victim of sexual assault. In 2015, our client was a 15-year-old girl staying at the home of her best friend. The girls invited three boys to join them that evening with the homeowners' permission. Throughout the night, the girls consumed alcohol and became increasingly intoxicated. At a time when our client could not consent, she was sexually assaulted by her then-boyfriend. One of the major difficulties in our claim was that our client did not remember the assault. She had no recollection that it happened but circumstantial evidence, including results of a SANE examination, indicated she had also been assaulted.
We alleged that the defendant homeowners failed to supervise the teenagers by failing to physically check on them and enforce their two rules: (1) no drinking; and (2) boys must leave the house at 1:00 a.m. The homeowners never went down to the basement to check on the teenagers despite knowing that the girls had previously drank alcohol in their home and despite knowing that there were at least two boys in their home at 1:00 a.m.
After a 2.5 hour deliberation, the jury found our client played no role in her sexual assault. They placed 40% of the fault on the defendant homeowners for negligently supervising the teenagers. We are beyond proud of our client for having the courage to stand up for herself. She made us so proud! Because of her, we all took another step forward in advocating for victims of sexual assault.
In July, Lindsay Wilz was awarded the American Association for Justice Women Trial Lawyers Caucus Trailblazer Spotlight. The Trailblazer Spotlight is chosen by the Women Trial Lawyers Caucus Executive Officers as the “case of the year” in recognition of a woman trial lawyer’s efforts in securing justice for her client. Lindsay delivered the keynote address at the annual brunch. In a room filled with hundreds of trial lawyers from across the country, Lindsay explained the heart behind her and Duane Lillehaug’s recent verdict for a sexual assault victim. Lindsay moved the room to tears as she told the story of bringing justice to a young girl in the fight to “fix her heart.”