Florida Injury Lawyer Blawg
A pastor at a church in Northwest Miami-Dade County is facing charges after police say he sexually abused a 15-year-old member of the congregation.
Elco Vallier, 50, of Loxahatchee, Florida, was charged with lewd and lascivious molestation and lewd and lascivious conduct with a minor.
At around 8:30 p.m. on Monday, Feb. 9, the minor told police that Vallier sexually assaulted her on several occasions at the church, according to a Feb. 18 press release from the Miami-Dade Sheriff’s Office. The girl’s mother told deputies that she found “inappropriate text messages” on her daughter’s phone that she alleges are from Vallier.
The sheriff’s office said that anyone with information about this individual or related incidents may call 305-715-3300. Parents who believe that their child may have “come in contact with individual” may also call, deputies said in the press release.
Leesfield & Partners
Leesfield & Partners is a personal injury law firm with five decades of experience representing the victims and survivors of sexual abuse and other violent crimes throughout Florida. In that time, the firm has represented far too many minors and adults who have been abused by those in a position of trust and failed by those who ignored or failed to report their suspicions.
In the United States, it is estimated that someone is sexually assaulted every 68 seconds, according to data from the Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network (RAINN). Every nine minutes, that person is a child. Our attorneys have represented enough clients to know the long-lasting impact that the trauma of sexual abuse can have on victims and survivors. More often than not, the perpetrator of child sexual abuse is someone the minor knows. This can include family members, teachers, coaches, tutors, babysitters, or church officials. These individuals are in a position of trust and are often granted unfettered access to the victim. Our attorneys represent every client with the compassion, diligence and tenacity necessary to achieve the best possible outcome and hold those responsible accountable for the damage they have caused.
Ongoing Cases
Partner Justin B. Shapiro and Evan Robinson, a Trial Attorney at the firm, are representing a minor and her family after a horrific and gruesome sexual assault has left her traumatized. The assault happened at a local gym where there had been prior incidents involving the 22-year-old man trying to “fight” other gym goers. Despite these outbursts, no actions were taken by the gym to either revoke this individual’s membership or limit his access to the gym.
As a result of this horrific assault, out 14-year-old client has been left with PTSD, and night terrors.
Bernardo Pimentel II, a Trial Attorney at the firm, is representing a woman who was left traumatized after it was discovered that an employee with the cruise ship she was traveling on had planted hidden cameras in her room and the room of other passengers. Many of the victims who were filmed without their knowledge included children.
This employee was sentenced to 30 years in prison for creating child sex abuse material.
That case is ongoing.
Mr. Shapiro is also representing a woman who suffers from emotional scarring and PTSD after she was leered at by a worker while in the shower at a luxury Florida hotel.
Previous Cases
Leesfield & Partners has represented victims and survivors in numerous cases involving sexual abuse and the negligence of corporations, management companies, and other entities responsible for ensuring their safety.
Ira Leesfield, the firm’s Founder and Managing Partner, and Trial Attorney Carlos A. Fabano obtained a confidential settlement on behalf four clients who were sexually abused as children by the same church official while they attended parochial schools.
Mr. Shapiro secured a $16 million settlement for a couple who were brutally attacked while staying as guests at a hotel. The assailant in that case viciously beat both victims. He also raped and sexually assaulted the wife.
Despite the hotel’s known history of violent incidents, management had disregarded repeated recommendations from both law enforcement and a private security firm to employ armed security personnel.
On the day of the incident, the attacker gained unrestricted access to the hotel due to the absence of basic safety measures, such as functioning locks or keycard-secured elevators. He went up to the couple’s floor, where he launched a violent assault—first attacking the husband, then brutally beating and raping the wife. Disturbingly, hotel staff and on-site security witnessed parts of the attack but failed to intervene.
Previously, the firm secured $8.6 million for a camper at a well-known Florida summer camp. A camp counselor in that case was later found to have been sexually abusing our minor client. The camp ignored clear warning signs, to the detriment of the child they were entrusted to protect.
Leesfield & Partners attorneys previously secured a confidential settlement for a child who was flying as an unaccompanied minor on an airline and meant to be under the care of flight officials. During the flight, the child was sexually abused by another passenger.
In a case involving multiple students who were sexually abused by a teacher at a prestigious Florida high school, the victims and survivors were paid multi-million-dollar reparations thanks to the work of Leesfield & Partners.
The firm represented a Canadian cruise ship passenger who was attacked and raped in her private cabin by a crew member. This crew member used his employee keycard to enter the woman’s room. A multi-million-dollar recover was obtained for the woman in that case.
A store clerk was awarded $1.13 million in a negligent security case at a shopping mall following an incident in which the clerk was robbed and brutally raped.
A hotel maid was raped while on the job by a man who was not a guest who roamed the property without being questioned. Leesfield & Partners secured a $1 million settlement for the woman.
If you or someone you know has been sexually abused, you are not alone. Help can be found by calling the National Sexual Assault Hotline at 1-800-656-4673.
