The Coalition Against Domestic and Sexual Violence.
by Gracie Gato
In America, it’s an open secret that you can easily get an LLC and an EIN number to squirrel away your assets. Create shell companies, and if you’re really shrewd, you can masquerade behind a noble cause and rake in the cash through Federal Grants. Just look at Black Lives Matter or various coalitions against domestic violence. The façade of virtue can be quite lucrative. Case in point, what is going on in New Hampshire.
The First Civil Lawsuit in New Hampshire Youth Detention Center Abuse Cases
It’s finally happened. The first civil lawsuit out of over a thousand cases of alleged child sexual assault and abuse at the New Hampshire Youth Detention Center has concluded. The result? A civil jury awarded David Meehan, the plaintiff, a whopping $38 million. But hold your applause — the state’s attorney, Brandon Chase, representing DCYF (the NH Division for Children, Youth and Families), quickly retorted that the payout would be capped at $475,000. Why? Because the jury ticked only one box, which the state conveniently interpreted as a single incident.
Over the weekend, David Meehan’s attorneys filed an emergency motion to address this discrepancy, armed with emails from jurors. These jurors, seeing the state’s announcement about the cap on WMUR (the local news station), felt compelled to speak out. According to state guidelines, jurors can discuss the case post-verdict with anyone except the attorneys and interested parties.
David Meehan’s legal team, David Vicinanzo and Russ Rilee, aren’t your average lawyers. Vicinanzo, a former Assistant U.S. Attorney and federal prosecutor, is a partner at Nixon Peabody — the same firm once helmed by former New Hampshire Attorney General and current Chief Justice Gordon MacDonald. These guys have history. They previously defended the Diocese of Manchester, shelling out millions for alleged abuse by priests, thanks to police officer James F. McLaughlin’s dubious claims.
Now, Gordon MacDonald presides as Chief Justice while still listed at Nixon Peabody. He’s an agent for a company managed by former NH Senator Gordon Humphrey, whom he appointed as a referee. Another referee, Justice John T. Broderick, denied Father Gordon MacRae’s appeal in 1996. Broderick now oversees the settlement payouts for YDC claims from a $100 million state fund. Interestingly, he’s on a mental health book tour with MacDonald, highlighting the close-knit “club” still pulling strings decades later.
Meanwhile, Brandon Chase, representing the state against Vicinanzo and Rilee, is also involved in the closed-door hearings for former Detective James F. McLaughlin, who is fighting to keep his crimes off the state’s Laurie List of officers with credibility issues.
This tangled web of connections is more than a coincidence. It’s a systemic issue where the same names surface repeatedly, fostering a culture of self-dealing and cover-ups. Non-profits and vested interests lobby for federal funds under the guise of training for police and prosecutors. Yet, this money often funnels back to this clique, perpetuating bribery, extortion, and abuse.
The AG’s office faces criticism for conflicts of interest in the YDC cases, but what’s emerging now is how self-dealing and manipulation enable this corruption. Joelle Wiggin, the “victim specialist” for Meehan, moved straight from the state and NHCADSV (the New Hampshire Coalition Against Domestic and Sexual Violence) to Nixon Peabody, ensuring that up to 55% of each settlement gets siphoned off before reaching plaintiffs.
With figures like David Vicinanzo strategically positioned, and his son now an Assistant US Attorney, the cycle of influence and manipulation continues. Lobbyists using public funds, police, prosecutors, and media to their advantage isn’t just a theory — it’s the reality.
Justice remains elusive when everyone is in on the lucrative game. For those in power, the incentives to uncover truth and deliver justice are overshadowed by financial gains. As one New Hampshire Supreme Court Justice recuses themselves without explanation, questions about financial disclosures and personal interests linger, further clouding the integrity of the legal system.
In this club, the priority isn’t justice — it’s profit. Unveiling this corruption is essential for anyone who genuinely cares about true justice, as opposed to the farce we witness today.