Leto Copeley

Leto Copeley Wins Church Sex Abuse Case in NC Court of Appeals

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In a unanimous decision, the NC Court of Appeals affirmed that a case against the Catholic Diocese of Charlotte, its Bishop, Peter J. Jugis, and a seminarian, John Brian Kaup, could proceed to the next phase, which is called discovery. The Diocese of Charlotte attempted to have the case thrown out of court, arguing that the plaintiff’s claims were barred by the First Amendment. Yet, the court held that the First Amendment does not protect churches against claims of negligent supervision, negligent infliction of emotional distress, and loss of services, as these claims do not…

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Attorney Leto Copeley has been elected President of the National Crime Victim Bar Association.

Posted on by Leto Copeley

Attorney Leto Copeley of Copeley Johnson & Groninger PLLC in Durham has been elected President of the National Crime Victim Bar Association. The Association  provides technical support to attorneys representing crime victims in civil actions, refers crime victims to lawyers in their local area and work to increase general awareness about the availability of civil remedies for victims of crime. The Bar Association is a program of the National Center For Victims Of Crime, located in Annapolis, Virginia.  The Center is the leading national resource and advocacy organization for crime victims and those who serve them. Copeley is…

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CJG is investigating Hernia Mesh Injuries

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DID YOU KNOW MORE THAN 800,000 HERNIA REPAIRS ARE PERFORMED IN THE U.S. EACH YEAR?  YET THERE HAVE BEEN 50,000+ LAWSUITS IN THE U.S. RELATED TO HERNIA MESH PROCEDURES AND THE NUMBER CONTINUES TO RISE. The most common adverse events following hernia repair with mesh are pain, infection, hernia recurrence, bowel obstruction, adhesion and perforation. CLICK HERE TO LEARN MORE. Patients suffering from complications after receiving a hernia mesh implant may be entitled to compensation.   Hernia lawsuits are generally handled in federal court, and multiple claims are combined together in the same lawsuit. Copeley Johnson…

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New Case – Sexual Assaults at Massage Envy

Posted on by Leto Copeley

On October 29, 2018, Copeley Johnson & Groninger PLLC filed a civil complaint against Massage Envy – both its franchise corporation and a local franchise – on behalf of two separate victims of sexual abuse by a massage therapist at the Massage Envy facility in Wilmington, North Carolina in 2015. The two female victims, who describe “extreme discomfort and fear,” were both assaulted by the same massage therapist during a massage at the Mayfaire Town Center location. The assaults occurred only six days apart, with the second assault occurring after the first victim had repeatedly…

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Posted in Sexual Abuse & Harassment Tagged with: , ,

Do I Have a Title IX Claim?

Posted on by Leto Copeley

What is Title IX?  Title IX is the law that applies to sexual misconduct on college campuses and all schools that receive federal funds.  It is a one-sentence law that says any educational program or activity that is receiving federal funds cannot discriminate on the basis of sex. They can’t exclude anyone from participating on the basis of sex, and they can’t deny the benefits of the program on the basis of sex. And to be clear, Title IX protects everyone in the school, whether it’s teachers, students, or employees. Title IX is also the law…

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Back to School Safety tips for Kids and Parents

Posted on by Leto Copeley

How to Prep your Kids to Head Back To Schol It’s that time of year again. Parents scurry to shop for school supplies, find a high-quality daycare, fill out medical forms, and arrange carpools. When making these important arrangements, don’t forget the ultimate goal…school safety. Nothing is foolproof, but before walking that kiddo to the bus stop, consider the following five ways to reduce the likelihood of your child becoming a victim of predators, or getting involved in a bullying situation this school year: Teach Boundaries   Kids need to know that no one (including classmates,…

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Are Fraternities Downright Dangerous to Women?

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Beware, North Carolina college women. Some colleges can be a place where common risks range from overdosing on drugs or alcohol to physical threats such as sexual assault or date rape — especially for those involved in Greek life. Over the past year, shocking numbers of fraternity members have been arrested on drug, alcohol, and weapons charges – some so serious and pervasive as to cause the fraternity houses to shut down entirely. The arrests expose a potentially dangerous environment for female college students, many of whom are unaware of the hazards lurking behind those doors.…

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Keyless Cars Are Causing Carbon Monoxide Deaths

Posted on by Leto Copeley

Keyless ignitions are now standard in most new vehicles. Drivers do not use a physical key but instead carry a fob that transmits a signal allowing the car to be started simply by pushing a button. Although the feature is convenient, the driver of the car must remember to push the button to turn the engine off – a big problem when the car has a quiet engine.  The combination of keyless cars and quiet engines causes many drivers to mistakenly leave their cars running in a garage, thinking they are turned off. The cars’ “convenience”…

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U.S. Supreme Court Cuts Workers’ Rights

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In a shocking blow to workers’ rights across the United States, including those involved in the #MeToo movement, the U.S. Supreme Court held on May 21, 2018 that individual employees can be forced to use arbitration instead of the courts to bring wage and hour cases. The case is called Epic Systems Corp. v. Lewis and can be found here. Unfortunately for workers, the ruling likely will extend to other issues, such as discrimination and working conditions. Under the new ruling, businesses can prohibit their workers from joining together in disputes by forming class action…

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Leto Copeley reports Workers Compensation Win!

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Our client, an associate veterinarian, was injured by a horse she was treating and lost all vision in her eye. Our client’s employer didn’t want to pay her workers compensation benefits at the rate we thought she was entitled to, so we went to a hearing at the North Carolina Industrial Commission. After the hearing, a Deputy Commissioner issued his decision, and we won for our client on two issues: her average weekly wage and permanent damage to an important body part. First, in North Carolina, an injured employee is entitled to workers’ compensation payments…

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