Closing arguments clash over New Hampshire liability in lawsuit stemming from youth center abuse

(2 May 2024)
RESTRICTION SUMMARY:
POOL
Brentwood, New Hampshire - 2 May 2024
1. A state attorney speaks during closing arguments
2. The judge addresses the court during closing arguments
UPSOUND (English) Judge Andrew Schulman, Rockingham County Superior Court: "The parties hereby stipulate that during the time period that Plaintiff David Meehan was housed at the Youth Development Center."
3. SOUNDBITE (English) Martha Gaythwaite, Attorney Representing New Hampshire:
"Anyone who has committed a crime is to be brought to justice. But folks, this is not a criminal case. The people who Mr. Meehan claims abused him are not defendants in this lawsuit. I do not represent them. I represent the Department of Health and Human Services. And this is a case for money damages."
4. An attorney for plaintiff David Meehan addresses the court
5. View of Meehan’s back during closing arguments
6. SOUNDBITE (English) David Vicinanzo, Attorney Representing Plaintiff David Meehan:
"The state has the obligat ... the fiduciary duty to create a safe environment for these kids. To protect them. To affirmatively take care of them. And they dare to say 'oh, not our fault.'"
ASSOCIATED PRESS
Brentwood, New Hampshire - 2 May 2024
7. Exterior of the Rockingham County Superior Court building
POOL
Brentwood, New Hampshire - 2 May 2024
8. SOUNDBITE (English) Martha Gaythwaite, Attorney Representing New Hampshire:
"Conspiracy theories are not a substitute for actual evidence. There is no actual evidence that anyone ever reported to my client, the leadership at the Department of Health and Human Services, any allegation concerning Mr. Meehan that was not investigated. So there's no evidence that my client breached any duty to Mr. Meehan."
9. Attorneys discuss details of the jury instruction form
10. SOUNDBITE (English) David Vicinanzo, Attorney Representing Plaintiff David Meehan:
"By the arguments that you heard, in my view, you can ... you're within your rights to find they still don't get it. They don't understand the power they have. And they don't understand how they abused their power. And they don't care."
11. The judge discussing details for jury instructions with lawyers UPSOUND (English) Judge Andrew Schulman, Rockingham County Superior Court: "Observation 10 is a problem because it speaks about a lack of certification."
12. SOUNDBITE (English) Martha Gaythwaite, Attorney Representing New Hampshire:
"There is no evidence that my client negligently hired, negligently trained, negligently supervised, or breached any duty to Mr. Meehan."
13. Meehan in court
14. SOUNDBITE (English) David Vicinanzo, Attorney Representing Plaintiff David Meehan:
"At least by this ... at least the conservative estimate here is that he was raped about 200 times."
15. Gaythwaite illustrates her argument in court
16. SOUNDBITE (English) Martha Gaythwaite, Attorney Representing New Hampshire:
"He did not submit and file his lawsuit in a timely manner. The evidence will show that Mr. Meehan waited until he was 39 years old to file this lawsuit, even though he had known about his injury and the possibility of a factual connection between his injury and the YDC (Youth Detention Center) for years."
ASSOCIATED PRESS
Brentwood, New Hampshire - 2 May 2024
17. Tracking shot of two women walking to the Rockingham County Superior Court building
POOL
Brentwood, New Hampshire - 2 May 2024
18. SOUNDBITE (English) David Vicinanzo, Attorney Representing Plaintiff David Meehan:
19. Wide of the courtroom
STORYLINE:
===========================================================
Find out more about AP Archive: www.aparchive.com/HowWeWork
Twitter: / ap_archive
Facebook: / aparchives ​​
Instagram: / apnews
You can license this story through AP Archive: www.aparchive.com/metadata/you...