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2017 Scholarship Essay Contest (ID 3138)


Scholarship Description

Start Date:
7/1/2017
Deadline:
12/15/2018
Website:
http://www.thefitchlawfirm.com/scholarship.html
Amount:
$2500.00
Description:
Ohio attorney John Fitch of The Fitch Law Firm LLC is a victims rights advocate. His work includes representation of victims of sexual abuse. Mr. Fitch is also dedicated to promoting the education of the public with respect to issues pertaining to personal injury and sexual abuse law in order to promote safety and increased awareness of risks that exist to the general public.

With these principles in mind, The Fitch Law Firm is honored to offer a one-time, non-renewable scholarship of $2,500.00 to one college student who wins The Fitch Law Firm 2017 Scholarship Essay Contest.

Contact Information


Eligibility

Gender:
NA
Min Age:
18
Eligibility:
In order to be eligible for the scholarship, applicants must be:

• 18 years of age or older at the time of the essay submission;
• Enrolled in a college or university in the United States at the time of the award;
• In good academic standing with your college or university; and
• A legal resident of the United States.
Special Criteria:
Under Ohio law, monetary awards for pain and suffering are limited, in most cases, to $250,000.00 (out of which the victim may pay tens of thousands of dollars in litigation and attorney fees). There is no exception for intentional misconduct. Therefore, the law protects those who sexually abuse others-even those who rape children. In December, 2016, the Ohio Supreme Court (Justice French, majority opinion) found the law (R.C. 2315.18 (B)) constitutional. See Simpkins v. Grace Brethren Church 2016 Ohio LEXIS 2961. In Simpkins, the Ohio Supreme Court also held the victim was entitled to one “damage cap”, even though there were two distinct crimes: vaginal and oral sexual battery. Readers are invited to review the Ohio law, the parties’ briefs, and the Ohio Supreme Court decision on the firm’s website.

Topic: What is your opinion of this Ohio law? As part of your analysis, you may (but are not required to) consider the following questions:

1. Do you believe the sexual abuse of a child is a “catastrophic injury”?
2. Do you believe $250,000.00 in pain and suffering (out of which tens of thousands of dollars may be spent on attorney fees and expenses) for the sexual abuse of a child is justice?