’19 Kids and Counting’ News: Molestation Victim to Sue Josh Duggar
The molestation victim who is not part of the Duggar family is preparing to file a civil suit against Josh Duggar, reports In Touch Weekly.
The new lawsuit means that Josh and his parents, Jim Bob Duggar and Michelle Duggar, could be forced to give depositions and testify about the sexual abuse he committed when he was a teenager. The Duggars will not be able to use the Fifth Amendment against self-incrimination, because the criminal statute of limitations has expired, according to In Touch.
Jim Bob and Michelle will face tough questions about what safeguards they put into place in 2002 after they became aware of Josh molesting his sisters and another female minor. The lawsuit will likely delve into if and when the Duggars arranged counseling for Josh and his victims.
"All the church elders who knew about this will have to be named," a source told In Touch.
While criminal charges cannot be brought against Josh because the statute of limitations has expired, the victim has the right to a civil action when she "discovers the effect of the injury or condition attributable to the childhood sexual abuse," according to Arkansas Code Annotated Section 16-56-130.
The Duggar family is also the focus of a new Arkansas Department of Human Services investigation. It was previously reported that on May 27, the Washington County Department of Human Services was called to investigate an unknown situation involving a Duggar child. When Jim Bob and Michelle refused to cooperate, the DHS representative called 911 to request police assistance.
It is not the first time that Jim Bob and Michelle have been uncooperative with the DHS and other authorities. In 2006, Jim Bob refused to allow police to interview Josh when they opened a felony investigation regarding the molestations, and in 2007, the Duggars helped their son retain a lawyer to sue the DHS, but information about the lawsuit have been sealed.
The impending lawsuit could expose more details of the molestation committed by Josh and the family's cover up of it, fueling rumors that the TLC network will soon announce it is dropping the "19 Kids and Counting" TV series.
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