Herman Law applauds a major legal victory for survivors of childhood sexual abuse: a $19.5 million settlement has been reached in a New Jersey case involving two siblings who were sexually abused while in foster care more than 50 years ago. This case serves as another reminder of the systemic failures that have long plagued foster care systems across the country—and the lasting harm they cause.
The plaintiffs, identified in court documents as A.H. and D.C., were placed in a foster home run by Joseph and Elizabeth Salmon in Atlantic County in 1969 by the New Jersey Department of Children and Families. There, they were sexually abused by their foster father, Joseph Salmon, until 1972. Decades later, they courageously came forward in pursuit of justice. On May 23, 2025, the parties reached a $19.5 million settlement during mediation.
This resolution is part of a growing wave of accountability efforts targeting institutional failures in the foster care system. The legal team representing the siblings also previously secured a $6.75 million settlement for another survivor from the same foster home and a $25 million jury verdict in a separate New Jersey foster care case in 2024. These outcomes signal a shift in how the justice system recognizes and values the trauma endured by survivors.
Importantly, the case of A.H. and D.C. posed unique legal challenges. Neither sibling, now in their 60s, had sought psychological treatment after the abuse, a factor that once might have undermined their claims. However, a newly enacted New Jersey law (Bill A4684) helped pave the way by relaxing strict requirements under the Tort Claims Act, allowing survivors to pursue damages without having to show a permanent physical injury or meet a minimum threshold of medical expenses.
Expert testimony confirmed the long-term psychological harm the siblings endured, including PTSD, even in the absence of prior treatment. As their attorney noted, many survivors delay or avoid seeking therapy for reasons including fear, stigma, or lack of access. The court rightfully acknowledged that such delays do not erase the trauma or the need for justice.
Our Role and Ongoing Work
At Herman Law, we currently represent 41 foster care survivors in New Jersey and 1822 foster care survivors nationwide. These courageous individuals are part of a broader movement to hold government agencies and private foster care providers accountable for decades of abuse and neglect. We understand the deep betrayal felt when the very systems meant to protect children instead cause irreparable harm.
Every case is different, but one truth remains: no child should ever be subjected to abuse, and no survivor should have to suffer in silence.
We remain committed to fighting for those who were failed by the institutions entrusted with their care. If you or someone you know is a survivor of abuse in foster care, we encourage you to reach out. Justice may be delayed, but it is never out of reach.
Source
Law.com. (2025, May 27). $19.5M settlement over foster home sex abuse of 2 children. New Jersey Law Journal.