House Democrats call Ohio Supreme Court's ruling reinstating $20 million award to child sex abuse victim a long overdue victory 

COLUMBUS – Ohio House Minority Leader Allison Russo (D-Upper Arlington) and Rep. Jessica E. Miranda (D-Forest Park) say the recent 4-3 ruling by the Ohio Supreme Court in Brandt v. Pompa that declared it unconstitutional to limit state caps on compensation awarded to a victim of a child sexual abuse forges a path forward for other victims and for justice. 

“The psychological damages victims like Amanda Brandt face are sometimes impossible to comprehend. The Court righted a wrong in its ruling, and now Amanda and other victims of violent crimes will get the justice they deserve,” said Leader Russo. “Democrats have repeatedly introduced legislation to remove these unnecessary caps on pain-and-suffering awards for victims of violent crimes. This ruling confirms that this injustice should finally be corrected in our state code.” 

Rep. Miranda, a survivor of sexual abuse herself, says this ruling will empower other victims of sexual abuse to come forward and file charges against their accusers they once might have been afraid to do. 

“Too often, victims of violent crimes remain silent because the legal system that is supposed to protect them contains barriers that further traumatize survivors. This ruling removes one massive barrier that might have deterred victims from speaking out. But, there are more obstacles that remain,” said Rep. Miranda. “Ruling these types of limitations on compensation unconstitutional is justice for Amanda Brandt and countless other survivors like me.”