Sexual Abuse Lawsuits Filed Against Child Development, Inc. and Trace CDC

Two separate lawsuits have been filed by the San Jose sexual abuse law firm of Cerri, Boskovich & Allard against Child Development, Inc. and Trace CDC for their failure to conduct an adequate background check for and properly supervise accused child molester Keith Woodhouse. Woodhouse is currently facing child molestation charges which carry a life sentence.

The lawsuits were filed on behalf of two girls, seven and eight years old respectively. In a lawsuit filed this week, the seven-year-old states she was sexually molested by Woodhouse on numerous occasions while he was employed as a daycare worker by Trace CDC. In a lawsuit filed November 4, 2011, the eight-year-old girl also claims that she was sexually molested multiple times. The lawsuits further allege that Woodhouse molested and sexually assaulted at least 5-10 females under the age of 14.

“Both Child Development, Inc. and Trace CDC utterly failed to ensure the safety and security of small children,” said attorney Robert Allard, partner in the law firm of Cerri, Boskovich & Allard. “In today’s climate, these organizations should have known the potentially dire consequences of not properly checking the background of a person who is entrusted with the welfare of young kids.”

The lawsuit claims that Woodhouse sexually assaulted a female minor at a church swimming pool in 2007. He was immediately terminated from his position after he was seen exiting a pool with a full erection while holding a child. Despite this, Trace CDC hired Woodhouse three years later as an after-school child care worker. The complaint further states that neither Child Development, Inc. nor Trace CDC investigated Woodhouse's background, nor conducted a reference check with the church from which he was fired. Despite his history, Woodhouse was was given unfettered access to young children and would often spend considerable time with them on his lap.

Child Development, Inc. administers over 160 child development centers in California and serves over 15,000 children. The organization claims to work with 36 school districts throughout the state to provide before- and after-school programs.

“We can start protecting young children against sexual predators by requiring our public agencies to mandate full background checks for employees or volunteers of organizations as a condition to rent or lease their facilities”, said Allard, who is working with local legislators to implement such a law in California.

According to police reports, Woodhouse, since 1999, has worked as a camp counselor, children’s ministry intern, Sunday school counselor, day care worker, and after school activity supervisor.

If you have any information on Keith Woodhouse, the locations where he has worked or volunteered, or Child Development, Inc. itself, please contact attorney Robert Allard at (408) 289-1417.

If your child and your family has been victimized by a predator, contact a San Jose sexual abuse lawyer at Cerri, Boskovich & Allard. You get aggressive legal representation starting with a free case evaluation. And you will never be obligated to pay a penny to our attorneys unless we collect.