The molestation scandal that dragged the Duggar family into controversy and caused their long-time running show, "19 Kids and Counting" to be suspended is not yet over. A non-family victim has come forward and sued Josh Duggar.
In a report from In Touch, a non-Duggar molestation victim is preparing to file a civil suit against 27-year-old Josh Duggar for molesting her when he was a teenager. The non-Duggar victim was upset after seeing the Duggars on TV covering up Josh's mistakes.
Even Josh's two sisters, Jessa and Jill, who were also Josh's victims, defended their older brother in their interview with FOX News. Both stated that it happened a long time ago, and they had already forgiven Josh and moved on. However, the victim unrelated to the Duggars seem not to share the other two's perspective. She wanted Josh to be held accountable for what he did, Hollywood Life has learned.
According to legal experts, under Arkansas Code Annotated Section 16-56-130, a civil action is allowed, and a sexual abuse victim can still sue when she starts to experience the effects of the abuse later.
This explains why even if the statute of limitations for Josh's crime is over, he can still face a civil suit from the victim and so are his parents, Jim Bob and Michelle. This development might force Josh's parents to give their sworn statement and testify about the molestation scandal.
According to In Touch, the Duggars will likely need to answer every question ask to them as they will not be able to invoke their Fifth Amendment rights against self-incrimination given that the criminal statute of limitations has expired.
Hollywood Life adds that the victim, who chose not to be identified, can charge Jim Bob and Michelle with civil conspiracy and negligence for their tolerance on Josh's wrongdoing given that they were aware of it. The charges will also include their inability to stop Josh after learning that he committed acts that injured others. Moreover, the Duggar parents spent years hiding their eldest's crimes.
Although the family is spared from criminal charges because of the expired statute of limitations, everything that will be spilled in the court following the civil suit that the non-Duggar victim files will surely affect the Duggar's reputation. The Duggar family members, who are aware of the molestation before it was made public, can be requested to come before the court.
Among the questions that the family will probably answer include the number of years it took the family to get Josh and his victims into counseling, the type of safeguards the parents implemented after being alerted of Josh's molestation and the name of the church elders who have knowledge about the molestation, In Touch reports.
At the moment, while the family is facing lawsuits, their show was suspended, and TLC remains noncommittal on its eventual return.
