By NANCY WEST, InDepthNH.org
Former Supreme Court Chief Justice John Broderick has joined forces with trauma expert Jennifer Adams and Peggy Haskett to launch a trauma-informed mediation practice to help settle civil lawsuits involving deeply sensitive matters such as sexual abuse, wrongful deaths, and medical malpractice – the first such practice to advertise that niche in the state.
Broderick, Adams and Haskett worked together when Broderick served as the first administrator of the Youth Development Center Settlement Fund that lawmakers created in 2022 to hear claims from victims who were physically and sexually abused as children by state employees while incarcerated at the detention center in Manchester over a five-decade period.
Together, they recently started Pivot Point Mediation, a private practice, bringing the expertise they gathered working together to the new venture.
“People who claim to have been abused need the opportunity in a non-judgmental confidential setting to tell a neutral third-party who doesn’t have a horse in the race what happened to them,” Broderick said.
It can be a grueling process for the victims, telling people some of worse moments of their lives, he said, having held such hearings for the state for more than two years.
“Building a relationship of trust is critical,” Broderick said. You need to allow people who suffered trauma to know you understand their plight, he said. “People need to feel that somebody is hearing them.”
Broderick left his job as fund administrator last year when the law changed shifting authority to hire the administrator to the governor and giving the attorney general authority to veto any financial award. He was critical of the change, but now is excited at the prospect of helping victims via the new practice that he believes is sorely need.
“Our trauma-informed approach to resolving disputes reduces litigation risk, preserves confidentiality, and fosters agreements that all parties can accept. By prioritizing psychological safety, empathy, and clear communication, we deliver unique value to clients and counsel alike helping resolve highly sensitive cases efficiently, respectfully, and effectively,” according to Pivot Point Mediation’s website.
“Whether handling sexual or physical abuse, wrongful death, family conflicts, medical malpractice and serious personal injury disputes, our neutral process ensures all parties are heard, respected, and supported, while minimizing re-traumatization,” according to the website.
As the YDC Settlement Fund struggles to meet the financial needs of the remaining 1,700 victims, Broderick said he has spoken with the new administrator, retired Judge Gerard Boyle, but not specifically about his new mediation practice. If both parties agreed they would be welcome to Pivot Point Mediation’s services, Broderick said.
“I’ve not discussed it, but we’re open for business if the state feels – or any party feels – we can be of assistance,” Broderick said.
Last week, Administrator Boyle asked the Legislative Fiscal Committee for an additional $55 million, but only $20 million was approved and that still needs Executive Council approval. With no settlement hearings held for the last year, Boyle said it could take three to six years to hear the remaining cases in the fund with about 1,700 still to resolve.
Boyle told the fiscal committee he has cut staff at the administrator’s office and reduced salaries making it more sustainable, and would like to institute a mediation program for the claimants to work with the Attorney General’s Office, and he’s seeking a skilled mediator.
Asked if Pivot Point Mediation would be considered, he said Broderick’s name would definitely be on the list of any potential mediators.
“My goal is to end this operation in three years,” Boyle said, adding it will save the state money and help the claimants with a faster resolution. He also plans to encourage the attorneys representing the victims to accept less than the maximum 33 percent of the award.
The YDC Settlement Fund was started by the state hoping to avoid long waits before trials and avoid huge settlements.
The average case in the fund settles for just over $500,000. Jurors who heard the first civil lawsuit filed by David Meehan against the state for his abuse at YDC brought a verdict of $38 million, although the state immediately challenged that to the state Supreme Court.
The new team at Pivot Point Mediation includes Jennifer Adams, who is expected to continue working as a consultant with the YDC Settlement Fund.
“Jennifer Adams has had a varied and highly respected career of more than two decades in trauma-informed consulting, resolution, and education. In her numerous roles she has been involved in investigating, supporting, and resolving highly sensitive claims of sexual abuse as well as other disputes involving trauma,” the website states.
Adams is a certified professional mediator who facilitates conflict resolution and strategic planning initiatives grounded in psychological safety and accountability.
Peggy Haskett will handle the administrative end of the new practice. She worked for 31 years at the New Hampshire Supreme Court, 29 years as administrative assistant to four chief justices. From 2022 to 2025, she was Broderick’s Executive Assistant at the settlement fund. Haskett was also involved in its trauma-informed sessions.