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Posh Summer Camp Says In Court Filing That Sexually Abused 9-Year-Old Failed To ‘Take Reasonable Precautions For His Own Safety’
A 9-year-old camper who was sexually abused by Brant Lake Camp counselor Dylan Stolz didn’t take the necessary “precautions” to safeguard himself, lawyers for the camp stated in newly filed court documents.
An upscale New York summer camp denies it’s at fault after one of its counselors molested a 9-year-old boy.
In 2018, Dylan Stolz, a 53-year-old counselor at the ritzy upstate Brant Lake Camp, was accused of sexually touching the young boy, as well as a number of other former campers.
Stolz is currently serving a four-year prison sentence on felony sex abuse charges, WNYT reported.
In November 2020, the boy’s parents filed a civil lawsuit against Brant Lake Camp, alleging it failed to adequately protect their son from the predatory counselor, according to the New York Post.
However, the camp’s legal team denied any wrongdoing — and accused the the 9-year-old victim of failing to “take reasonable precautions for his own safety,” recent court papers show.
“[He] otherwise failed to take reasonable action to mitigate or minimize his alleged damages,” lawyers for the camp wrote.
Brant Lake Camp’s attorney later denied the camp was victim-blaming the 9-year-old in court papers, dismissing the brazen language as mere legal jargon.
“Brant Lake Camp in no way blames a camper in any such matter and, in fact, thinks the plaintiffs’ son is an exemplary camper and wish him only the very best,” lawyer Michael Stonberg told the New York Post.
Stonberg ultimately contended that the camp wasn’t liable for Stolz’s behavior.
Stolz, who also taught at a Long Island elementary school, worked at the exclusive camp for 33 years, according to the New York Post. The Queens man has faced a number of felony sex abuse charges involving a total of 11 children. Stolz’s victims claimed the sexual abuse often unfolded at Brant Lake Camp during game and movie nights.
The cases of four victims have previously been dismissed. In February, one of Stolz’s suspected victims partially recanted their statements, resulting in a mistrial, according to WRGB.
Stolz, who has routinely maintained his innocence, took an Alford Plea in a separate case involving seven of the boys, which was slated to go to trial in 2019.
