A growing number of child sexual abuse cases have been linked to individuals associated with the American Kennel Club (AKC), including registered handlers, judges, and a former AKC employee. Multiple investigations found that the AKC allowed convicted sex offenders to continue attending its events even after victims' families alerted the organization. Survivors and their families may have the right to file a civil lawsuit against both the individual perpetrator and the AKC itself. An attorney can assess your specific situation and help determine whether a claim is viable under the laws of your state.
Key Takeaways
- In recent years, including in 2024, multiple individuals associated with AKC dog shows were arrested or identified as convicted sex offenders, including a prominent handler and a licensed veterinarian who served as an AKC judge.
- Business Insider published an investigation in April 2024 documenting a decades-long pattern of AKC inaction, with victims' families reporting that the organization declined to suspend known offenders from its events.
- Civil lawsuits can be filed against both the individual abuser and the organization that enabled the abuse. Negligence and negligent supervision are recognized legal theories for holding institutions accountable.
- Statutes of limitations vary significantly by state. Some states have eliminated the deadline entirely for recent abuse, while others give survivors until their late 30s or early 40s to file.
- Even if you believe your window to file has closed, speaking with an attorney is the only way to know for certain. Lookback windows and discovery rules have expanded options for many survivors.
- Michael Gunzburg, P.C. handles personal injury and institutional negligence cases on a contingency fee basis, meaning there are no legal fees unless you recover compensation.
What Happened at AKC Dog Shows?
The American Kennel Club oversees thousands of dog show events across the United States each year. Its events attract children as young as toddlers, who compete in junior handler divisions and often apprentice under professional handlers, sometimes traveling with them for days at a time. That access created serious risks that, according to survivors and former AKC insiders, the organization repeatedly failed to address.
A Business Insider investigation published in April 2024 documented multiple cases of AKC-connected individuals who were convicted of crimes against children but were never suspended from the sport. The report identified at least four dog show professionals, including a handler, a breeder, and a former AKC employee, who continued to participate in AKC events after their convictions.
Adam Wilkerson: A Convicted Handler Who Kept Showing Dogs
One of the most documented cases involves Adam Wilkerson, a professional dog handler whose dogs won awards including best of breed at the Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show. According to Business Insider and court records reviewed as part of the investigation, Wilkerson sexually assaulted a 14-year-old girl across multiple dog shows spanning five counties. He confessed to several assaults, pleaded guilty to indecency with a child, and served 12 years in prison.
After his release in 2020, Wilkerson registered as a lifetime sex offender as required by law, and continued showing dogs. His victim's mother contacted the AKC directly and asked whether the organization could prevent him from appearing at its events. The AKC reportedly described itself as a "registry organization" and declined to act, pointing instead to local law enforcement. According to the victim's mother, Wilkerson's setup was placed as close as 60 feet from her daughter at show after show.
Wilkerson is reported to have died in March 2024. But by that point, the pattern of AKC inaction was already well documented.
Adam Stafford King: The AKC Judge Arrested on Federal Charges
In March 2024, Adam Stafford King, a Chicago-area veterinarian and AKC-approved dog show judge, was arrested by the FBI on federal child pornography charges. King had been scheduled to serve as a judge at the 2024 Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show. According to the criminal complaint, the FBI found that King had distributed child sexual abuse material and, in undercover communications, discussed plans to sexually assault children.
The case drew national attention just days after the Business Insider investigation surfaced the broader pattern. Critics of the AKC noted that King's alleged conduct appeared to have gone undetected for years while he remained an active and credentialed figure in the sport.
A Pattern, Not Isolated Incidents
What makes the AKC situation particularly significant from a legal standpoint is not any single case. It is the documented pattern. Business Insider's reporting identified at least four dog show professionals with convictions or arrests related to crimes against children. In each documented case, the AKC took no action to bar the individual from its events. Members of the dog-handling community had been raising concerns with the AKC for years before the 2024 investigation, and they report that those concerns were dismissed.
A Change.org petition calling on the AKC to ban registered sex offenders from show grounds gathered nearly 2,800 signatures. The AKC's response, according to those involved, was inadequate and slow.
Did the AKC Fail to Protect Children?
The AKC's own conduct policies created a striking inconsistency. Local clubs, operating under AKC rules, had the authority to suspend individuals from events for minor infractions, including verbal altercations on show grounds. Yet when victims' families reported that convicted sex offenders were attending those same events, the AKC said its hands were tied.
As one former AKC employee told Business Insider: if you can suspend someone from a dog show for swearing, you should be able to suspend someone convicted of a sexual offense against a child. That argument resonated widely. The AKC's position that it was merely a "registry organization" struck many in the sport as a deliberate evasion of accountability.
The AKC's Post-Scandal Policy Changes
Beginning with its April 2024 Board meeting, the AKC approved a series of policy changes. These included a new educational requirement mandating that AKC Board members, inspectors, field staff, registered handlers, all current and future Junior Showmanship judges, and Club Junior Coordinators complete Stewards of Children training through the nonprofit Darkness to Light. The AKC also adopted an updated Personal Conduct Policy at its May 2024 Board meeting, expanding the categories of conduct that can result in suspension from events to include crimes against children and other serious offenses.
These changes are meaningful going forward. However, they do not erase the organization's prior conduct or reduce legal exposure for harm that occurred before the policies were in place. In institutional abuse litigation, courts look closely at what an organization knew, when it knew it, and what it chose to do or not do in response. The AKC's own records, as reviewed by Business Insider, show that concerns about specific individuals were raised and not acted upon.
The Federal Lawsuit: Greenwood v. American Kennel Club
In 2023, a survivor named Elaine Greenwood filed a federal lawsuit against the AKC, alleging that an AKC associate had sexually assaulted her at an AKC event in New York City in 1995 and continued assaulting her until his death in 2017. The complaint alleged that the AKC aided and abetted the abuse starting in 2015.
The case was transferred to the Middle District of North Carolina, where the majority of events occurred, and the court later granted the plaintiff leave to file an amended complaint addressing claims including negligence, gross negligence, and intentional infliction of emotional distress. Regardless of how the case is ultimately resolved, it establishes a legal framework that other survivors may be able to build on.
Can You Sue the American Kennel Club for Sexual Abuse?
Yes, in many circumstances a civil lawsuit can be filed against both the individual perpetrator and the organization that enabled the abuse. Criminal charges and civil lawsuits are separate legal processes. A criminal conviction is not required before you can pursue civil compensation.
Civil claims against institutions like the AKC typically rely on legal theories including negligence, negligent supervision, and negligent retention. These claims center on what the organization knew or should have known, and whether it took reasonable steps to protect the people in its care.
Negligence and Negligent Supervision
Negligent supervision means that an organization had control over a person who caused harm and failed to adequately oversee or restrict that person's conduct. In the AKC context, this could mean: allowing a convicted sex offender to continue participating in events after the organization was notified; failing to implement background check or screening policies for handlers who had direct access to minors; or ignoring repeated complaints from members of the community.
These are not theoretical arguments. The AKC's own conduct reflects a long period of inaction despite documented knowledge. That is the core of an institutional negligence claim.
Cases involving harm on premises that an organization controls, or where an organization's agents caused harm, often intersect with premises liability law. Premises liability claims at Michael Gunzburg, P.C. are handled with the same rigorous approach as all complex personal injury matters.
If you or someone in your family was abused by an individual connected to AKC dog shows, speaking with an attorney is the right first step. Michael Gunzburg, P.C. can review the facts of your situation and advise on your options. Call (212) 725-8500 or visit gunzburglaw.com/contact-us for a free consultation.
What Does an AKC Abuse Lawsuit Actually Involve?
Filing a civil lawsuit against an institution involves distinct phases, each of which an attorney manages on your behalf. Understanding the basic process can reduce some of the uncertainty around whether to pursue a claim.
Gathering Evidence
Evidence in abuse cases can include criminal court records (if a conviction occurred), AKC event records showing the perpetrator's participation history, communications between the victim's family and the AKC, witness statements from others in the dog show community, and medical or psychological records documenting the impact of the abuse. An experienced attorney knows what to look for and how to obtain it.
Filing a Civil Claim
A civil lawsuit begins with a complaint filed in the appropriate court. The complaint identifies the defendants, describes the facts of the abuse, and sets out the legal basis for the claims. The AKC is headquartered in New York, which can be relevant to jurisdiction, though claims may be filed in the state where the abuse occurred. An attorney will determine the best venue based on your circumstances.
What Damages Can Survivors Recover?
In a successful civil claim, survivors may recover compensation for medical and psychological treatment costs, lost income if the abuse affected your ability to work, pain and suffering, emotional distress, and in some cases punitive damages where an organization's conduct was particularly reckless or willful. Michael Gunzburg holds dual credentials as both a licensed attorney and a CPA, which gives the firm a distinctive ability to document and quantify the full economic impact of abuse in complex cases.
For cases involving wrongful death resulting from abuse, additional categories of compensation may apply. The firm's wrongful death practice handles these claims with the same rigorous approach.
How Long Do Survivors Have to File a Lawsuit?
Time limits to file a civil lawsuit, called statutes of limitations, vary significantly from state to state. Many states have extended or eliminated these deadlines for childhood sexual abuse survivors over the past several years, recognizing that trauma, shame, and fear often delay reporting by years or even decades.
The following reflects the law as of June 2025 and is subject to change. An attorney review is the only way to know what applies to your specific situation.
New York: As of June 2025, survivors born after July 1, 1993 generally have until age 38 to file a civil lawsuit for childhood sexual abuse under New York law. The New York Child Victims Act opened a lookback window that has since closed, but survivors still within the current time limit can act now. New York's statutes in this area have seen ongoing legislative activity, so an attorney review is advisable.
California: Survivors can file until age 40, or within 5 years of discovering that a psychological injury was caused by the abuse. For abuse occurring on or after January 1, 2024, there is no statute of limitations.
Colorado: No time limit applies to claims involving abuse that occurred on or after January 1, 2022. For earlier abuse, a 6-year window applies, provided it had not already expired before the law changed.
Washington State: No statute of limitations for abuse occurring on or after June 6, 2024. For earlier abuse, survivors generally have 3 years from the date they discover the connection between the abuse and their resulting injuries.
Other States: Many other states, including Florida, Texas, and Illinois, have extended their deadlines for childhood sexual abuse claims in recent years. The rules in each jurisdiction are specific.
One of the most common reasons survivors do not pursue claims is the belief that too much time has passed. That belief is often wrong. The personal injury FAQ page on the firm's website addresses many common questions about time limits and the claims process.
Does It Matter That the AKC Has Changed Its Policies?
No, not for claims arising from past conduct. Policy changes adopted after harm has occurred do not eliminate an organization's liability for the period when those protections were absent.
In fact, post-incident policy changes are sometimes used in litigation to demonstrate that better protections were feasible all along. If the AKC could require Stewards of Children training beginning in 2024, the question becomes: why not earlier? That is exactly the kind of argument courts evaluate in negligence cases.
The AKC situation has drawn comparisons to other large-scale institutional abuse cases, including the Boy Scouts of America and Catholic Church litigation, where decades-long patterns of inaction resulted in significant civil settlements and judgments. Those cases established that organizations which fail to act on known risks can be held responsible for resulting harm, even when the abuse was carried out by individual actors.
Why Work With Michael Gunzburg, P.C.?
Michael Gunzburg, P.C. has been representing personal injury and institutional negligence clients in New York for over 39 years. The firm takes cases involving serious harm to individuals and families, including cases where an organization's failure to act allowed preventable harm to occur.
Michael Gunzburg holds both a law degree and a CPA certification, a combination that is rare among personal injury attorneys. That dual background gives the firm a particular strength in quantifying economic damages, including lost earning capacity, long-term medical costs, and the full financial impact of abuse on a survivor's life.
Additional credentials include admission to the Appellate Division Second Department, membership on the Brooklyn Bar Association referral panel since 1989, and a track record of significant verdicts and settlements in complex civil litigation. The firm operates on a contingency fee basis: no upfront legal fees, and no fees at all unless you recover compensation.
To review the firm's credentials and background in detail, visit the attorney profile page at gunzburglaw.com.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the AKC sexual abuse scandal about?
The AKC sexual abuse scandal refers to documented cases in which individuals associated with the American Kennel Club, including professional dog handlers, judges, and a former employee, were convicted of or arrested for sexual crimes involving minors. A Business Insider investigation published in April 2024 found that the AKC allowed some of these individuals to continue attending its events after their convictions, despite requests from victims' families to intervene. The investigation identified at least four such cases spanning multiple years.
Who were the individuals accused of abuse at AKC events?
The most prominent cases identified in reporting involve Adam Wilkerson, a professional handler who pleaded guilty to indecency with a child and continued showing dogs after his release from prison; and Adam Stafford King, a licensed veterinarian and AKC-approved judge arrested by the FBI in 2024 on federal child pornography charges. Business Insider also identified a dog breeder and a former AKC employee convicted of related offenses, neither of whom was suspended from the sport.
Can I sue the American Kennel Club directly?
Potentially, yes. Civil lawsuits can name both the individual abuser and the organization that failed to protect children. Claims against the AKC would typically be based on negligence, negligent supervision, or negligent retention, arguing that the organization knew or should have known about the risk posed by certain individuals and failed to act. The Greenwood v. AKC federal case, filed in 2023, has already established a legal pathway for this type of claim. An attorney can assess whether the facts of your situation support a viable case.
What is the statute of limitations for AKC abuse lawsuits?
It depends on the state where the abuse occurred and, in some cases, your age at the time of the abuse. Many states have extended deadlines for childhood sexual abuse claims significantly in recent years. As of June 2025, New York generally gives survivors born after July 1, 1993, until age 38 to file, though this area of law has seen active legislative changes and an attorney review is advisable. California allows filing until age 40, or 5 years after discovering the connection to the abuse. Colorado and Washington State have eliminated the deadline entirely for more recent abuse. Even if you believe the deadline has passed, speak with an attorney before concluding that a claim is not possible.
What kind of compensation can survivors receive?
In a successful civil lawsuit, survivors can recover compensation for medical and psychological treatment, lost income, pain and suffering, emotional distress, and in cases of particularly egregious conduct, punitive damages. The specific amounts depend on the nature of the abuse, the documented impact on the survivor's life, and the strength of the evidence against the defendant. Survivors with cases involving long-term psychological harm or career disruption may recover substantial amounts.
Does the abuse have to have happened recently to file a claim?
No. Many states have extended or retroactively revived time limits for childhood sexual abuse claims, recognizing that survivors frequently come forward years or decades after the abuse occurred. What matters is whether a valid legal window remains open under the law of the relevant state, and whether there is sufficient evidence to support a claim. An attorney can analyze both questions during an initial consultation.
What is negligent supervision, and how does it apply to the AKC?
Negligent supervision is a legal theory that holds an organization responsible for harm caused by someone under its authority or control when the organization failed to adequately monitor or restrict that person. Applied to the AKC, it means the organization may bear liability for allowing known offenders to attend its events, for failing to implement screening procedures for handlers with direct access to children, and for ignoring complaints brought directly to the organization's attention over many years.
How do I know if I have a valid case?
The best way to find out is to speak with an attorney. A valid case generally requires that abuse occurred, that it was connected in some way to an AKC event or AKC-affiliated individual, and that a legal window to file still exists under your state's law. You do not need to have physical evidence before contacting an attorney. The attorney will help assess what you have and what additional evidence may be obtainable.
Will I have to pay legal fees upfront?
No. Michael Gunzburg, P.C. handles personal injury and institutional negligence cases on a contingency fee basis. You pay no attorney's fees unless you recover compensation. There is no financial risk to consulting with the firm or pursuing a claim.
What should I do first if I or someone I know was abused at an AKC event?
Contact an attorney as soon as possible. Time limits apply in most states, and early action preserves the ability to gather evidence, identify witnesses, and meet legal deadlines. You do not need to have made a police report before speaking with a lawyer. A confidential consultation can help you understand your options without committing to any course of action. Michael Gunzburg, P.C. can be reached at (212) 725-8500 or through the contact page at gunzburglaw.com.
Take the First Step
If you or someone in your family was sexually abused by an individual connected to the American Kennel Club, you have the right to understand your legal options. The AKC's pattern of inaction is now documented through federal court filings, news investigations, and survivor accounts. That documentation gives civil claims against the organization a credible factual and legal foundation.
Time limits vary by state, and some windows may be closing. Waiting is the one choice that cannot be undone.Michael Gunzburg, P.C. offers free consultations with a 24-hour callback policy. No legal fees unless you recover. Call (212) 725-8500 or visit gunzburglaw.com/contact-us.
