Dr. van Dam has been instrumental in civil law suits to help lawyers clarify whether there is sufficient information to successfully proceed to trial and /or what further information can be obtained to help ensure the case can be successful. She has done this in cases involving children’s hospitals, school districts, churches, and other organizations that failed to protect children from a rogue staff member. The depositions she has written, based on summarizing the available data, have resulted in settlements. Most organizations being sued for having failed to protect vulnerable children in their care do not want to go to trial with the details of what transpired making the nightly news. In these cases her work was essential in helping lawyers advantageously settle cases.