The Camp Dudley lawsuit is a civil case filed in Westchester County Supreme Court in New York on November 2, 2022, by parents Megan Corcoran and Peter Orth, suing individually and on behalf of their minor child against the YMCA-affiliated summer camp in Westport, New York. The case, captioned O., M. et al v. Camp Dudley, resolved through a court-supervised settlement for the child, with the financial terms sealed by court order.1Trellis. O., M. Et Al V. Camp Dudley
Who Sued Camp Dudley
The plaintiffs are Megan Corcoran and Peter Orth, appearing individually and as parents of a minor child identified in court filings only by the initials M.O., consistent with New York’s privacy rules for cases involving children. They are represented by Jordan Merson of Merson Law, PLLC.1Trellis. O., M. Et Al V. Camp Dudley
The defendant is Camp Dudley, based in Westport, New York, on Lake Champlain.
What the Claims Involve
The publicly available docket does not spell out the specific cause of action. The case is classified as a “Structured Settlement — Civil” matter under the “Infant Compromise” category, a designation New York uses when a settlement resolves a claim belonging to a minor.2NY Courts. Infant Compromise Instructions
Exhibits filed in late 2022 and early 2023 include medical records and a report from an ENT (ear, nose, and throat) specialist submitted in support of the compromise motion.1Trellis. O., M. Et Al V. Camp Dudley Medical documentation of that kind is standard in injury-related infant compromise proceedings, where counsel must show the court a current diagnosis and prognosis so the judge can weigh whether the settlement fairly reflects the child’s condition.
The financial figures in the settlement are not public. The docket entry for one motion notes that the numbers were “redacted as per Decision and Order.”1Trellis. O., M. Et Al V. Camp Dudley
Timeline of the Case
- November 2, 2022: Case filed in Westchester County Supreme Court.
- November–December 2022: Initial filings, including a proposed infant compromise order and supporting medical records. A Decision and Order on a motion issued December 22, 2022.
- February 22, 2023: Stipulation of settlement filed. A second Order to Show Cause on the infant compromise followed the next day, with financial figures redacted.
- June 29, 2023: Infant compromise hearing before the Hon. Joan B. Lefkowitz, who granted the Order to Show Cause the same day.
- August 25 and 28, 2023: Status hearings, the last documented judicial activity in the case.
The docket was last refreshed on September 6, 2024, with no further proceedings scheduled after August 2023.1Trellis. O., M. Et Al V. Camp Dudley
Why the Settlement Terms Are Sealed
Because a minor’s claim is involved, the case ran through New York’s infant compromise procedure. Under CPLR Article 12 and Uniform Court Rule 202.67, a judge must review and approve any settlement of a child’s claim, and the child must be identified in filings only by initials and birth year, with personal financial information redacted.4New York Codes, Rules and Regulations. 22 CRR-NY 202.67
About Camp Dudley
Camp Dudley was founded in 1885 by Sumner F. Dudley, a YMCA volunteer, and is described as the oldest continuously operating summer camp in the United States.3GovInfo. Congressional Record, Camp Dudley YMCA The camp sits on Lake Champlain in Westport, New York, operates under the motto “the Other Fellow First,” and focuses on leadership, character, and outdoor programming for boys.5Camp Dudley. Core Values and History Camp Dudley Inc. is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit led by Director Matt Storey, who has held the position since 2009.6ProPublica. Camp Dudley Inc. Nonprofit Explorer