The BBC and other institutions where Jimmy Savile is alleged to have abused children are facing up to 18 claims for damages from the victims, it has emerged.
Lis Dux, a lawyer specialising in child abuse cases, told the Guardian the number of cases had mounted in the last week as women became more confident about suing in light of the Scotland Yard revelation that Savile may have been one of the worst-ever UK sex offenders.
Dux is preparing to bring cases against the BBC, Stoke Mandeville hospital and Duncroft approved school on the grounds that they had "vicarious liability" for the activities of their staff or their agents.
"The allegation is that other members of the BBC were involved," Dux said, adding some of them were still alive so could not be named because of ongoing criminal investigations.
"It wasn't just Savile and it was organised, so we weren't surprised when the police said they believed there could have been a ring," she added.
On Friday, Scotland Yard said that Savile may have been at the centre of a network of paedophiles who targeted more than 200 victims.
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