Sexual abuse can happen to anyone, and its impacts are devastating. Survivors often suffer from symptoms of PTSD, depression, and other life-altering issues for decades. If you’ve been sexually abused, reach out to Rosenfeld Injury Lawyers to see if sexual abuse litigation is an option available to you.
At Rosenfeld Injury Lawyers, we work with victims of sexual abuse in Massachusetts to pursue civil lawsuits against their abusers and all other responsible parties. Your suffering can never truly be repaid, but compensation can help you take the next step forward in your recovery.
WE ARE ONLY ACCEPTING SEXUAL ABUSE CASES INVOLVING INSTITUTIONS.
IF YOU HAVE A MATTER INVOLVING A RELATIVE OR ACQUAINTANCE, PLEASE CONTACT YOUR LOCAL BAR ASSOCIATION
Why Choose Rosenfeld Injury Lawyers
At Rosenfeld Injury Lawyers, it’s our priority to help abuse survivors get the highest compensation possible. We help through every step of the process, starting with the consultation until you receive compensation. Our firm has a history of obtaining substantial client settlements through negotiations and trial verdicts.
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We understand the long-term impacts that sex abuse has on victims. That’s why we work tirelessly to ensure you are compensated for medical costs, lost wages, and therapy sessions, as well as the emotional pain and suffering you’ve endured as a result of the abuse. Let us help you take the next step on your road to healing and recovery.
Understanding Sexual Abuse and Assault
Sexual abuse or assault is any nonconsensual sex acts forced onto another person, whether by violence, coercion, deception, or other means. A common means used to force sexual acts is to take advantage of imbalances of power, with the abuser targeting people seen as vulnerable or less powerful than them.
If victims are minors, any sexual act performed with or by an adult is considered sexual abuse because minors are not legally able to consent.
Common Forms of Sexual Abuse
People can be sexually abused in many ways, but they are broadly categorized based on a few specific actions. These include:
- Kissing and touching: Unwanted kissing, touching, fondling, or groping. Touching is included whether it’s above or under clothing.
- Nonconsensual sex acts: Any sex act done without consent, whether it’s done to the victims or by victims without their consent.
- Rape or attempted rape: Sexual intercourse carried out against the will of the victim, whether by threat of injury, deception, or any other cause that invalidates consent.
- Sexual harassment: Persistent unwanted sexual language, solicitation, touching, or other inappropriate behaviors.
Many cases of sexual abuse involve many different forms of abuse. These actions are not mutually exclusive, nor is it a complete list.
Institutions Where Sexual Abuse Is Most Likely to Occur
Sexual abuse can happen anywhere. When it occurs at an institution where you should reasonably expect to be safe, it may be held partially liable for what happened to you. We handle cases for survivors who have been sexually abused at any of the following institutions:
Steps to Take If You Are a Victim of Sexual Assault
Any time sexual abuse has taken place, the first priority is always to get to a safe place. You need to be out of reach of the abuser, both physically and emotionally.
Once safe, it’s a good idea to start looking at ways to document the actions taken against you. Although it’s difficult, compiling evidence while the details are still fresh in your mind can help you make a stronger case against your abuser.
Seeking legal expertise can make it easier to plan what you do and collect the right type of documentation. Schedule a confidential consultation with a law firm like Rosenfeld Injury Lawyers to see how you can hold the responsible parties accountable for their actions against you.
We walk with you throughout the entire legal process. Our goal is to recover compensation for you that helps you pay for the damage that’s been done to you financially, physically, and emotionally. We do this by launching a thorough investigation to uncover the truth of what happened, why it happened, and who’s responsible.
Throughout this process, we encourage survivors of sex abuse to seek support from local organizations in Massachusetts. Contact one of these organizations to access resources and support for sexual abuse survivors:
- National Sexual Abuse Hotline 1-800-656-HOPE (4673)
- SafeLink hotline Massachusetts 1-877-785-2020
- Massachusetts Office for Victim Assistance
- Jane Doe support organization
Compensation for Victims of Sexual Abuse
In sex abuse cases, the goal is to help survivors recover as much financial compensation as possible from the responsible parties. At a minimum, this compensation should cover any medical expenses, therapy costs, and other costs that resulted directly from the abuse. Additional compensation is also sought for the emotional distress and other non-monetary damages suffered.
Compensation is usually decided based on the severity of the abuse, the age of the victim at the time, the length of time the abuse went on, and who the abuser was. These details are used to negotiate a larger settlement or to argue for a higher compensation verdict if the case goes to trial.
Liability in Sexual Abuse Cases
Liability is at the center of all sex abuse civil cases. Who is responsible for what happened, and who should pay to compensate the victim? While the perpetrator is directly accountable, there is often a case for institutional liability, also known as vicarious liability.
This holds an organization liable for the inappropriate or criminal actions committed by someone operating in their role under that organization.
Institutions can be held accountable for sexual abuse if they either acted in a way that perpetuated it or failed to act as expected to prevent or address it.
A typical example is when an organization fails to do appropriate background checks during hiring, resulting in the hiring of a dangerous individual with a history of abusive actions who then goes on to abuse others in the new organization. Another example is an institution failing to address complaints against its staff.
Where institutional liability applies, both the perpetrator and their institution can be sued in a civil suit. To make an argument for institutional liability, there must be a demonstrable link between the abusive actions and the institution’s failure to act appropriately.
This can be shown more easily in institutions operating under more regulations, such as educational institutions that must abide by Title IX regulations or religious organizations that fail to supervise clergy members despite power imbalances.
How to Prove a Sexual Abuse Case
For a civil case, you have to prove the parties you’re suing have liability and should compensate you. There are three parts to this:
- Gathering evidence: This step is essential to proving that sexual abuse happened and the extent to which it occurred. Common evidence used in sex abuse cases includes medical records, witness testimonies, and communication records between you and your abuser. An experienced attorney can help you prepare for your case appropriately.
- Demonstrating misconduct: Institutional liability relies on a failure on the part of the organization under which the abuser operated. You must use reliable information and credible sources to demonstrate that the institution’s negligence or misconduct significantly contributed to the abuse.
- Linking abuse and harm: To justify the compensation you’re seeking, it’s important to link the abuse you faced to the harm you’ve suffered for which you’re requesting compensation.
Working with a law firm helps you build a case against your abuser to ensure they’re held accountable for their actions. We investigate the case thoroughly, represent you in negotiations, and work tirelessly on your behalf to bring your case to a rewarding conclusion.
How Our Massachusetts Sexual Assault Attorneys Can Help
Dealing with civil suits in Massachusetts is difficult, especially if your case goes to court. You need an experienced attorney on your side to represent you well, seeking justice through a civil suit against your abuser.
We can help you throughout the process. Contact us immediately for assistance at every step. It all starts with the initial consultation, during which we’ll evaluate your unique situation and develop a plan for proceeding.
After the consultation, our team will investigate your case. The strength of your case relies on good preparation, which is why we’ll take our time to examine every angle and gather all the information necessary to prove the substance of your claims.
With the investigation complete and documentation compiled, we’ll work with you to file the suit against both your abuser and the institution they work for. Your case will show how extensive the abusive actions were and how the institution bears responsibility for it along with the perpetrator.
Most civil suits are resolved through negotiated settlements outside of court. However, if your case goes before a judge or jury, we’ll represent you in the trial and seek a verdict for the highest possible damages.
Whether it’s handled through negotiation or trial, we will work with you until the end to get the financial recovery you deserve from your abuser and their organization.
The Time Limits for Filing a Claim in Massachusetts
For adult victims, state law dictates that the statute of limitations is three years. While this applies to those who were abused as adults, the law changed in 2014 for cases of abuse against children.
In cases of child sexual abuse, the statute of limitations in Massachusetts is 35 years from when the abusive acts occurred. The law also allows for a seven-year statute of limitations from the time that a specific harm is discovered to be linked to childhood abuse. If this period happens within the overarching 35 years, the statute of limitations expires on the latest date.
Contact Our Massachusetts Sexual Abuse Lawyers Today!
If you’re seeking justice for sexual abuse in Massachusetts, we’re ready to support you. It’s time to start making moves toward your healing and financial recovery after the long, difficult time you’ve endured from abuse. Schedule your free and confidential consultation with Rosenfeld Injury Lawyers today. Our expert team will work relentlessly to bring you the compensation you deserve.
Call us at (888) 424-5757 or fill out our contact form.
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