Sexual Assault

Sexual Assault, Sexual Abuse Cases – Sex Trafficking, Human Trafficking Cases

Sexual violence affects millions of Americans nationwide with staggering statistics. Every 73 seconds an American is sexually assaulted. An average of 430,000 people become victims of sexual violence each year in the United States. 1 out of ever 6 women in the United States has been the survivor of an attempted to completed rape in her lifetime. Sexual assault and abuse is not just a crime against females of course. In fact, 1 in every 10 rape victims are male.

Acts of sexual violence often have long-term devastating effects on the survivors including: severe distress, depression, anxiety, and suicidal thoughts to name a few. Sexual violence survivors are statistically far more likely to become addicted to drugs and alcohol, and often times have difficulty in their relationships with partners, family members, friends and co-workers.

We understand that it is incredibly difficult for a survivor to come forward with their story, but usually where there is one victim, there are many, many, more. Many people believe that their only course of action is to have the perpetrator or abuser convicted in criminal court. However, the burden of proof in a criminal case is much higher than that of a civil case. In a criminal case, the state attorney has to prove the perpetrator is guilty beyond and to the exclusion of every reasonable doubt, meaning the jury has to be about 99% the person is guilty to convict them. However, in a civil case, which is what we do for you, the burden of proof is only a preponderance of the evidence, meaning the jury has to be about 51% convinced to find in favor of the survivor. Even if there is not enough evidence to convict the perpetrator in criminal court and put them behind bars, we may still have enough evidence to find them liable in civil court for money damages owed to the survivor.

Not only can we sue the perpetrator for the money damages incurred as a result of their actions, but we can also go after the company or institutions that allowed those acts of violence and trafficking to occur. There are many businesses and corporations that employee predators or turn a blind eye to acts of sexual assault/abuse by their employees or patrons, such as: the archdiocese, boys and girls clubs, youth sports teams, medical/dental offices, hotels, etc.

We can hold the corporations or employers liable for negligently hiring and supervising those predators.