Child Sexual Abuse Attorneys

Are You a Child Sexual Abuse Survivor?

Sexual violence can be incredibly traumatic and leave scars that sometimes last for the rest of your life. Nightmares, anxiety, stress, eating disorders, and insomnia are just some of the issues you may have experienced after the incident. By summoning the strength to confront those who wronged you and file a claim against them for damages, you will be taking a major step towards moving on with your life. The process may be frightening, but ultimately it can be therapeutic and bring a type of closure.

If you are a survivor of sexual abuse, it is important that you have legal counsel to address the damages you have suffered emotionally and physically. Our team of sexual abuse attorneys understands the gravity and sensitivity of cases involving abuse against vulnerable individuals.

An incident of child sexual assault is a terrible crime that can have an everlasting and negative mental and emotional impact on a child victim. Most crimes against children are by individuals the child trusts, and the young person may be reluctant to speak about it due to fear of unwanted repercussions.

Our lawyers can review your situation and advise you what can be done to seek justice in a lawsuit filed in civil court.

Types of Child Sexual Abuse

Sexual offenders prey on innocent victims and often the victims have no one to turn to and no adult to bring justice against the criminal. Different types of child sexual assault can include:

• Foster care abuse
• Boy Scout abuse
• Sexual abuse in sports
• Clergy sexual abuse

Are you a victim of child sexual violence? Our child sexual abuse lawyers at Manly, Stewart & Finaldi understand the importance of aggressive legal action against child sex offenders, to weed out the criminals and those who choose to protect them.

Each arrested offender, sentenced in a court of law and removed from society makes the public safer.

Potential Damages Available in Child Sexual Abuse Cases

At Manly, Stewart & Finaldi, we realize abuse survivors have many reasons for coming to us for counsel, with money often at the bottom of the list. Pursuing a child sexual abuse claim against a perpetrator and/or institution responsible for enabling child sexual abuse can lead to critical changes in your community.

Your lawsuit could be the driving force behind changes that ultimately save other children from suffering the same fate. Holding the at-fault party accountable could also give you well-deserved justice, empowerment and closure. Another benefit of winning a claim, however, is a monetary award for all the economic and noneconomic damages you suffered:

• Nominal damages. If you suffered from the inherent threat of sex abuse but the defendant never actually assaulted or harmed you, you may still be eligible for nominal damages. This is a small sum you could receive for fear or apprehension of assault.
• Emotional and psychological harms. Sexual abuse can cause significant emotional, mental and psychological damage to the survivor. If the acts of an abuser inflicted these intangible damages on you, a jury could award compensation to help make up for them.
• Impairment of the capacity to carry on with life. Childhood abuse often affects a survivor for life. Survivors may find themselves needing therapy or medical care to carry on.
• Financial harm. If child sex abuse resulted in financial damages later in life, such as missed wages while taking mental health days, you could list them as part of a settlement demand.
• Punitive damages. Judges reserve punitive damage awards for cases involving gross negligence, extreme recklessness and malicious intent to harm. Sexual abuse could qualify you to receive a punitive damage award as a survivor.

The specific damages you may be able to recover, as well as the value a judge or jury assigns to them, will depend on your case. Our child sexual abuse attorneys can evaluate your specific child sexual abuse case for free to help you calculate its worth.

Then, we can help you bring a claim against one or multiple defendants in pursuit of a reasonable compensatory award. Our lawyers will do whatever it takes to maximize compensation for your damages, including taking a case to court, if necessary. We can help you maintain your privacy even during an abuse trial.