Trust is one of the most important parts of a client-lawyer relationship, particularly in cases this sensitive and important. If the hotel lacked appropriate security measures, then the hotel may share some of the blame for the attack, even if it wasn't committed by hotel staff. One of the common themes that have emerged from many of these stories is that many of the victims were pressured into signing non-disclosure agreements, often as a condition of their employment. If you aren't sure how to best protect your loved one, reach out immediately to a Pennsylvania sexual assault attorney who can help you understand your legal rights. In Pennsylvania, the accused can avoid being convicted of statutory rape if he or she was having a sexual relationship with a person within four years of one another. It can be committed by another person acting on their own accord or by an individual within an institution such a nursing home, church, school, workplace or other entity. Sexual abuse rates in America are alarmingly high. For example, rape is considered a first-degree felony in Pennsylvania, according to RAINN. These shocking numbers only confirm what our attorneys have known for years – something must be done. Forcible penetration, either anal or oral, against a victim's will. That's hard to say due to the widespread and stubborn issue of underreporting. Over the last five years alone, the experienced lawyers at Ross Feller Casey have recovered over $1 billion on behalf of their clients, including numerous successful lawsuits involving the sexual abuse of children, making the firm the recognized leader for such cases. Our PA sexual abuse lawyers can help you get access to the care you need and recover the compensation to fund your treatment. Some examples of inadequate security measures that could enable sexual assaults include: You might have a case against the hotel if: Hotels aren't the only property owners who can be sued over negligent security measures.
Stories of ongoing sexual abuse involving figures in the Catholic Church, the Boy Scouts, the Mormon Church, and at Penn State University have shocked readers. We understand that you may be afraid or feel ashamed to admit that you were the victim of a sex crime. Insist on taking the matter to the authorities so that it can't be swept under the rug and allowed to continue. If you're a victim of sexual assault in Philadelphia, contact Morgan & Morgan immediately. This includes claims about sexual abuse and sexual exploitation of children, along with sex trafficking and forced labor. Speaking to a trusted friend or family member has huge benefits, as does seeking counseling.
You can preserve whatever evidence still remains by stopping now and immediately undergoing a forensic medical examination. If you or someone in your family has been a victim of sexual abuse or sexual harassment, you may be able to bring legal action against the person who abused you. Our sexual assault legal team is made up of seven lawyers, including a former prosecutor. Assault & Battery Attorneys in Philadelphia, PA. - Juvenile Law Attorneys in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (PA). The next thing you must do is report the abuse to the authorities. When you're dealing with sexual abuse and the thousands of ways that an assault can impact your life, having an experienced and compassionate sexual assault legal team in your corner can change everything.
Crimes that constitute sexual abuse felony charges are also considered more serious criminal violations than misdemeanors. Dauphin County – Child Abuse & Neglect Investigations – This is the agency to call if you suspect sexual abuse of a child. There's nothing standing in the way of getting the help you deserve. Another possibility is that an educational institution may bury information about the abuse in hopes that people will forget about the allegations. These organizations could be held accountable for lack of monitoring workers, negligent hiring, and failing to investigate claims of abuse or contacting the authorities. Even if the sexual abuse occurred many years ago when you were a child, you still may have the right to demand justice. The civil justice system can hold negligent parties accountable and provide resources for victims that a criminal court cannot. Bipolar disorder, also known as manic depression, is characterized by extreme emotional highs (mania) and lows (depression). Issues with conception and/or carrying a child full-term as well as other gynecological complications. Philadelphia Sexual Abuse Lawyers Seeking Justice for Victims of Sexual Predators. You might have the grounds for a sexual abuse personal injury claim in Pennsylvania if some organization – like a company, a school, a government entity, a religious organization, a nonprofit or volunteer organization, or any other insured organization – had a duty to protect you from the assault. Sandusky Civil Law Update: Insurance, New Lawsuit, and the Preliminary Hearing. Call our Pennsylvania Lawyers for Sexual Assault Victims for a free consultation. A compassionate and experienced sexual abuse counselor can help you find ways to heal, to reduce the severity and frequency of distressing feelings and symptoms, and to move forward with your life in spite of the pain you have been through.
The term sexual assault refers to any contact or behavior of a sexual nature, in which the victim did not consent to the interaction. Exposing oneself to a child. Before reporting the abuse to the authorities, be sure that the victim knows you will be talking to someone else who can help. If you choose to file legal action, your next step will be to contact an attorney experienced not just in sexual abuse or assault, but also in your state laws. The cost of counseling for sexual abuse can rise to thousands upon thousands of dollars. Perhaps your abuser has so much influence and authority that you don't think they will be held accountable, or perhaps you fear retaliation. Our Philadelphia sexual abuse and assault lawyer will conduct a thorough investigation of the incident and fight to hold the responsible party accountable.
Law Offices of Jay L. Edelstein: Philadelphia Personal Injury Lawyers Protecting the Rights of Child and Adult Victims of Sexual Abuse. Most victims will have to come to terms with the fact that their abuser may not face the criminal consequences they really deserve. So why should your right to sue end then? This can truly make or break your case.
We stand with sexual abuse survivors and their families. The likelihood that the person who abused you may never see the inside of a jail cell makes it even more important that you pursue accountability in all ways in which it is available to you. The religious organizations for which these clergies work have been accused of engaging in massive institutional sexual abuse cover-ups that enabled abusers to continue their heinous behaviors. What are sexual abuse charges in Pennsylvania?
Although the perpetrator is often named in the lawsuit, as well, the goal of these claims is to get compensation for the victim. While the criminal justice system can punish perpetrators, unfortunately it does not always protect the victim's emotional and physical ailments from the assault. Depending on the scenario and the offender's relation to the victim, threats may be used to force the victim into obeying. That is why it is important to understand who could be held liable when an incident of sexual abuse occurs at a school. Too often, the results are institutional sexual abuse cover-ups in which those responsible try to sweep the abuse under the rug – in many cases, allowing it to continue. When considering legal action, you have two types of suits you can file against your perpetrator: civil or criminal. While this may not offer a survivor compensation for their pain and trauma, it is still a possibility to have a sexual abuser face justice. Local live-in schools have been linked to sexual abuse. Psychological therapy. What you have been through is an urgent matter. Often, sexual abuse cases point out more than one type of negligence on the part of the institution or organization that, combined, created an environment where assaults and molestation occurred. Along with our Nursing Home Negligence practice, we represent victims of assault or rape at nursing homes, hospitals, and rehabilitation facilities. To set up a free, confidential consultation please call us at 267. Unfortunately, child abuse remains far too prevalent in the United States.
Can the lawyer estimate the cost of your case? Even when it is reported, schools may try to sweep it under the rug – including reassigning the teacher without disciplinary action or firing the teacher without documenting the misconduct. Philadelphia Car Accident Lawyer. Victims of sexual assault tend to feel emotions such as shame, fear, and blame.
Am I Eligible to File a Case? If you suspect that a child or teenager, an aging parent or grandparent, a disabled adult in your care, or any other vulnerable loved one may have been abused, here's what you need to do.