No one should be subjected to sexual abuse or assault, and those who let it happen should be held responsible for the deep harm caused to victims. At Garmey Law, we know that no amount of money can repair the harm done by sexual abuse and assault, but a successful verdict or settlement can bring victims a sense of justice, closure, and the ability to continue on their path towards healing.
It can be hard to talk about sexual abuse and assault, and even harder to do it in a court of law. Often, we engage experts to help explain the harm of sexual abuse and assault; always, we treat our clients’ cases with the respect, honesty, and importance they deserve, and stand by their side when it comes time to tell their stories. Our sexual abuse attorneys and staff know how to handle sex abuse and assault cases with both skill and sensitivity, and help clients face those who were responsible for their trauma and get the compensation they need to move forward.
– Andreanna“I was pretty scared about going through the whole thing, and having to go to court. But Ali was so caring, and hard working, and she made me comfortable so I could open up. She felt like family to me. And she kept me going. If there was another case and I needed help, I would call her.”
Types of Sexual Abuse & Assault Cases
We routinely handle sexual abuse and assault cases, including:
- School sex abuse cases
- Summer camp sex abuse cases
- Sex abuse cases against churches and other religious organizations
- Cases against government agencies, hospitals, schools, churches, employers, and others who failed to protect victims of sexual abuse and assault
- Cases against businesses who failed to keep their premises safe from sexual assault
- Direct cases against the perpetrator of sexual abuse or assault
Compensation
We take sex abuse and assault cases on a contingency fee basis. This means that we front all costs of bringing the lawsuit, and our clients do not pay anything unless we recover for them. Rest assured, we’ll work hard to put as much money in your pocket as possible. For us, it’s part of our pride in what we do.
Conversations with our attorneys are private and privileged. You can trust us with your story. Contact us for a free consultation to evaluate your case.
Frequently Asked Questions About Sexual Abuse and Sexual Assault Cases
Being liable for sexual assault or sexual abuse means a person, organization, or institution may be held legally responsible for the harm caused to a victim. In addition to criminal charges against the perpetrator, civil lawsuits may seek compensation from individuals or organizations whose negligence contributed to the abuse or enabled it.
Liability may extend beyond the individual who committed the abuse. Depending on the circumstances, schools, employers, churches, youth organizations, camps, healthcare facilities, property owners, and other institutions may be held accountable if they failed to take reasonable steps to prevent abuse or ignored warning signs.
Yes. A summer camp may be held liable if it failed to properly screen employees, supervise staff, investigate complaints, or implement policies designed to protect children. If negligence by the camp contributed to the abuse, victims may have grounds to pursue a civil claim against the organization.
While most summer camps provide safe environments, incidents of sexual abuse have occurred at camps across the country. Abuse can happen when organizations fail to properly vet employees, monitor interactions, or respond appropriately to concerns. Parents should research camps carefully and understand the safeguards in place to protect children.
Employers have a legal duty to provide a safe work environment. This includes implementing anti-harassment policies, conducting appropriate background checks when necessary, training employees, promptly investigating complaints, and taking corrective action when misconduct is reported.
The individual who engages in harassment may be personally liable. Employers can also be held responsible in some situations, such as when they knew or should have known about the harassment and failed to take reasonable steps to stop it. Liability often depends on the specific facts of the case and the employer’s knowledge or response.
An employer may be held liable when it fails to address known harassment, ignores complaints, does not enforce workplace policies, or allows a hostile work environment to continue. Employers are generally expected to investigate allegations and take appropriate action to protect employees.
Employers may face civil liability for damages related to emotional distress, lost wages, reputational harm, and other losses suffered by victims. Depending on the circumstances, additional penalties or punitive damages may also apply.
Proving sexual harassment often involves gathering evidence such as emails, text messages, witness statements, personnel records, performance reviews, complaint reports, or other documentation. The stronger the evidence demonstrating a pattern of harassment or inappropriate conduct, the stronger the claim may be.
Sexual harassment generally involves unwelcome sexual comments, advances, requests, or conduct that creates a hostile environment. Sexual assault involves unwanted sexual contact or acts committed without consent. While both are serious forms of misconduct, sexual assault typically involves physical conduct.
To establish liability, it is often necessary to show that the school, employer, or institution knew or should have known about the risk of abuse and failed to take reasonable steps to prevent it. Evidence may include prior complaints, inadequate supervision, negligent hiring practices, ignored warning signs, or violations of safety policies. It is also important to note that there may be immunities or other protections afforded to schools, churches, or other institutions, depending on the applicable state law.
When choosing a sexual abuse attorney, look for a lawyer with experience handling abuse and assault claims, a history of successful outcomes, strong client reviews, and the resources necessary to investigate complex cases. It is also important to find an attorney who approaches these sensitive matters with compassion, discretion, and a commitment to protecting survivors’ rights.
Yes. Schools, churches, youth organizations, healthcare facilities, and other institutions may be held accountable if their negligence contributed to abuse or allowed it to continue. Civil claims often focus on failures in hiring, supervision, reporting, training, or responding to complaints. It is also important to note that there may be immunities or other protections afforded to schools, churches, or other institutions, depending on the applicable state law.
Most likely, it is not too late. Maine recognizes that minor victims of sexual abuse and assault are often unable to recognize and confront what happened to them until much later in life. Because getting justice for victims is so important, Maine has extended the statute of limitations for child and teen victims of sexual abuse and assault, allowing them to bring suit as adults. Contact us to arrange a no-cost consultation and find out whether you have a case.
Maine law recognizes that certain relationships impose a duty to protect victims from sexual abuse and assault. Depending on the circumstances, you may well have a case against the church, school, hospital, or other institution whose negligence allowed your sexual abuse to occur. No one should turn a blind eye to sex abuse and get away with it. Contact us for a free consultation to discuss your case.
How Our Maine Lawyers Can Help
Contact us to schedule a meeting with one of our experienced attorneys and learn more about how we can help. We know how difficult it can be to discuss sex abuse and assault, and our team will investigate your case with sensitivity to your needs. We handle sex abuse and assault cases on a contingency fee basis, which means that we cover all legal costs upfront, and we only get paid if you get paid from a settlement or verdict.