Sexual abuse and sexual assault are rampant throughout the country. The effects of being sexually abused or assaulted are not just physical. In many cases, sexual abuse survivors face lifelong emotional trauma because of their experiences. Most of these victims may be unaware that they can pursue justice against their abusers through civil claims and recover compensation for legal damages.
At Rosenfeld Injury Lawyers, we support survivors of gross sexual assault as they navigate civil claims. We protect victims throughout the legal process so their rights are upheld under Maine law. If you have experienced sexual abuse or assault, our law firm can increase your chances of winning your lawsuit for fair compensation while you focus on healing.
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
When you file a civil lawsuit against the perpetrator, our Maine sexual abuse lawyers will work to secure maximum compensation for the losses you have suffered. We do so compassionately because we understand the emotional challenges you are going through.
Hotel sexual assault case
Coach grooming and abuse
Cruise ship rape settlement
Negligent security assault
Child sexual abuse lawsuit
Therapist sexual abuse settlement
To help you secure the maximum settlement, we will investigate your sexual abuse claim to assess all possible damages. Once every loss is addressed, we will use our deep expertise in sexual abuse claims to strengthen your case and pursue a fair settlement. While experienced attorneys handle the logistical side of your claim, you can focus on healing physically and emotionally.
Understanding Sexual Abuse and Assault
Legal definitions will play an essential role in your sexual abuse claim. Sexual abuse and assault have slightly different definitions under Maine law. Sexual assault is considered any sexual act with another person without their consent using power, threat, or authority. Sexual abuse is defined as the infliction of injury, confinement, intimidation, or cruel punishment of a sexual nature that causes physical harm or mental anguish.
These definitions are challenging to understand in the context of a lawsuit, so you can always ask your sexual abuse lawyers about the details. It should be noted that in both scenarios, the lack of consent and power imbalances are usually at play. Studies have indicated that one in five adults in Maine will experience sexual assault in their lifetime [1].
Common Forms of Sexual Abuse
It can be challenging to know if you have experienced sexual abuse personally. Here are several scenarios that would fall under the categorization of abuse or assault for sexual abuse claims.
- Unwanted physical contact – Unlawful sexual contact can be any form of touching, with either a body part or object, that is sexual in nature and unwanted by the victim
- Sexual intercourse – Penetrative sex or sexual oral contact without the victim’s consent is considered assault or rape in most cases
- Sexual exposure – Another form of abuse is exposing someone to sexually explicit imagery without their permission, such as lewd photos or flashing
- Sexual exploitation – If someone uses power, trust, or vulnerability over another person to achieve sexual ends, this usually constitutes sexual abuse
- Child sexual abuse – Child sexual abuse is a massive issue because children are unable to understand what constitutes abuse or give consent, so the standard for childhood sexual abuse is much looser
Institutions Where Sexual Abuse Is Most Likely to Occur
Sexual misconduct can happen almost anywhere. Unfortunately, it often occurs within institutions where people are supposed to be safe. Here are a few locations where sexual abuse cases are more common than you might think.
Workplace
Workplaces feature specific hierarchies of power among employees and employers. This can lead to power imbalances that allow those with more authority to take advantage of those without and engage in inappropriate behaviors.
Inpatient Treatment Facilities
These medical clinics are for patients who stay overnight to receive care. Often, those patients are vulnerable because of a medical condition and their trust in the staff. Abusive individuals may take advantage of this situation to abuse or assault patients.
Correctional Facilities
Everyone has a right to be safe from sexual abuse and assault, even those staying in prisons or correctional facilities. Unfortunately, these incidents are common because of power imbalances among guards, staff, and prisoners.
Foster Care
The foster care system is designed to help orphans or children in difficult situations find safe homes. Even with background checks, abusers can still slip through the cracks and treat the foster children in their homes inappropriately.
Daycare Facilities
When a parent drops their child off at daycare, they expect their child to be cared for. However, staff who are trusted with this responsibility sometimes have ulterior motives and may abuse the children under their care.
Educational Institutions
Many survivors experienced abuse at an educational facility such as private schools. Academic institutions have complex power dynamics between administrators, teachers, and students, sometimes leading to inappropriate behaviors or relationships.
Religious Institutions
For many, religious organizations are places of refuge and safety. However, if too much trust is placed in the wrong people, abusive situations may arise. Clergy abuse is a widespread issue that poses risks for Maine residents involved in religious institutions.
Nursing Homes
Seniors who are placed in the care of nursing home staff are often vulnerable and unable to advocate for themselves. Staff and other residents may sexually abuse or assault these elderly civilians.
Sports Clubs
Youth sports programs put coaches and young athletes in close proximity, especially during summer camp programs. Youths may trust these mentors with their development, but if the wrong person is in a position of authority over them, those athletes could experience sexual abuse or assault.
Military Institutions
Holding institutions accountable for sexual abuse can be challenging, especially if there is a culture of sweeping things under the rug. Military institutions are often guilty of hiding reports or complaints of sexual abuse, and the strict power hierarchies create many opportunities for misconduct.
Hotels and Short-Term Rentals
Staying in an overnight accommodation requires trust that you will be safe in your room. Unfortunately, other people could have keys that grant them access to your room, putting you in danger of being sexually abused or sexually assaulted.
Shelters
Shelters exist to help people in desperate situations. However, if security is lacking or there is no supervision, the people they are designed to serve could be at risk of being abused or assaulted by predators.
Steps to Take If You Are a Victim of Sexual Assault
If you are the victim of sexual abuse or assault, your primary concern in the aftermath should be your well-being. That means getting to safety and receiving medical attention if you are physically injured or raped.
The next step is to report your abuse to someone, whether that is a local police department in Maine or the National Sexual Assault Hotline (800-656-4673). Then, document everything you can remember about the incident, including what led to it and what happened in the aftermath. This information will be crucial for potential sexual abuse lawsuits.
You should then contact our team at Rosenfeld Injury Lawyers to initiate any claims. We will guide you through the legal process and ensure you follow every step correctly, starting with a free consultation to discuss your legal options.
Anyone who has suffered sexual abuse can tell you about the emotional burden that comes with it. Having someone to talk to can be instrumental in your mental health recovery. You can speak one-on-one with sexual abuse therapists in Maine or seek out a supportive environment within a group through the Maine Coalition Against Sexual Assault.
Compensation for Sexual Abuse Victims
While seeking justice against the perpetrator is a key objective of your lawsuit, the primary vehicle for this is financial compensation. This monetary settlement reflects the value of the legal damages you’ve suffered.
Economic damages that may be involved in sex abuse cases include lost income, medical expenses, and therapy costs. Non-economic damages may include post-traumatic stress disorder, emotional distress, physical pain and suffering, and loss of enjoyment of life. In some cases, gross negligence or intentional misconduct could also result in punitive damages.
Compensation in this type of case can be affected by numerous factors. The circumstances surrounding the incident, the extent of your injuries, the level of legal damages, and the availability of evidence could all affect how much money you win in the settlement.
Our sexual abuse lawyers have a long history of helping survivors secure large settlements. Victims of sexual abuse can potentially receive millions from their abusers with the right law firm on their side. Rosenfeld Injury Lawyers helped a woman claim $3.2 million after she was raped in her hotel room by maintenance staff.
In another case, we secured $7.14 million for four boys molested by a coach in a youth sports program—a coach who had previously been accused of sexual abuse. We also helped a man who had been assaulted by a priest in a Catholic church elementary school obtain a $2 million settlement. We offer survivors financial hope so they can focus more on their recovery.
Liability in Sexual Abuse Cases
Liability is the key to winning sexual abuse cases. You and your attorney must prove that the defendant was liable for your suffering. Defendants in sex abuse cases may include individuals and institutions. For an institution to be liable, they could be accused of insufficient background checks, poor supervision, not investigating complaints, ignoring incident reports, or creating environments where abuse can happen.
In Maine, civil cases may involve other legal principles. For instance, vicarious liability occurs when one entity is held responsible for the actions of another, such as an employer being liable for an employee’s misconduct. If the abuse occurred at an educational institution, Title IX may be relevant, especially regarding sex-based discrimination and how the institution handled the case.
Additionally, religious institutions often have unique power dynamics, and legal precedents addressing these imbalances could influence the outcome of your claim.
How to Prove a Sexual Abuse Case
Proving liability in a sexual abuse case involves establishing four key elements. First, the defendant must have had a duty of care toward the plaintiff. Second, the defendant must have breached that duty through either action or inaction. Third, there must be a direct link between the defendant’s breach and the harm you, the plaintiff, suffered.
Finally, the plaintiff must demonstrate that they experienced legal damages as a result of the sexual abuse or assault. To succeed in legal action, you must prove that it is more likely than not that these elements are true.
Your sexual abuse lawyer will be essential to proving liability. Our legal representatives know what evidence can strengthen your claim and will help you gather all the necessary information. The more evidence you have, the easier it will be to claim fair compensation if you have been sexually abused. Common types of evidence in these claims include images of physical injuries, doctors’ notes, eyewitness statements, police reports, DNA tests, and therapist reports.
How Our Maine Sexual Abuse Lawyers Can Help
When victims file sexual abuse lawsuits, they have the right to seek legal support. Rosenfeld Injury Lawyers can provide the services needed to navigate your claim successfully and according to state law. Our team works on a contingency fee basis, which means there are no upfront costs for our services, and we only get paid from the settlement if we win.
The process starts with a free and confidential consultation, during which you can ask any questions about the claims process. If you seek justice with our help, we will begin investigating your case. We will look into how the abuse occurred and what evidence is available to support your compensation claim.
The process will also involve assessing damages to determine a fair settlement amount. If we are holding individuals or institutions accountable and they are refusing to accept the settlement, we will negotiate for maximum compensation. Although it is rare, your case could go to a civil trial, and we will also represent you there.
The Time Limits for Filing a Claim in Maine
Every state has a statute of limitations for personal injury cases. Maine is one of the most generous states in the country for filing personal injury claims. For injuries suffered because of sexual abuse or assault, you have six years from the incident date to file your claim. If you wait any longer, it may be impossible to seek justice through a civil lawsuit.
This is not the case for a criminal prosecution of a sex crime. Sexual abuse lawsuits are meant to compensate sexual abuse survivors, but criminal proceedings punish the offenders with sentences through the legal system. Most sex crimes do not have a statute of limitations in Maine. Even the less severe offenses grant prosecutors six years to press charges. Ask your sex abuse lawyer about which statutes may apply to your lawsuit if you aren’t sure.
Contact Our Maine Sexual Abuse Attorneys Today!
Rosenfeld Injury Lawyers is prepared to ensure your abuser is held accountable for their actions. We support sexual abuse survivors as they find justice and pursue compensation for legal damages.
Our team understands the importance of showing compassion to every victim of sexual abuse, and the more abusers we hold accountable, the more likely we are to prevent future abuse in the state of Maine. If you have suffered sexual abuse, whether it was long ago as a child or within the past few days, our team is prepared to represent your interests and talk through all your legal options.
To receive your free consultation with experienced abuse attorneys, call our office today at (888) 424-5757 or fill out the contact form online.
Resources: [1] MECASA – Sexual Assault in Maine