Attorney for Sexual Abuse Victims in Florida

Item: The Law Office of Andrew Shubin
Rating: 5
Author: Tina L

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Fighting For Important Causes In State And Federal Courts

Sexual abuse is one of the most heinous acts a person can commit against another. While sexual abuse does occur in private settings, it is rife in Florida institutions where individuals have power over others.

When filing a civil lawsuit for sexual abuse, our team can help determine if an organization is liable for the acts of your abuser. Suing an individual perpetrator rarely yields the compensation you deserve for such significant harm. But, if an organization is involved, you have a much better chance of recovering serious compensation. For instance, if you were sexually abused by a coach from your high school sports team, we can typically name the school and possibly the district in your lawsuit. Or we may be able to sue a religious institution like the Catholic Church if your abuse occurred while under their care or supervision. We will also determine how long you have to file your claim, which can be between four and seven years, depending on when you were abused.

For a free and private case review with our lawyers for sexual abuse victims in Florida, contact The Law Office of Andrew Shubin today at (814) 826-3586.

Recovering Compensation for Sexual Abuse in Florida

Civil sexual abuse cases are some of the most challenging in the law. Victims deserve an extensive amount of justice, but individual perpetrators often do not have the money to compensate victims even if they win their day in court. To maximize your chances of recovering the damages you deserve, our attorneys for sexual abuse victims in Florida can help identify an institution that might be held liable for the perpetrator’s actions. Organizations like schools and religious institutions have much deeper pockets and might play a role in your claim. The following are the most common places where sexual abuse happens:

Abuse in a Public or Private School

Public and private schools are responsible for the care of countless Florida children, so abuse tends to be more prevalent there. For example, a teacher, coach, or administrator might take advantage of a child in their care. If the abuse occurred during the normal course of the employee’s job, the school can likely be held accountable. If the school knew about the abuse and did nothing or covered it up, we might be able to sue the county school district if it is a public school.

Abuse in a Religious Organization

Sexual abuse in religious organizations has been national news for the last several years, especially in cases involving the Catholic Church. Like schools, religious organizations often watch over children and can influence adults significantly. If a clergy member or church worker abuses someone, the church might be able to be named in your claim. Oftentimes, we can prove these cases by showing that the church knew about the perpetrator but kept them on staff anyway.

Abuse in a Nursing or Group Home

Unfortunately, seniors, like children, are also at a higher risk of sexual abuse. Florida nursing homes are common but have very little oversight over their activities. Some residents might be cut off from family or otherwise on their own. These individuals can become targets for staff or other residents for abuse. Like other organizations, nursing homes must ensure that the people working for them do not have a history of abuse and have policies to protect residents.

Sexual abuse is also a problem in group homes for individuals with significant physical or mental disabilities. Like nursing homes, these places care for individuals who typically cannot defend themselves and might have few people looking after them. If you even suspect abuse is happening in a group or nursing home, contact our team immediately so that we can begin investigating.

Abuse in Recreational Organizations

With its perpetual stretches of beach, swamplands, and forests, the Sunshine State is known for having countless recreational organizations operating within it. Perhaps one of the most popular or known is the Boy Scouts of America. For years, parents have trusted Boy Scout guides to watch over their children and guide them. Unfortunately, some guides have taken advantage of their power, as the country learned from victims who bravely came forward. In these cases, the guide and the Boy Scouts can be sued.

Abuse also occurs in smaller recreational organizations, like after-school martial arts programs. These smaller organizations are often connected to larger ones, which we might be able to add to your lawsuit.

The Statute of Limitations for Sexual Abuse Lawsuits in Florida

How long you have to file will differ depending on whether the victim was an adult or child when the abuse occurred. Fla. Stat. § 95.11(8) provides several deadlines if the victim was a minor at the time of the abuse, as defined under § 39.01(2), § 415.102, and § 984.03. Child victims of abuse can file the claim at any time within seven years after turning 18. Alternatively, they can file within four years of leaving the dependency of their abuser or within four years of discovering the nature of the abuse and the causal relationship to the abuser, whichever date is later.

Claims for sexual battery against a minor under 16 years old, as defined by § 794.011 and § 787.061, will have no statute of limitations placed on them, according to § 95.11(10). This law also applies to claims for abuse occurring on or before July 1, 2010, as long as they are not already time-barred.

Adult sexual abuse victims must typically abide by the standard statute of limitations for personal injuries caused by assault, battery, and other intentional conduct. In most cases, adult victims will have four years from the date of the last occurrence of abuse to file a lawsuit in civil court, according to § 95.11(3)(n). Our team will review the details of your case to determine which deadline will apply.