Compensation for Sexual Abuse Victims 

Sexual abuse is a crime. If you are a victim, your legal rights may extend beyond criminal penalties against the abuser. You may also have a right to sue for physical, emotional, and psychological damages in civil court.

When you contact Baber Law, we discuss your case confidentially and determine your right to compensation. Nate Baber, our Connecticut sexual abuse lawyer, is committed to compassionate, confidential client representation. While financial compensation can’t eliminate the trauma you’ve endured, we work hard to recover damages to help you continue rebuilding your life.

Our Case Results

At Baber Law Firm, we use our firm’s resources to prepare each case for negotiation, settlement, or courtroom presentation. We work hard for every client, but as each situation is unique, we can’t guarantee a specific outcome. We investigate your incident and rely on knowledge gained from prior cases to guide our actions on your behalf. 

These anonymized results share some of the outcomes we’ve achieved for our clients. 

• Daycare Center Settlement: Attorney Baber secured a confidential policy-limits settlement from the homeowner’s liability insurer after one child abused a 5-year-old. As both were in the care of an in-home daycare provider, the incident was a breach of duty and a violation of Connecticut daycare regulations.

• Confidential Settlement with Connecticut Board of Education: During pre-litigation mediation with the school board, Attorney Baber secured a confidential settlement for our client. A substitute teacher/coach had sexually assaulted the teenage student while off-campus. This resolution spared our client the additional trauma of depositions, testimony, or a trial.

• Settlement Reached in Ukrainian Catholic Church Sexual Abuse Case: After nearly 40 years of silence, our adult client courageously reported sexual assault by a priest at a Ukrainian Catholic Church in Terryville, Connecticut. The abuse began when he was 12 years old and continued for five years. Attorney Baber successfully resolved the case for $450,000.00 during mediation. The Hartford Courant reported details of the case, while protecting our client’s anonymity.

Understanding Sexual Abuse and Grooming

Connecticut statutes broadly define sexual abuse to include any sexual activity involving a child under age 18 or a mentally challenged adult. It can involve activities that violate laws or occur without the victim’s full understanding or informed consent. Abuse can be a single incident or a long-term pattern. 

Before committing a sexual assault, abusers typically use grooming, a deceptive process that gradually builds trust. A Psychology Today article, “Does All Childhood Sexual Abuse Involve Sexual Grooming?” explains how this subtle strategy occurs in 99% of reported sexual abuse cases. Grooming can involve an average of 14 identifiable behaviors over five stages.

• Victim selection: Identifying a vulnerable child or one without supervision 
• Access/Isolation: Separating the child from their guardian 
• Trust Development: Preying on the child’s vulnerabilities: compliments, gifts, and other privileges 
• Desensitization: Engaging in nonsexual touching, progressing to sexual talk, contact, and nudity
• Post-Abuse Maintenance: Promoting continuation and secrecy, making the victim feel responsible

The most common perpetrators are often people the victim’s parent or family member knows and trusts.

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Liability Beyond the Perpetrator

A sexual abuser is always ultimately responsible for their actions. However, their victim may also have a right to recover compensation from a negligent third party. This could be a daycare center, business, or religious organization.

To prove a third party is liable, the evidence must show four key things.

• Duty Owed: The third party owed a duty of care to the victim (a daycare owes a duty to a child in their care).
• Duty Breached: The negligent party breached their duty by failing to prevent the abuse.
• Proximate Cause: The abuse was a direct result of the breach of duty.
• Damages: The victim’s physical, emotional, and psychological damages are directly related to the breach of duty.

In cases against the Roman Catholic Church, for example, prior knowledge of abuse combined with moving abusive priests to new parishes demonstrated a breach of duty and a pattern of negligence.

Emotional and Psychological Effects of Sexual Abuse

In addition to physical issues, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has documented multiple mental health consequences related to sexual abuse. These include:

• Depression
• Post-traumatic stress disorder symptoms
• Substance abuse and misuse
• Risky sexual behaviors
• Increased tendency toward sexual violence
• Increased suicide risk
• Increased risk for future victimization

Everyone reacts differently when someone sexually abuses them. Despite any instinctual reaction to avoid additional emotional trauma, consider discussing the event with a mental health professional. 

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Complex Filing Deadlines (Statutes of Limitations)

Connecticut sexual abuse statutes of limitations vary based on the occurrence date, age of the victim, and the criminal outcome. If you or a relative is a sexual abuse victim, we highly recommend that you contact our firm to discuss your legal rights.

Key deadlines for civil action include:

• If a court convicts the perpetrator of first-degree sexual assault, the victim has no statute of limitations for filing a civil suit. They may file at any time.

• For crimes before October 1, 2019, victims who were under 18 when the assault occurred have until their 48th birthday to file a civil suit. 

• When a case involves crimes against a victim under age 18, occurring on or after October 1, 2019, the victim has until their 51st birthday to file a lawsuit.

• For sexual assault cases not covered under these provisions, Connecticut’s three-year personal injury statute of limitations applies.

If a victim fails to meet these deadlines, they lose their right to make a claim, negotiate a settlement, or file a lawsuit. Attorney Nate Baber can take steps to protect your right to claim damages.

Connecticut Sexual Abuse Lawyer

If you or your loved one is a sexual abuse victim, contact your local law enforcement authorities immediately and seek assistance from a medical professional. When you’re ready to discuss the potential for filing a civil suit for damages, contact Baber Law for a free consultation. 

• Call Us: 855-285-3425
• Schedule A Consultation: On this page or Visit Our Contact Page