What Is Sexual Assault?
Sexual assault can involve anything from workplace verbal harassment to full-on assault. The bottom line is ANY UNWANTED SEXUAL ADVANCE = ASSAULT. And assault is never your fault. It is the fault of the assailant. If your employer, coach, camp counselor, doctor–think someone in a position of authority over you–makes you feel uncomfortable in a sexual away, it was not right and could be worthy of a sexual assault lawsuit. Here are some of the sexual assault lawsuits we have been involved with over the years:
#icouldntsayno
If you wound up in a situation of imbalanced power, such as in a professional situation where you couldn't say no to an authority's ultimatum (such as a boss or supervisor), you can take your power back by taking part in civil legal action to prosecute the institution that looked the other way.>>
Abercrombie & Fitch
The “Good Life” Was Part of a Brand Riddled with Seduction & Sex Crimes. Crazy doesn’t begin to describe it. New sex trafficking and interstate prostitution charges have been leveled at former Abercrombie & Fitch CEO Mike Jeffries and his long-time British partner/lover Matt Smith. >>
California
In 2020, a three-year law went into effect in California that allowed people who were sexually abused as children to file lawsuits, even if the abuse happened decades ago. At the same time, adults who were abused in recent history were given a temporary opportunity (ending in 2023) to seek justice from abusers... >>
California Women’s Prison
Sexual assault has been reported by women inmates held at California state prisons, usually long-term, serving more than a year for convicted felonies. Few people outside the prison walls know what is going on or care if they do know. Fewer still do anything to address the problem. >>
Catholic Church
Widespread child sexual abuse occurred for decades in the Catholic Church – and the worst part? The Church actively worked to cover up the abuse, choosing to shuffle around accused clergy members to silence rumors instead of going to the proper authorities. Even now, survivors are still coming forward. >>
Cheerleading
Cheer as a sports culture first came under suspicion for sexual misconduct in the early 2000s. Sometimes, survivors who braved telling their stories would later drop charges under pressure from authority figures. Many survivors still drop charges for the same reason, to barely hint at the power imbalances hamstringing participants. >>
Latter-Day Saints
Sadly, no religious institution has been immune from allegations of sexual assault by clergy or other leadership, including the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. A string of lawsuits has been filed against Church leaderships alleging wider cover-ups, and we believe the onslaught isn’t over yet. >>
Long-Term Care
Community-based residences advertising long-term care for the elderly and disabled, including disabled children, are supposed to offer help, not become havens where abusive staff take advantage of helpless people. Many of these organizations cut corners and severely slash budgets, creating a culture of hidden abuse with tragic results. >>
Rosemead
High School
Nothing anybody reported about swarming staff-on-student sexual assault seemed to faze officials at Rosemead High School in the El Monte Union School District near Los Angeles, though the misconduct seems to have involved multiple teachers and coaches dating back more than four decades. >>
Soccer
More than one in four women college athletes (across all sports) experience some type of sports-related sexual abuse during college and often coaches are the perpetrator. Reports include verbal and psychological abuse, daily body-shaming, personal taunts, grooming, sexual abuse, isolation, manipulation, and physical punishment reminiscent of military hazing. >>
Southern
Baptist Church
For 20 years, sex assault survivors in the Southern Baptist Convention (the largest Protestant denomination in America) tried in vain to get someone to care about their brutal stories of manipulation and rape at the hands of top leadership, pastors, youth ministers, staff members. Nobody listened. >>
Uber/Lyft
The core concept of both Uber and Lyft is that they are supposed to provide safe transportation. How ironic, then, that both companies are embroiled in huge sexual assault lawsuits over safety, specifically women’s safety. What is most shocking is that the majority of women have no idea this is even a thing. >>
A Case for Women has long been a champion of survivor rights, helping countless women (and men) file sexual assault lawsuits. Since one in five women will experience rape or attempted rape in her lifetime, it is not surprising that we have successfully helped tens of thousands of women file sexual assault lawsuits. These lawsuits are not criminal suits against individual predators, but rather civil suits against the institutions that should have done more to protect their customers/ employees/ constituents from sexual assault.
What Should You Expect from a Sexual Assault Lawsuit?
If you have experienced sexual assault, we want to empower you with information about how to file a lawsuit + help you take those first steps.
- The time limit to file a sexual assault lawsuit hinges on each state’s SOL (statute of limitations). State laws and fed legislation are constantly evolving across the country, sometimes permitting survivors to file claims even if the SOL has expired. It’s important to know the latest developments as each opportunity is made available. But don’t worry -we can help you with that.
- It is also important to understand what the potential outcomes may be in your specific situation. Contact usto talk through any specific questions you may have. Our sexual assault lawyers can talk things through with you and help you understand what to expect a sexual assault lawsuit.
In a civil sexual assault case, outcomes typically include the survivor(s) receiving financial compensation, changing an entity’s policies, procedures, etc, and ultimately helping to change a system designed to perpetuate and silence assault. That is why these lawsuits matter so much.
How Does a Civil Sexual Assault Lawsuit Work?
Civil cases use monetary penalties to punish those involved. One of the sexual assault law firms we work with will draft documents and collect evidence pertinent to your case (all while working closely with you, of course), defend your case if it goes to trial (FYI: not typical), negotiate a settlement, or pursue a successful jury verdict. At the end of the day what matters most is achieving a positive result in your case and forcing those who hurt you to change their ways – therefore, helping to protect other women in the future.
A Case for Women and A Case for Justice have fought many BIG BADS to achieve financial compensation for sexual assault survivors. Virtually no large entity has been immune to sexual assault lawsuits, ranging from pursing large corporations to sports, the Catholic Church, the Boy Scouts, doctors hiding assault behind routine medical exams, churches and other religious non-profits hiding abusers, residential treatment centers that fail to protect their patients from abuse, and many more.
We Are Here For You.
A Case for Women is here (founded in 2015 by women for women) for you (to help fight the particular legal battles confronting women exclusively, since many of us have experienced the same traumas). We are here for you 24/7/365 when you are ready to tell us what happened to you in strictest confidence.
Even if you should decide to participate in a lawsuit, you can easily remain anonymous. We promise. If you’ve been sexually assaulted by someone associated with a larger organization, business, or entity, we want to help.
You’ve heard us say: Speak your truth, even if your voice trembles. By helping yourself, you help us drastically change the narrative about sexual assault lawsuits. Every voice adds to the growing chorus. Besides helping heal you on so many levels, you could prevent your tragedy from befalling another – or many others. That is huge power.
Learn more about additional resources for sexual assault survivors.
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