People who experienced sex abuse during childhood often must deal with the ramifications for the rest of their lives. Overcoming the trauma requires years of deep emotional work. In most cases, the abuser never faces justice, adding to a survivor’s pain. A civil lawsuit against the institution that enabled the abuse may be the most productive strategy.
Phillips Law Group represents survivors of sex abuse and works to obtain compensation for the impact it has on people’s lives. Our New Jersey institutional sex abuse lawyers will listen to your story, explain your legal options, and if you decide to move forward, they will zealously pursue accountability for you.
New Jersey Law Permits Claims Long After Abuse Occurs
Claims seeking compensation for the effects of sexual abuse are considered personal injury claims. Most personal injury claims in New Jersey must be filed in court within two years of the incident or if a minor was injured within two years of their 18th birthday.
Sexual abuse causes deep psychological trauma that can take years or even decades to work through. Because of the nature of the injury, a two-year statute of limitations would prevent sexual abuse survivors from bringing claims and holding the abuser and their enablers accountable.
New Jersey Statute §2A:14-2a addresses this issue. Anyone who suffers sexual abuse while a minor has until age 55 to bring a lawsuit seeking compensation. If the survivor did not recognize that their injuries were related to sexual abuse, they have seven years from the date they discovered the connection or until their 55th birthday, whichever is later.
Holding Enabling Institutions Liable
A survivor seeking compensation for their losses might find their abuser is dead, cannot be located, or has no resources to pay a judgment. Pursuing the institution that enabled the abuser’s conduct is the most effective way available to achieve accountability.
Institutions that may be liable for sexual abuse include:
- Churches
- Summer camps
- Runaway shelters
- Children’s sports leagues
- Juvenile detention facilities
- Group homes and foster homes
- Schools, from preschools to universities
- Service organizations like the Boy Scouts
These institutions typically have substantial insurance policies and may have endowments or other sources of funding to pay compensation to a survivor.
Organizations that care for or provide services to children have a duty to protect them. When the organization fails in that duty by allowing a sexual predator access to children, Phillips Law Group’s New Jersey institutional sex abuse attorneys could establish it was negligent. Liability could occur if the institution failed to properly screen the abuser, did not supervise them appropriately, did not investigate or act on complaints, or tried to cover up evidence of abuse.
Injuries Resulting From Childhood Sex Abuse
Being sexually abused as a child is a deeply traumatic experience. Survivors often experience mental health challenges in adulthood that impact their work, friendships, family life, and other relationships. When a survivor brings a civil lawsuit, they can claim compensation for the losses they have sustained since the abuse and will continue to suffer in the future.
Survivors may experience anxiety, depression, post-traumatic stress disorder, or other mental health conditions. Some survivors become suicidal. The cost of treating these conditions and the economic impact of them — such as being unable to complete an education or pursue a career — are recoverable in a lawsuit.
Survivors can also claim compensation for the non-economic impact of the abuse. A New Jersey attorney from Phillips Law Group will present evidence of the survivor’s emotional pain and suffering resulting from their experiences with institutional sex abuse.
Contact Phillips Law Group About Institutional Sex Abuse Claims in New Jersey
Taking steps to hold an abuser and the enabling institution accountable is an act of courage. When you are ready to take that step, you need attorneys who are committed to getting justice for you and have the skills and experience to be successful.
The New Jersey institutional sex abuse lawyers at Phillips Law Group have decades of experience representing people who have suffered grave harm. Reach out to schedule a free consultation to learn how we can help you.
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