New Hampshire Clergy Sexual Assault Lawsuits

Sexual predators often work in settings such as churches where they have access to children and other vulnerable people. Unfortunately, when the victims or their families complain, churches sometimes cover up the abuse.

Phillips Law Group represents abuse survivors in New Hampshire clergy sexual assault lawsuits, so contact an injury attorney if you are ready to pursue compensation for the harm you suffered.

Why File a Civil Lawsuit?

Sexual abuse can damage an individual’s self-concept, trigger intense feelings of shame, and lead to lingering mental health challenges. Survivors often have trouble reaching their educational or professional potential and can find it difficult to sustain personal relationships.

Survivors often crave acknowledgment of the harm they suffered, but criminal charges in these cases are rare. Bringing a civil lawsuit to get financial compensation is the only way most survivors can hold abusers accountable.

Money damages can ensure a survivor gets the treatment and support they need to live the fullest life possible. The trauma-informed attorneys at Phillips Law Group can support a New Hampshire clergy sexual abuse survivor throughout the legal process and advocate for maximum compensation.

Varying Timeframes for Legal Action

Sexual abuse survivors typically require years and even decades to process what happened to them and be ready to talk about it. Unfortunately, strict legal time limits sometimes prevent survivors from finding the justice they seek in court.

New Hampshire Revised Statute § 508:4g eliminated the statute of limitations for survivors of sexual abuse if the abuse they suffered would be a crime under the state’s definition of sexual assault or incest. The sexual assault definition includes sexual acts that do not involve penetration, so many survivors can file civil lawsuits if they suffered sexual abuse that does not qualify as rape. A survivor can file a civil lawsuit even when the perpetrator was not convicted of a crime or when no criminal charges were filed.

However, the law removing the statute of limitations applies only to the perpetrator, not to a church or religious institution that enabled the abuse or covered it up. Also, the law is not retroactive. Unfortunately, this means it can be difficult for survivors to understand whether or not they still have the right to sue.

Last Incident Occurred After September 18, 2020

Any survivor who suffered an incident of sexual abuse or assault after September 18, 2020, can bring a lawsuit against the perpetrator at any time. Different timeframes apply if the survivor also wants to file a claim against the church.

If the survivor was under 18 when the abuse occurred, they have until their 30th birthday to file a lawsuit against the institution. If the survivor was an adult when the abuse occurred, they must file a claim against the perpetrators and institution within three years of the incident.

Incident Occurred Before September 18, 2020

When a survivor was abused before the new law took effect, prior law governs their rights. However, if the survivor did not connect the abuse to the impacts they suffered later in life, the survivor can file a lawsuit within three years of making that connection.

If the statute of limitations had already expired when the new law took effect, a survivor’s claims are time-barred. If their rights to sue had not expired by September 18, 2020, their right to take advantage of the new law is unclear. This issue is currently before the courts, so a survivor of clergy sexual abuse should speak with a New Hampshire attorney about the possibility of a lawsuit in their specific case.

Consult a New Hampshire Attorney About Clergy Sexual Abuse Lawsuits

Sexual abuse by someone affiliated with a religious organization can have a devastating impact on a survivor for the rest of their life. Holding the abuser and the institution responsible in court can be empowering and healing. If you are considering seeking justice for the abuse you experienced, contact Phillips Law Group to learn about New Hampshire clergy sexual assault lawsuits.