The fact that the movie, music, television, and other entertainment industries are rife with sexual misconduct and exploitation is one of society’s worst-kept secrets. From massive media moguls, such as Harvey Weinstein, to small-town celebrities in charge of local productions, anyone who uses their reputation as an entertainer to cover for any form of sexual assault can and should be held accountable for their actions.
If you have experienced sexual abuse in the entertainment industry while you were working, performing, or in any other way involved in it, Phillips Law Group offers a free, no-obligation consultation with a member of their team to help you explore your options for civil litigation. You may be able to demand substantial financial restitution from your abuser, with or without accompanying criminal charges. A compassionate sexual abuse attorney’s support can make a huge difference in how smoothly your claim proceeds.
Some people wrongly assume that legally actionable sexual abuse only includes penetrative sexual intercourse with the use of threat or force. However, numerous forms of sexual misconduct qualify. If someone was subjected to inappropriate touching, given alcohol or drugs to encourage sexual behavior, photographed in a state of undress without their consent, or groomed into an improper relationship with an adult as a child, they have a right to civil justice just like someone who experienced direct sexual violence.
Furthermore, if someone experienced sexual exploitation in show business when they were a minor, they may still be able to file suit over the harm they sustained, even if it has been years since that abuse occurred. Most states in the country have significantly lengthened filing deadlines for civil lawsuits over childhood sexual abuse, and a qualified sexual abuse attorney can help determine whether litigation may still be possible in a particular scenario.
No one who experiences sexual abuse or violence of any kind is at all to blame for what happened to them, and whoever engages in sexual abuse of another person can be held directly and fully liable in civil court for the consequences of their actions. However, when pursuing a case like this, it can be important to consider the role other people may have played in negligently enabling or even knowingly facilitating a third party’s sexual misconduct.
By law, entertainment companies must do everything they reasonably can to protect everyone who works for or with them from sexual violence. A systemic failure to notice and proactively address sexual harassment can potentially confer civil liability on them. Once again, an experienced legal professional’s guidance can be key in determining exactly who is legally at fault for abuse and who to name as a defendant in an ensuing settlement demand or lawsuit.
Predatory behavior by entertainers and people within the industries supporting them is far from rare. In recent years, however, there has been an increasingly strong push by both legislators and courageous abuse victims to hold wrongdoers liable for their misconduct, both in criminal court and through civil restitution.
Sexual abuse in the entertainment industry can be uniquely challenging to file suit over, but Phillips Law Group can stand by your side and protect your best interests every step of the way. Please call today to schedule a confidential consultation with a member of the team and learn more about your options.
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