Youth residential treatment facilities, or RTFs, are supposed to be a safe and supportive environment for minor children struggling with severe mental health or substance addiction issues to receive specialized inpatient care. However, numerous civil lawsuits and government investigations have revealed widespread and systemic abuse within the RTF industry. Some of the most disturbing cases involve sexual molestation or assault. Taxpayer dollars fund much of this industry.
If you or your child experienced sexual abuse while residing at an RTF, you have the right to file a civil lawsuit against your abuser, as well as anyone who enabled or otherwise failed to prevent the abuse. The experienced sexual abuse attorneys at Phillips Law Group are here to help survivors build the strongest possible case and pursue the best possible outcome in South Carolina youth residential treatment center sexual abuse lawsuits.
Holding a South Carolina youth RTF employee, administrator, or owner civilly liable for sexual abuse requires proving they were at fault for committing or failing to prevent that abuse by “a preponderance of the evidence.” This is a lower burden of proof than the “beyond a reasonable doubt” standard applicable to criminal cases, but it still requires extensive documentation, testimony, and expert input. Seasoned legal counsel can provide invaluable assistance with locating, preserving, and effectively presenting this evidence.
It will be important not only to prove clearly and thoroughly that a specific person committed the sexual abuse, but also that they were employed by a particular RTF at the time, and that the victim was a resident of that same RTF when the abuse occurred. As a result, documents such as intake records, employee files, and payment receipts or billing statements from the residential treatment center often play a more critical role in these cases than in other types of sexual abuse claims.
A comprehensive lawsuit over sexual abuse that occurred at a youth residential treatment center in South Carolina can incorporate both financial and personal forms of harm stemming from that abuse, including:
Under state law, people who experienced childhood sexual abuse can file suit up until their 27th birthday or up to three years after they first discover they were harmed through sexual abuse, whichever comes first.
No one who experiences sexual abuse is in any way at fault for what happened to them, but the prospect of taking legal action against the people who were at fault for it can be understandably intimidating. Know that you have help available from capable and compassionate legal professionals who will believe you, support you, and fight tenaciously to defend your best interests from start to finish of your case.
Pursuing South Carolina youth residential treatment center sexual abuse lawsuits is never easy. However, it is much easier and has a much better chance of success with Phillips Law Group on your side. Call today for a free, no-obligation consultation with a member of the team.
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