A recent report published by the United States Senate Committee on Finance described a shocking number of youth residential treatment facilities as “warehouses of neglect,” where minors were subjected to systemic physical, psychological, and sexual abuse. If you have endured such abuse while receiving inpatient care at an RTF, this report affirms that you are far from alone in your experiences.
Like others who have experienced sexual assault in this type of facility, you likely have grounds for legal action against the people who engaged in, facilitated, or negligently failed to prevent the abuse. Every sexual abuse attorney at Phillips Law Group has extensive experience pursuing Texas youth residential center sexual abuse lawsuits and achieving favorable results. Their help is crucial to ensuring your case goes as smoothly and successfully as possible.
To secure a criminal conviction for sexual misconduct, a prosecutor must prove the defendant’s guilt beyond a reasonable doubt—a high standard that can be difficult for sexual abuse cases to meet. In contrast, civil sexual abuse lawsuits follow a lower standard of proof—the preponderance of the evidence. This means the plaintiff only needs to show that it is more likely than not that the defendant is liable for their injuries.
Furthermore, the outcome of a criminal case related to sexual abuse allegations has no direct bearing on the outcome of any civil case arising from the same incident. Therefore, it is possible to file—and potentially win—a sexual abuse lawsuit against a Texas youth residential treatment center even if no employer or owner of that facility was ever criminally charged or convicted for their role in the abuse.
It is important to emphasize that in lawsuits involving childhood sexual abuse at a youth RTF, survivors can often name as defendants both the individuals who directly committed the abuse and the people or entities responsible for operating the facility. Even if the facility’s owners or managers did not personally engage in sexual misconduct, they may still hold civil liability for failing to properly screen, train, or supervise their employees or for failing to report prior abuse to law enforcement. They may also face liability for retaliating against people who reported the abuse.
Naming facility owners and managers as defendants in Texas youth RTF sexual abuse lawsuits can be key to recovering fairly for long-term effects of sexual mistreatment, such as:
A member of the Phillips Law Group team can provide more details during a free, no-obligation consultation about what damages could be recoverable through a specific claim.
New reports emerge regularly of illegal and unconscionable sexual abuse occurring inside residential treatment facilities, often brought forward by courageous young people asserting their rights under state and federal law. However, the civil litigation process can be challenging under any circumstances, and especially when you are seeking financial restitution from your abuser or the people who enabled their abuse.
You have capable and compassionate legal support available to you from the start of your case proceedings through the end. Call today to learn how Phillips Law Group can assist with Texas youth residential treatment center sexual abuse lawsuits.
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