The trauma brought on by an encounter involving sexual abuse or molestation can reverberate through years of the survivor’s life, creating long-lasting psychological scars. Most people who were forced to suffer through the torment of sexual abuse have been forever changed by the experience. Accordingly, justice would be served by holding perpetrators of sexual abuse liable in civil court for the unspeakable harms and injuries they inflicted on their prey.
Although we understand that no sum of money could ever restore to the sexual abuse survivor that which their accusers deprived them, a damages award could go a long way to ease the financial burden survivors must endure in terms of medical treatment and psychological therapy. At The Gatti Law Firm, you can count on our team of Lake Oswego sexual abuse attorneys to work diligently, so you have an opportunity to hold your attacker legally and financially responsible for their actions.
To learn more about how our firm can help you, call our office at 503-594-4944 today.
In addition to major sex offenses such as rape and sexual assault, unwanted touching and kissing also fall within the wide range of misconduct that qualifies as sexual abuse. Many instances of sexual misconduct and molestation arise in situations where an attacker abuses their authority and power to engage in acts of sexual violence.
For example, sexual abuse has occurred between teachers and their students, nursing home staff, and their elderly patients, as well as clergy and parishioners. In some cases, the organization to which a sexual abuser belongs may also become a fair target for civil litigation claims regarding the apparent failure to perform a thorough criminal background check. Furthermore, there’s a stronger case against such organizations where there is proof that the sexual abuser had a history of repeat sex offenses.
Sexual abuse lawsuits have a unique set of challenges that make litigating them cases different from other legal actions. First, the intimate and private nature of sexual abuse and misconduct naturally pits the testimony of the plaintiff directly against that of the defendant, creating what many call a “he-said-she-said” situation. However, “he-said-she-said” cases don’t necessarily mean that a claim is unfounded. Even when the only evidence in a civil case is each party’s bare testimony, it is up to the jury to determine who was more credible.
However, cases that lack physical evidence are susceptible to fundamental human error. As time marches on, a person’s ability to recall details starts to fade. Given enough time, any competent defense attorney could impeach the fading memory of the plaintiff. When memories constitute the plaintiff’s key evidence, their case falls apart as soon as defense counsel calls the sufficiency of their memory into question. That is why sexual assault cases in Oregon have a three-year statute of limitations. However, if the trauma experienced by a sexual assault survivor was bad enough to drive the memories of their attack into repression, Oregon law provides that the three year limitations period will only start running from the date the survivor discovers their repressed memories.
If you or someone you know has been sexually assaulted and victimized, you should retain a devoted Lake Oswego sexual abuse attorney to provide you with comprehensive legal counsel as you face-off against your attacker. Backed by more than 45 years of dedicated service to the residents of Oregon, our legal team is dedicated to helping you take a stand against the scrupulous deeds of your assailant as you bring them to justice before the court.
Call our office at 503-594-4944 today or visit our webpage and complete our online request form for a free initial consultation.
You will be in good hands with Gatti Law Firm!“I would recommend them to anyone. You will be in good hands with them!”