Sexual Assault Lawyer

This is a bizarre, but not uncommon form of sexual assault and abuse that is tied to some sort of religious rite or belief (not to be confused with clergy abuse, which is discussed below). Perpetrators usually present themselves as some kind of spiritual authority who may justify the abuse in the name of a deity, or as a path to “redemption.”

Practices falling under this category include:

• child marriage
• genital mutilation
• incest

Have a question about a potential case?

Although most victims of sex trafficking are young immigrant women, anyone can find themselves exploited in this manner. According to the World Population Review, the United States is one of the worst countries in the world for human trafficking, with nearly 200,000 incidents annually.

Recent years have seen lawsuits being filed against hotel chains where young women and men have been forced into prostitution after perpetrators have been arrested and prosecuted.

Have a question about a potential case?

The sexual victimization of young boys by Catholic priests has been going on for decades, but it has only been recently that the Church has been held accountable. Often, priests suspected or even known to be sexual predators were simply transferred to another parish, and the entire affair was swept under the rug. Today, the Church has had to set up funds to pay out claims to abuse victims.

It bears mentioning that while sex abuse scandals in the Roman Catholic Church have been the most publicized, they happen in other religious organizations as well as secular ones; over the past several years, the Boy Scouts of America have also been targeted in litigation from men who were abused as youths by Scout Masters and other adults.

Have a question about a potential case?

Forcible rape by a stranger is a frightening prospect and can happen in a public place or during a home invasion.

However, RAINN reports that approximately eight out of 10 sexual assaults are committed by someone known to the victim. One of the most prevalent is known as “intimate partner rape,” which is committed by the victim’s romantic or domestic partner, or even their spouse (and yes, marital rape is also a crime).

Have a question about a potential case?

Survivors of sexual assault must deal not only with physical injuries but also serious emotional and psychological issues. Post-Traumatic Stress Syndrome (PTSD) is almost universal among rape victims, who also may experience depression, dissociation, inability to focus or deal with everyday life, and suicidal thoughts.

Victims also blame themselves, feeling shame, guilt, and anger. They often lose trust in the people around them (this is especially true of children).

If you have been sexually assaulted, it is normal to feel powerless and afraid. This is why it is a good idea to retain a sexual assault lawyer.

Have a question about a potential case?

Unfortunately, the criminal justice system is imperfect; there are times when a guilty party manages to escape the consequences of his actions. Other times, misguided or even biased judges hand down light sentences, such as probation and work release, as has happened several times in recent years.

According to the Blackburn Center, the reason is that “…we live in a society where sexual violence is normalized and consent is poorly understood.” In other words, many of these judges seem to believe that “boys will be boys,” or that the victim was somehow to blame. Often, they don’t believe there was even an assault because the attacker was an acquaintance of the victim.

If this angers you, it should. The good news is that it is much easier to get justice in a civil lawsuit than in a criminal court. In a criminal proceeding, the standard of guilt is “beyond a reasonable doubt,” meaning the jury must be 99.9 percent certain that the accused committed the crime.

The standard for liability in litigation is based on a “preponderance of evidence.” In other words, the jury does not need to meet the reasonable doubt standard. They only need to be 51 percent convinced.

This is what happened in the 1990s with the O.J. Simpson case. Those of a certain age may recall that he was found not guilty of the murders of his ex-wife and her companion, yet the victims’ families successfully sued him for wrongful death.

Have a question about a potential case?

The first step is to file a report with law enforcement within 72 hours. There will be a police investigation; depending on the outcome, the city or county prosecutor will then file formal charges. The case then goes to trial; if found guilty, the perpetrator faces prison time and may have to register as a sex offender.

In most situations, a sex crime must be reported within seven years in the State of Arizona. However, if violence was used and/or the victim was fifteen years of age or younger, there is no statute of limitations.

The state also maintains a victim’s compensation fund, which pays up to $25,000 to victims. You must apply for this benefit within two years.

Have a question about a potential case?

The statute of limitations for any personal injury lawsuit is two years from the cause of action. For underage victims of sexual assault, this starts on their eighteenth birthday. If the assault was carried out in the workplace, the victim may also file a sexual harassment claim with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC). within 300 days of the incident.

You can also sue a third party if they were in a position to prevent the attack or incident and did nothing to protect you. This is the basis of recent litigation against hotels, academic institutions, and church organizations.

Have a question about a potential case?

The experienced and compassionate litigators at Philips Law Group can assist you in getting compensation for your physical as well as psychological and emotional injuries. We can also help to identify any other responsible parties. Damages you may be able to recover include:

• Medical expenses (including therapy and counseling)
• Pain and suffering
• Emotional and psychological distress
• Loss of consortium
• Lost wages and earning capacity

Your initial consultation is free of charge and there is no obligation to move forward with our team if you pursue a case.

Financial compensation cannot completely erase the consequences of sexual assault. However, it can go a long way toward healing and bringing closure. If you or a family member have been subject to such a violation, contact our firm today.

Have a question about a potential case?

Whatever form it takes, sexual assault comes down to one issue: consent. Shockingly, it is also one of the most common crimes in our society; the Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network (RAINN) reports that a sexual assault occurs every 68 seconds in the United States.

Women are not the only victims: statistics from the Centers for Disease Control indicate that 25 percent of men have been sexually assaulted. For women, the reported figure is 33 percent. In reality, however, the figures are likely to be higher, because not all victims come forward.

Children and young people are especially at risk, primarily between the ages of 7 and 13. The CDC also reports that 20 percent of girls and 5 percent of boys wind up being victims of sexual predators. In any given year, 16 percent of young people between the ages of 14 and 17 are sexually abused or assaulted.

Have a question about a potential case?