Princeton Sexual Abuse Lawyers

Who is Liable for Damages in Civil Sexual Abuse Claims?

In civil cases, parties other than the offender could be liable for sexual abuse. A business, residence, or other entity could be held responsible if oversight in their security measures (such as inadequate lighting or insufficient locks) contributed to a sexual abuse case. In cases involving someone with a history of abusive behavior, an entity could be liable for hiring a person known to be dangerous. An apartment complex or other living space could be held liable for sexual abuse damages if they fail to perform adequate background checks or rent a residence to a known sex offender.

An institution may also be liable in a sexual abuse case if their process of investigating a sexual assault on their premises (or failure to do so) contributed to further damages. This may include situations in which sexual abuse is able to continue because an organization does not interfere in a known case.

Institutions such as the following could be held liable for sexual abuse that occurs on their premises:

• Schools
• Churches
• Apartment complexes
• Nursing homes
• Workplaces
• Businesses

Sexual Abuse in West Virginia Statistics

According to data from the West Virginia Foundation for Rape Information and Services (FRIS), 82% of sexual assaults in the state are committed by a person the victim knows, primarily acquaintances. Seventy percent of sexual abuse cases in West Virginia occurred in a residence. A majority of 64.8% of victims were under the age of 18 at the time abuse occurred.

Nationally, 63% of sexual assaults are committed by acquaintances of the victim. Teens between the ages of 16 and 19 are “4 times more likely to be victims of rape than the general population.”

Contact Us for a Free Consultation

At Katz Kantor Stonestreet & Buckner, PLLC, our legal team is dedicated to helping the victims of sexual abuse recover justice. We can evaluate your case to identify all liable parties and hold them accountable for their negligence.

Schedule a no-cost case evaluation with our Princeton sexual abuse attorneys if you are interested in filing a claim — send us a message or call (304) 713-2014 to get started.