Personal Injury Blog

Numerous Child Sex Abuse Lawsuits Filed Against Churches and Boy Scouts

Here in New Jersey, many child sex abuse victims have filed injury lawsuits against different organizations responsible for allowing sex abuse against children. The rules for filing a child sexual abuse lawsuit in New Jersey are changing in favor of survivors of child sexual abuse. In February 2019, Governor Phil Murphy signed a bill into law that extends the statute of limitations for child sex abuse survivors. The new law lengthens the time for survivors to file civil lawsuits to bring accountability to their perpetrators and the groups or institutions that protected these perpetrators.

Before the legislation, survivors could only file lawsuits against their abusers before their 20th birthday or two years from the date when they discovered the abuse. The new legislation, however, makes it possible for childhood sex abuse victims to file lawsuits against their abusers until they turn 55 years old. They also have seven years from the date they realized they were abused to file a suit in court. Additionally, the new law gives people who were previously barred from suing another two years to seek justice through a civil lawsuit. There are new deadlines to file a lawsuit and protect your legal rights.  Contact our office today to see if we can help you.

Who Can Be Held Responsible for Child Sexual Abuse?

Any person or group who inflicts abuse on a minor can be held accountable for childhood sexual abuse. The abuser will be designated as the defendant in a civil court case. However, that doesn’t mean others cannot be held liable. Anyone in a position to prevent the abuse can be named in a lawsuit, along with those who had a legal obligation to prevent the abuse. These include:

  • Parents (if the alleged abuser is a minor)
  • Churches or religious organizations
  • Daycare service providers
  • Employers
  • Schools employees
  • Organizations such as the Boy Scouts of America

Cases against the Boy Scouts of America have a shortened time window to file a claim.  The Boy Scouts of America filed for bankruptcy and in order to file a claim a Notice of Claim must be filed with the bankruptcy court by the current deadline of  November 16, 2020. If your claim is not filed by that date you may be prevented from bringing a claim against them.

Should You File a Sexual Abuse Lawsuit?

No one can tell you if you should or should not file a childhood sex abuse lawsuit. It’s a personal decision that only you can answer. A reputable lawyer can tell you what happens during legal proceedings. For example, you will likely be asked to revisit painful memories in court. Consequently, your life will be open to scrutiny by the defendant’s attorneys. Gathering information about the legal process for justice can help you make an informed decision about filing a lawsuit.

Hire Leonard Law Group for Your New Jersey Childhood Sexual Abuse Case

If you or someone you love is the victim of childhood sexual abuse by a teacher, clergy member, youth counselor, or another figure of authority, you may be able to seek civil justice now. You may also be able to receive compensation for physical, mental, and financial damages. Contact Leonard Legal Group now to schedule a free confidential consultation. We will answer all your questions and chart a pathway to justice for your case.