Steinger, Greene & Feiner is a Port St. Lucie personal injury law firm that represents victims of child sexual abuse and helps them and their families seek compensation for pain and suffering through civil litigation. In many cases an organization or entity is neglectful in child supervision, tragically allowing the opportunity for sexual abuse to occur. The purpose of a civil lawsuit is for the victim to recover financial compensation from an organization or supervisor’s insurance, such as a church group or school, that was supposed to protect the child and instead looked the other way or was negligent in making sure no abusers had access to children.
Child sexual abuse lawsuits brought in civil court are entirely separate and distinct from criminal court cases. The purpose of these civil claims is to hold organizations financially responsible for the harm endured by a child, when that organization might otherwise go unpunished. Our goal is to afford the victim valuable compensation toward healing and recovery from the lasting harm caused by the sexual abuse. The financial support provided by the insurance of these entities could go a long way toward giving a victim the money to get therapy and get the support and care he or she needs after the abuse.
What You Need to Know
Under Florida law, the victim of child sexual abuse can file a civil lawsuit against the organization responsible for the abuse even if a lot of time has passed since the abuse. This is because Florida law recognizes that abuse victims often do not recover memories of the abuse until many years after it occurs and because abuse victims often don’t want to face the facts of the abuse when they are just young children.
The ability to file a child sexual abuse lawsuit as an adult gives you the chance to stand up in court and hold a negligent organization accountable. The purpose of a child sexual abuse lawsuit, however, is a very specific one.
The purpose is to obtain monetary damages from the organization that was supposed to protect and instead put you in harm’s way. This is different from a criminal case where the aim is to send the abuser to jail. You may be able to get some closure or feel empowered by taking your case to court and making the defendant pay damages, but ultimately the civil suit’s major purpose is to make the defendant pay you and get you the money you need for therapy and other losses caused by the abuse.
My case couldn't have been handled better. It was handled in a timely manner - it wasn't rushed. If something ever happened again and I needed an attorney, Steinger, Greene & Feiner would be the first place I would go.
Susan D.
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A personal injury can occur in a variety of ways, but almost all have the same results in common. Suddenly, your life is disrupted and possibly jeopardized physically, emotionally, and financially by an accident or incident which could have been prevented. Visit our Port St Lucie injury lawyer and let us help you get started with a free consultation. Don’t take the first check from the insurance company. Give us a call at (772) 200-4696 or visit our location at 507 NW Lake Whitney Pl, Port St. Lucie, FL 34986.
- Whether you have sufficient evidence. Our Port St. Lucie child sexual abuse attorneys will work with you to try to gather the proof you need to show that the abuse occurred and that the organization was responsible in some way. You don’t need to prove your case beyond a reasonable doubt in civil court like in criminal court; it is enough to prove your case by a preponderance of the evidence.
- Whether the organization has sufficient assets. If you are awarded damages, the money needs to be paid by the organization. Typically, these organizations and entities have insurance policies that will cover liability claims against them and you may be able to negotiate a settlement with these insurance companies to recover the damages you are owed.
You need to consider these factors, as well as your emotional readiness to take legal action, in deciding if a child sexual abuse case is in your best interests. Your Port St. Lucie child sexual abuse attorney can help advise you on whether you have a legal case.
How Much Can Steinger, Greene & Feiner Get You?
The emotional damages caused by those who facilitate the sexual abuse of children cannot be understated. The abuse may have an emotional impact that lasts well beyond childhood and that, in some cases, also results in financial loss. For example, abuse victims may need ongoing talk therapy to address the abuse or may need assistance overcoming other problems that are an indirect result of the abuse such as addiction.
The compensation from the responsible organization should provide full and fair coverage for all of the consequences of the abuse. Your Port St. Lucie child sexual abuse attorney may be able to assist you in negotiating a fair and reasonable out-of-court settlement that gives you the compensation you are looking for or your case may go to court where a jury decides. To learn more about child sexual abuse civil lawsuits or for help deciding if you should bring a case, contact Steinger, Greene & Feiner today online or at (772) 200-4696.
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Proven Personal Injury Lawyers
A fair settlement is not what you can expect to receive from the insurance company. Their goal is to reduce payouts on claims so they can remain highly profitable. Our proven and committed legal team understands the tactics these companies regularly use to pay claimants as little as possible. We routinely battle their schemes in and out of court, and have developed effective methods for doing so.
With a legal team of more than 30 lawyers and more than 140 staff, including investigators and other assistants, we have the resources needed to get the job done efficiently. You can bring your personal injury case to us with confidence, knowing you will pay nothing until we recover the compensation you deserve. Throughout the entire case, we will be by your side, providing the guidance you need.