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Reviews and Top-Tier Experience.
Herman Law saved my life. Plain and simple. I am forever grateful for my family at Herman Law. They brought me and my family justice and then delivered accountability to a corrupt and broken system. They uncovered the agency’s cover up and then confronted my perpetrator, holding him accountable.
I had a great experience working with Herman Law. They consistently updated me on my case and helped me get an amazing settlement. Thank you to Attorney Dan Ellis and thank you to everyone at the law firm. I truly appreciate it.
The Herman Law Firm never over promised. They kept everything in perspective. But they sure hit a grand slam for me in the end. The firm always kept in contact with me to let me know things were getting done. I was blessed with this firm. Thank you Jeff and Jason for all your empathy and professionalism. You guys really helped me to get closure in my life.
Child sexual abuse is a serious social problem affecting our society. In recent years, many investigations have brought to light the extensive abuse spanning decades. The Herman Law team exclusively represents victims of sexual abuse and has many years of experience advocating for survivors.
The dedication of Herman Law’s child sex abuse lawyers and staff members to child sex abuse lawsuits helps victims of these heinous crimes heal. Our unique approach to this sensitive area of law also helps our clients receive the best results. Our processes include spending the first 30 days:
These first 30 days are crucial to pursuing your claim successfully. If you experienced sexual abuse as a child, contact us now for a free consultation to learn about your legal rights and how to get the compensation you deserve to support your ongoing recovery financially.
Healing begins with taking action. Whether the abuse happened recently or years ago, it’s never too late to come forward. Let our trusted legal advocates guide you through your next steps—confidentially and with care.
“My message to families whose kids were sexually abused is to get help, is to talk, talk to professionals, understand the resources available to you, and even though your instinct is to want to forget it and hope it goes away if you don’t take it head on it won’t go away. Unfortunately, we know that from experience, and we know the most important thing for a victim of sexual abuse is to empower them and to give them a voice.”
Jeff Herman
Child sexual abuse is a tragedy that leads to psychological and physical trauma that can have severe consequences and endure for some victims throughout their adult life. Child sexual abuse can substantially impact mental health, interpersonal relationships, and future career aspirations.
Herman Law comprises child sex abuse lawyers who understand the challenges faced by these brave survivors. Our sole mission is to help child sex abuse victims by giving them a voice and empowering them throughout the legal process and continued healing. Herman Law fights for victims’ rights to recover the maximum compensation available to ease the financial burden of the physical and psychological trauma suffered.
We are a national law firm with a history of being attorneys dedicated to advocating for child sexual abuse survivors. The Herman Law firm is divided into different departments specifically designed to create an advantage for childhood sexual trauma victims who choose to file a civil claim against their perpetrators. Herman Law has an in-house investigative unit made up of former law enforcement officers, allowing us to gather the pertinent facts of your case and substantive evidence before filing a lawsuit. Doing so enables us to move forward with your case expeditiously, eliminating delays.
Child sexual abuse victims filing a civil lawsuit are not always children. Often, victims delay starting a lawsuit because they’re intimidated by their perpetrator, they want to forget about the problem, or they aren’t sure if the harm they experienced was sexual abuse. The time for prosecuting varies state by state. Like California and New York, some states have passed laws for child victims prolonging the time frame to bring a civil lawsuit against their perpetrators.
At Herman Law, we empathize with victims and their families and seek to provide advice that supports everyone through the process. To understand the right time for you to file a lawsuit, it’s crucial to get help and contact a child sexual assault lawyer to understand the resources available to you, even as an adult.
Client Reviews
Herman law saved my life. Plain and simple. I am forever grateful for my family at Herman law. They brought me and my family justice and then delivered accountability to a corrupt and broken system. They uncovered the agencies cover up and then confronted my perpetrator, holding him accountable.
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Child sexual abuse cases can be mentally tolling for the victims, their caretakers, and their families. Often, victims of child sex abuse are scared to disclose the abuse to anyone because they fear the perpetrator. After coming forward, it can seem like it’s easier and the best option just to move forward, forget about the whole thing, and hope everything goes away.
Herman Law offers counseling and advice to help confront the problem head-on and help you understand and navigate the experience, including getting answers to your questions about the law.
Child sex abuse victims can bring civil lawsuits against an individual and organizations or third-party institutions responsible for enabling or covering up the abuse. Examples of third parties that can share accountability for your abuse include:
Herman Law handles a variety of child sexual abuse cases occurring in both private and public situations, including:
A victim of child sexual abuse can file a civil lawsuit. A parent or guardian can represent a child and sue for physical, psychological, and other harm caused due to the abuse. The victim’s parent or guardian can also sue for their own pain and suffering stemming from their child’s abuse. Emotional distress damages compensate the distressed party for the psychological impact of the child’s sexual abuse.
If a victim or a caregiver chooses to file criminal charges and allow the state to prosecute the perpetrator, the rights of a child sexual abuse survivor include the right to appear and be heard at criminal proceedings.
Four federal laws address criminal charges for child sexual abuse: Aggravated sexual abuse (18 U.S.C. §2241), Sexual abuse (18 U.S.C. §2242), Sexual abuse of a minor or ward (18 U.S.C. §2243), and Abusive sexual contact (18 U.S.C. §2244).
The aggravated sexual abuse law requires intent by the perpetrator to commit a sexual act either with someone younger than 12 or between the ages of 12 and 16. If the child is less than 12, the punishment is greater. This charge is a strict liability crime, meaning there’s no defense that the perpetrator believed the child was older than they actually were.
Congress passed laws requiring states to take preventative steps concerning child sexual abuse, including:
Congress designed these Acts to deter future instances of child sexual abuse and protect victims and their families. The resulting positive effects of these acts include:
The federal government has passed many laws to deter acts of child sexual abuse and assist victims, but federal laws themselves typically don’t apply to child sexual abuse matters. For federal laws to apply, the crime must occur on federal lands, including military bases and Indian territories. Generally, whenever a child sexual abuse act occurs in a single state, the state’s laws apply, and local and state authorities handle the case.
Criminal penalties for people found guilty of violating child sexual abuse laws, both in federal and state criminal law proceedings, include:
Each state has different laws governing definitions, charging, and penalties related to child sexual abuse. These laws might include differing definitions of sexual abuse, more considerable penalties depending on victims’ ages, affirmative defenses available to the perpetrator, and different standards of proof or mental status requirements. Some state laws also differ regarding reporting requirements, DNA sample handling and application, and limits on rapists’ parental rights.
A primary difference in state laws is the statute of limitations. States generally have a restrictive statute limiting the amount of time a victim has to initiate a lawsuit. Recently, most states have added extensions specifically for cases involving child sexual abuse. Legislators granted these extensions recognizing that victims of child sexual abuse frequently do not discover the relationship between their psychological damage and their abuse until they reach adulthood.
According to the Rape, Abuse, & Incest National Network (RAINN), most states have a statute of limitations that ranges from a ten-year time limit to around 21 years of age or longer to report and prosecute serious felony sex crimes. The statute of limitations for each state is different to report child sexual abuse, but many states enacting look back windows allow for victims of any age to now file claims, regardless of when their abuse happened. These prolonged reporting periods will only last for a designated time, with many deadlines set in 2021 or 2022.
If you’re an adult seeking to file a civil action for child sexual abuse, you must contact an attorney to determine the relevant statute of limitations in your state.
Criminal and civil lawsuits differ in their purpose. A criminal lawsuit is meant to punish the abuser, while a civil lawsuit is intended to compensate the child sexual abuse victim. If you or your child are victim(s) of child sexual abuse, you can file a claim and potentially receive compensation. Many states extended the time limit when a victim can file a civil suit.
To pursue legal action and ensure you have a valid claim for damages, you must prove:
Steps for filing your claim include:
This process can differ slightly per case, and there’s no way to predict any civil lawsuit outcome. Your lawyer can help guide you through the complex process to better ensure you or your child receive the compensation deserved.
Herman Law is a team of lawyers and staff dedicated to advocating for child sex abuse victims. Herman Law provides valuable advice and insight to help child sexual abuse victims recover compensation for their physical and psychological harm to aid in their continued healing.
Along with years of experience trying sexual abuse cases, Herman Law offers distinct advantages like in-house investigators that can help speed up the litigation process and eliminate unnecessary delays.
Herman Law fights for child sexual abuse victims. If you suffered child sexual abuse, please don’t hesitate to contact us. Herman Law is ready to defend your legal rights and get you the compensation you deserve.
Jeff Herman is a nationally recognized attorney and founder of Herman Law, known for his dedication to helping survivors of sexual abuse. With over 35 years of experience, Jeff has represented thousands of clients across the U.S. and secured landmark victories, including a $100 million verdict. He is trained in trauma-informed advocacy and works closely with survivors to guide them through the legal process with care and determination. Jeff is admitted to practice in Florida and New York and leads a team committed to justice and healing.
If you or your child were a victim of child sexual abuse, you likely have many questions about how a child sexual abuse lawyer or lawsuit can help you. We hope to provide answers to your questions and help you continue your healing and journey to recovery.
Some states have laws holding caretakers liable for child sexual abuse if they were aware of the abuse and failed to stop it. Courts commonly refer to this type of liability as an act of omission.
A child can sue via a parent or guardian for damages, including psychological harm and physical injury, caused by sexual abuse. Psychological damages can include emotional distress, lost wages, and mental health therapy. Physical damages typically include medical bills, surgeries, or rehabilitation stemming from treatment for physical harm done to the victim. A victim’s parent or caregiver can also recover damages for their emotional distress related to their child’s sexual abuse.
Clients can remain confidential, which is an important option for many individuals. If you want to come forward but don’t want your name publicly out there, we will use a pseudonym such as Jane Doe or John Doe to protect your identity.
Speaking up is never easy—but you’re not alone. If you’re ready to explore your legal options, our compassionate team at Herman Law is here to listen, support, and guide you forward. Reach out today in complete confidence.
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