Civil claims for sexual abuse

A civil claim is separate from any criminal case. It does not depend on a prosecution having been brought, on a conviction, or on the abuser being alive or identified in a criminal proceeding. It asks a different question: whether an institution that had responsibility for a person’s safety failed in it, and what that failure cost. Law Offices Of SRIS, P.C. represents survivors in civil claims in Virginia, Maryland, the District of Columbia, New Jersey and New York.

Institutional responsibility

Most viable civil claims are against an organization rather than an individual — a school, a youth program, a residential facility, an employer, a healthcare provider. The claim generally rests on what the organization knew or should have known: prior complaints, failures in hiring and screening, inadequate supervision, or a decision to move a person elsewhere rather than address a report. That record is usually in the organization’s own files.

Confidentiality

How a survivor’s identity is handled is a decision that should be made deliberately and early, not discovered late. Courts have mechanisms that can allow a claim to proceed without a name appearing publicly in every filing, and settlement terms can address confidentiality directly. Whether and how those are available depends on the court and the circumstances, and it is a question worth raising at the first conversation.

Filing deadlines and revival provisions

Limitations rules in this area have changed substantially in recent years, and several states have enacted provisions extending deadlines for childhood abuse claims or opening defined windows for claims that had previously expired. Because these provisions vary by state, by the age at which the abuse occurred, and by when the claim would otherwise have lapsed, no general period should be relied on. A claim that appears too old is worth having reviewed rather than abandoned.

What a first conversation involves

Not a detailed recounting. A first conversation establishes the outline: roughly when, what institution was involved, whether any report was made at the time, and what records may exist. Nothing further is required to determine whether there is a claim worth investigating.

Pages in this section

This section covers institutional liability, school and youth program claims, clergy abuse, residential facility claims, negligent hiring and supervision, and related topics.

Speak with Mr. Sris

Conversations are confidential. Reach our location at (888) 437-7747. Consultations are by appointment.

Last reviewed: August 22, 2026.

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The information on this page is general and is not legal advice. No attorney-client relationship is created by reading it or by contacting the firm. Case results depend on a variety of factors unique to each case. Results may vary.

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