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Sexual Abuse Lawsuit: You May Be Entitled to Compensation

Survivors of sexual abuse by a person in a position of authority or trust have the right to pursue civil justice - independent of the criminal system. Our confidential case review carries no obligation, and attorneys work on a contingency basis.

1 in 6
Women Experience Sexual Violence in Their Lifetime
Source: CDC
You are not alone. Many states have enacted Adult Survivor Acts or lookback windows that temporarily allow previously time-barred claims to be filed. A case review will confirm whether your state has an open window.
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Recent Landmark Settlements: Civil accountability for institutional sexual abuse has produced historic resolutions. L.A. County approved a $4 billion settlement in April 2025 (expanded to ~$4.8 billion with an additional $828 million in October 2025) for 7,200+ juvenile-detention and foster-care abuse claims. The Boy Scouts of America $2.46 billion bankruptcy trust was finalized in February 2026. The Archdiocese of Los Angeles settled 1,353 clergy abuse claims for $880 million in October 2024. California's AB 218 and New York's Child Victims Act revival windows have been central to these resolutions.

What Is a Civil Sexual Abuse Lawsuit?

A civil sexual abuse lawsuit is a legal claim brought by a survivor against the person who committed the abuse and/or the institution that enabled or concealed it. Unlike the criminal justice system - where the government prosecutes the offender - a civil claim is filed by the survivor directly, and the goal is financial compensation for the harm caused.

You do not need a criminal conviction, a police report, or any prior legal action to file a civil claim. The civil and criminal systems operate independently. Many survivors successfully pursue civil claims even when criminal cases were never filed, were dismissed, or resulted in acquittal.

Recent institutional settlements demonstrate the scale of accountability that civil claims can produce. In October 2024, the Archdiocese of Los Angeles announced an $880 million settlement covering 1,353 clergy abuse claims (bringing its lifetime payout to approximately $1.5 billion with an earlier 2007 $740 million settlement). In April 2025, Los Angeles County approved a $4 billion settlement covering 6,800+ sexual-abuse claims from former residents of county juvenile halls and the foster-care system, with an additional $828 million announced in October 2025 (bringing the total to approximately $4.8 billion) - the largest institutional child-abuse settlement in U.S. history.

In February 2026, the Boy Scouts of America $2.46 billion bankruptcy-trust plan was finalized after the U.S. Supreme Court denied certiorari. The BSA trust has already paid $316+ million on 39,000+ approved claims of 82,000+ total, with release of the $1.65 billion escrow cleared for distribution. These institutional-accountability settlements are largely the result of state revival-window laws such as California's AB 218 and New York's Child Victims Act, which temporarily allow previously time-barred claims to be filed. Additional dioceses and institutions are in active bankruptcy or settlement discussions.

$4.8B
L.A. County juvenile/foster abuse settlement (2025) - largest in U.S. history
L.A. County, April + October 2025
$2.46B
Boy Scouts of America bankruptcy trust, finalized Feb 2026
BSA Scouting Settlement Trust
$880M
Archdiocese of Los Angeles clergy abuse settlement (Oct 2024)
Archdiocese of Los Angeles
1 in 6
Women experience sexual violence in their lifetime
CDC
⏰ Lookback Windows Are Time-Limited: If your state has an open lookback window for previously time-barred sexual abuse claims, that window will close. Once it closes, claims that do not meet the standard statute of limitations may no longer be eligible. Request a case review today to confirm whether your claim qualifies and whether your window is still open.

Who Can File a Sexual Abuse Civil Claim?

Civil sexual abuse claims are available to a wide range of survivors, including adults who were abused as children and adults who were abused more recently. You may be eligible if the abuse was committed by a person in a position of authority, trust, or care - including:

You May Qualify If You Were Abused By:

  • A clergy member, priest, pastor, or religious leader
  • A teacher, coach, school administrator, or school staff member
  • A doctor, therapist, counselor, or healthcare provider
  • A youth organization leader (scouts, sports, mentorship programs)
  • An employee or staff member at a residential facility, group home, or institution
  • An employer, supervisor, or co-worker in a workplace setting

Institutional Accountability

In many cases, the most significant claim is not against the individual abuser - it is against the institution that hired, supervised, or protected them. Schools, churches, sports organizations, and healthcare systems have faced large civil judgments and settlements when they failed to act on known warning signs, concealed prior complaints, or prioritized institutional reputation over survivor safety. Landmark institutional settlements include the L.A. County $4.8 billion juvenile/foster settlement (2025), the Boy Scouts of America $2.46 billion bankruptcy trust (finalized Feb 2026), the Archdiocese of Los Angeles $880 million (Oct 2024), and ongoing Catholic-diocese bankruptcy trusts in New York and other states.

Civil vs. Criminal

The criminal justice system focuses on punishment of the offender - and that process is controlled by prosecutors, not survivors. A civil lawsuit is controlled by you and your attorney. It can proceed even when criminal charges were never filed, and it uses a lower standard of proof. Many survivors find the civil process more empowering, particularly when it holds institutions accountable rather than only the individual.

Why File a Civil Claim?

Survivors file civil claims for many reasons. Compensation can help cover the real costs of trauma: therapy and mental health care, lost income, and the pain and disruption the abuse caused. But beyond financial recovery, a civil lawsuit can also create a meaningful record of accountability - particularly against institutions that enabled or concealed wrongdoing.

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Why Survivors Choose UnitedClaimsBureau

UCB connects survivors with experienced attorneys at no upfront cost. Here is what to expect when you work with us.

Survivor-First Approach

We understand that reaching out takes courage. Our process is designed to be compassionate, confidential, and entirely at your pace. There is no pressure and no obligation.

Specialized Legal Network

We connect survivors with attorneys who focus on sexual abuse civil litigation and handle these cases with the care and discretion they require.

Contingency Representation

Attorneys in our network work on a contingency fee basis - attorney fees apply only if they recover compensation on your behalf. Your financial situation should never be a barrier to justice.

Complete Confidentiality

Your information and your story are treated with the highest level of privacy. We do not share your information without your consent, and your case review is completely confidential.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I have to prove the abuse happened in court to file a civil claim?
The civil legal standard is different from the criminal standard. In a civil case, you do not need to prove abuse "beyond a reasonable doubt." Civil claims are evaluated on a "preponderance of the evidence" standard - meaning it is more likely than not that the abuse occurred. Your personal account, corroborating records, and other evidence can support your case even without a criminal conviction.
What if the abuser is deceased?
In many cases, you can still file a civil claim even if the individual abuser has died. Claims may be brought against the estate of the deceased, and importantly, institutional claims - against the school, church, organization, or employer that enabled the abuse - can proceed regardless of whether the individual perpetrator is alive. Institutional liability is often the more significant claim.
Can I sue the institution, not just the individual abuser?
Yes. In many sexual abuse cases, the most viable civil claim is against the institution - a church, school, sports organization, employer, or other entity - that employed or supervised the abuser and failed to screen, supervise, or remove them. Institutions may be liable for negligent hiring, negligent supervision, or for knowingly concealing prior abuse. An attorney will assess all potential defendants in your case.
What if the abuse happened decades ago?
Statutes of limitations for sexual abuse claims vary significantly by state and by the age of the survivor at the time of the abuse. Many states have extended or eliminated time limits for childhood sexual abuse claims. Additionally, numerous states have enacted Adult Survivor Acts or lookback windows - temporary periods that allow previously time-barred claims to be filed. Because these windows open and close, timing matters. A free case review will confirm whether your claim is still timely.
Do I need a police report or prior criminal conviction?
No. A civil lawsuit is completely independent of the criminal justice system. You do not need a police report, and a criminal conviction is not required to file or succeed in a civil claim. Many survivors never reported the abuse to law enforcement, and their civil cases have still moved forward. Your testimony, combined with other evidence, can support a civil claim.
How long do I have to file?
The statute of limitations for sexual abuse civil claims varies widely by state - it can range from as little as 1 year to no limit at all for certain childhood abuse claims. Many states have special provisions that extend or pause the clock for survivors who were abused as minors. Some states have temporary lookback windows. We strongly recommend requesting a case review as soon as possible to confirm your filing window.
What does the legal process look like for survivors?
The process begins with a confidential case review to assess whether your situation meets the criteria for a civil claim. If it does, you'll be connected with an experienced attorney who specializes in sexual abuse cases. The attorney handles all legal work - investigation, filing, negotiation, and if necessary, trial - while you focus on your recovery. Most cases resolve through settlement without going to trial, though outcomes vary and nothing can be guaranteed.
How much does it cost to pursue a sexual abuse claim?
There are no upfront attorney fees. Attorneys in our network handle sexual abuse cases on a contingency basis, meaning their fees are paid only from any recovery obtained on your behalf. If there is no recovery, you owe no attorney fees. Court costs and other case expenses may apply depending on your state and your individual fee agreement - ask your attorney for full details.

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