The vast majority of sexual abuse victims never report the incidents. In 2018, as reported by RAINN, the nation’s largest anti-sexual violence organization, only 230 out of 1000 incidents were reported by the victims and/or their families. The remaining victims continue to suffer in silence, possibly for their entire lives.

The consequences of sexual abuse and the suffering it causes the victims can include:

• Emotional trauma
• Psychological harm
• Post-traumatic stress disorder, anxiety and depression
• Repression
• Difficulty with personal relationships
• Gynecological problems
• Distorted self-perception and guilt
• Physical symptoms
• Difficulty functioning in school or work environments
• Family issues

Cohen, Feeley, Altemose & Rambo protects victims

Our goal is to help victims of sexual abuse get justice for both the emotional and physical injuries they have suffered. We are prepared to take all necessary actions against the responsible individuals and/or organizations to secure justice for our clients. We have over 50 years of experience dealing with sexual abuse cases of almost every kind.

Time Limitations for Filing a Claim in PA

Cohen, Feeley, Altemose & Rambo helps the victims of sexual abuse pursue justice through the civil justice system.

Civil claims may be filed against the abuser and organizations (such as school, workplace, nursing home, or church) that allowed the abuse to take place. Victims of sexual abuse can demand compensation for the physical, emotional and life-long damages they have suffered.

In November 2019, Pennsylvania changed the law to allow more time for victims of certain sex crimes to file a civil lawsuit. Victims of defined sex crimes occurring after the effective date of the new law would have to file civil lawsuits within the following deadlines (called the “statute of  limitations”) or be forever barred from recovery:

• Where the victim is under the age of 18 at the time of an assault involving these crimes, there is no statute of limitations: trafficking, involuntary sexual servitude, rape, statutory assault, involuntary deviate sexual intercourse (IDSI), sexual assault, institutional sexual assault, aggravated indecent assault, and incest.
• Where the victim is under the age of 18 at the time of an assault involving these crimes, they have until age 55 to file a lawsuit: indecent assault, indecent exposure, endangering welfare of a child, corruption of minors, sexual abuse of children, and sexual exploitation of children.
• Where the victim is 18 to 23 years at the time of an assault involving these crimes, they have 20 years from the date of the offense to file such a lawsuit: sexual servitude, rape, IDSI, sexual assault, institutional sexual assault, aggravated indecent assault, indecent assault, indecent exposure, incest.
• A victim who is 24 years old or older at the time of the assault has 12 years from the date of the offense file such a lawsuit.

Criminal charges against a sex abuser require the victim to file a report with law enforcement, such as the police or district attorney. Such charges are prosecuted by the government. If convicted, the sexual abuser may face punishment such as incarceration, sex offender registration, and other penalties.

The November 2019 law changed the criminal “statute of limitations,” or time in which criminal charges must be brought against the perpetrator as a result of defined sexual abuse crimes.  Where minors under 18 years of age are the victims, there is no “statute of limitations” for the filing of criminal charges against the perpetrator. For such crimes involving young adults ages 18-23 years, police can file criminal charges up to 20 years after the crime. And for adults 24 years of age or older, the police must file criminal charges with 12 years of the crime.

Recognizing signs of abuse

In many instances, abusers are in a position of authority. They are often adults with power over the victim, and cause the victim to feel isolated and defenseless.

Signs of potential abuse in children include:

• Sudden fear of being with certain people
• Knowledge of sex or sexual behavior beyond the child’s age
• Unexplained change in emotional state (aggressive or withdrawn)
• Sudden loss of self-confidence or self-esteem
• Becoming unusually secretive
• Decline in school performance
• Change in sleeping habits including not sleeping consistently, nightmares, wetting the bed, etc.

Signs of potential abuse in adults include:

• Behavior change when a particular person is present
• Low self-esteem
• Insomnia
• Change of appetite, weight loss/gain
• Emotional instability (tearfulness or anger)
• Withdrawal or change in psychological state of mind
• Broken bones, bruising, cuts or welts