Ohio Sexual Abuse Lawyers

If you’re safe, seek medical attention. Reporting the abuse to law enforcement can help, but it’s not required for a civil case. If you can, write down what happened while it’s fresh. Then speak to a lawyer who understands how these cases work—they’ll help you decide what to do next.

Anything that supports your story can be useful—medical records, messages, reports to police, photos, witness statements, even journal entries. Don’t worry if you don’t have it all. Many people come forward with very little evidence, and our team in Dayton can help gather what’s possible.

It depends on how old you were when it happened. Adults usually have two years to file, starting from when they realized the harm. If you were under 18 at the time, you typically have 12 years after turning 18 to take legal action. These deadlines can be confusing, so it’s worth checking in with a lawyer early to make sure you don’t miss your chance.

The age of consent is 16. There are some exceptions when teens are close in age, but when one person is much older, it often becomes a criminal matter—even if it seemed “consensual.”

It’s possible to ask the court for permission to file under a different name. This helps protect your privacy. It’s not guaranteed, but judges do grant it in sensitive situations.

As far as proving that the defendant is liable for the assault, if the incident gave rise to a criminal prosecution (and the defendant was convicted), you may have a better chance for success in your civil lawsuit. A complex legal rule known as “collateral estoppel” may entitle you (the plaintiff in the civil suit) to bring in evidence that a jury in a criminal case has already found the defendant guilty of committing the abuse.

Even if there was no corresponding criminal case (no prosecution) or the defendant was not convicted, the victim in the civil case will have an easier time of showing that the defendant is liable for committing the alleged abuse. That’s because the standard of proof is lower in a civil case, compared with what must be proven in criminal court. In order to find the defendant civilly liable for abuse, the plaintiff only needs to show that it is more likely than not that the defendant committed the alleged wrongful act (the legalese phrase for this standard is “by a preponderance of the evidence”). In the criminal case, on the other hand, the burden of proof requires the prosecution to prove guilt “beyond a reasonable doubt” – a much harder standard to meet.

Institutional liability refers to holding an organization (like a school, church, or company) legally responsible for the abuse that occurred. This is not about the abuser’s actions alone, but about the institution’s own negligence in allowing the abuse to happen, such as through negligent hiring, inadequate supervision, or a failure to report.

Expert witnesses are crucial in these cases. We may work with psychologists or therapists who can testify about the long-term psychological trauma and the cost of future therapy. We may also use experts in institutional policies to demonstrate how a school or organization failed in its duty to protect you or your child.