Can Sexual Assault Survivors Sue Their Abusers?

New Mexico Civil Rights Lawyer Helps Survivors Recover

Video Transcript:

Rob Rosenthal: 

Is it possible that victims of sexual abuse could have a case to seek damages from their abuser? Let's ask New Mexico lawyer Shannon Kennedy for this Ask The Lawyer's quick question.

Shannon Kennedy: 

Absolutely. Survivors of sexual abuse have a right to the civil justice system in which they can seek monetary damages and injunctive relief. The impact of sexual abuse is a lifetime of additional hurdles, both to establishing positive intimate relationships with others and overcoming PTSD, depression, anxiety. It ups the possibilities that people are gonna self-medicate with drugs, it inhibits people for pursuing their academic dreams, so sexual abuse is truly devastating to a person's life, and the only way to change the course of that devastation is through gaining access to the resources necessary to get mental health medical care and address the injuries caused by sexual abuse, and compensatory damages can help survivors do that.

Disclaimer: This video is for informational purposes only. In some states, this video may be deemed Attorney Advertising. The choice of lawyer is an important decision that should not be based solely on advertisements.