Sexual abuse is a heinous crime that may be committed against any person in Jacksonville. Survivors often report several repercussions from their traumatic experience, which may be physical, mental and psychological in nature. Every survivor of sexual abuse has different needs, depending on the situation and their personal wishes. If you or someone you know is suffering from the consequences of sexual abuse in Jacksonville, it is important you seek medical attention as well as hire a local legal counsel for your case.

Sex abuse is an umbrella term that includes numerous types of nonconsensual sexual contact, both direct and indirect, including sexually explicit texts and emails, unwanted touching, sexual assault, attempted rape, and sexual harassment, to name a few.

If you have been exposed to any such instance of sexual misconduct, you may be eligible to file a sexual abuse lawsuit in a court of appropriate jurisdiction in Jacksonville. Our nationally recognized litigators are here to help you provide information and resources. You may reach out to us for a free case review to understand your legal rights.

Sexual violence is a serious public health issue, and affects one in two women and one in three men. Thus, millions of people in the U.S. are affected by sexual violence, as reported by the U.S. Center for Disease Control and Prevention. While anyone may experience sexual abuse in their lifetime, this type of crime affects women and racial and ethnic minorities more so than others. The estimated estimated lifetime cost of rape is $122,461 per survivor, including medical expenses, lost productivity, and criminal justice action, among other expenses.

The statistics of unwanted sexual activity in the state of Florida presents a grim picture. The Florida Department of Law Enforcement reports 8,105 rape and 331 attempted rape offenses in 2018, resulting in 1,937 arrests for rape. Of the survivors, 253 were minors, and 1,684 were adults.

Anyone may be sexually abused, regardless of their gender, race, sexuality, marital status or any such attribute. If you are a sexual abuse survivor in Jacksonville, you may file a civil sex abuse lawsuit against your abuser as well as any other third party you feel facilitated the crime. Such third parties may include a school, university, hospital, nursing home, rehab center, religious institution, youth sports center, or workplace, among others. Note that you can hold a business or an organization responsible for abuse if they failed to have effective safety practices, ignored the abuse, or covered up the sex abuse after being notified of it. Further, if an entity failed to adequately screen its workers who eventually committed any form of sexual assault, then you may hold such entity liable as well.

You may file a civil lawsuit against the perpetrators, whether or not you also decide to put your abuser on a criminal trial. Unlike a criminal case that is filed on behalf of the state, a civil sex abuse lawsuit seeks compensation from the abuser instead of incarceration. You can also hold the relevant third party such as workplace financially liable for the crime committed against you.

A successful sexual abuse lawsuit can help you obtain necessary compensation for losses including medical bills, therapy costs, lost wages and earning capacity, as well as damages for pain and suffering, and loss of enjoyment of life.

Nobody should be coerced to engage in any sexual activity without consent. If you are a survivor of sex abuse or assault in Jacksonville, you may want to speak to a lawyer who specializes in the field and understands the local laws. Our Jacksonville sex abuse attorneys can help you or your loved one understand your legal rights, check whether you have a valid claim to pursue a lawsuit, and help you fight for justice and compensation in a civil court against the abuser and other third parties. Our team can also ensure that you bring your case within the relevant statute of limitations as applicable in Florida.

A local sex abuse attorney at Jacksonville can assist you in attaining the best possible compensation for your case. At Edwards Henderson, we do not win unless you win. We work on a contingency-fee basis and get paid only if your lawsuit is successful.

Survivors of sexual abuse seek compensation against their abusers for various reasons. You may want to hold the perpetrator accountable for their actions, or may wish to file a lawsuit for your own peace of mind, or even to prevent someone else from undergoing the pain and trauma you have endured. Regardless of the reasons, it may be empowering to file a civil sexual abuse lawsuit if you have suffered from sex assault in Jacksonville.

Our team of legal experts at Edwards Henderson are highly experienced in the practice of plaintiff-side sex abuse lawsuits. We are here to help you obtain the relevant evidence and provide you with all the information you may need to succeed in your lawsuit. We are well-versed in civil sexual assault cases, and have helped our clients attain large-scale settlements, including a $71 million verdict on behalf of a Broward County rape survivor. You can reach out to us for a free case evaluation today.

Advocates for survivors.

Brad Edwards Partner

Brittany Henderson Partner

Catherine Davis Trial Attorney

Dean Kaire Trial Attorney

Meet Our Team