Sex Abuse Attorneys in Kansas City

Committed to Helping Victims of Sex Abuse

If you, your child, or another loved one has suffered sexual abuse, such as molestation or sexual assault, we understand that this is one of the most painful and traumatic experiences a person can endure. At Meyerkord, Russell & Hergott in Kansas City, our knowledgeable and compassionate legal team is committed to advocating on behalf of survivors and can provide the strong legal support you need to get through this.

Sexual abusers are predators. Like all predators, they seek prey they perceive as an easy target; people who are vulnerable because of age, race, poverty, inability to fight back, or someone who won’t complain or won’t be believed if they do complain. These predators often seek employment at places that give them access to vulnerable people, such as residential psychiatric treatment centers, nursing homes, public or private schools, and church or community youth programs.

Recoverable Damages in a Sex Abuse Claim

The compensation you receive for your sex abuse claim will depend on the specific circumstances of your case.

Below is a list of the damages one can recover in a sex abuse claim:

• Economic damages: Medical bills, the cost of therapy and counseling, and lost wages due to missed time from work are all tangible costs covered under economic damages.
• General damages: Intangible losses, such as emotional distress, pain, suffering, and loss of life quality are all considered general damages.
• Punitive damages: In some cases, punitive damages may be awarded for particularly egregious wrongdoings.

Given the nature of sex abuse cases, it is not uncommon for juries to award relatively high damages. Insurance policies generally exclude intentional acts from coverage, which means that any recovery may be limited to the assets of a perpetrator. However, there is often a person or company that was responsible for supervising the perpetrator or protecting the victim. The failure to properly screen, train, or supervise an employee who commits sexual assault, or the failure to protect a victim from foreseeable sexual abuse, is often covered by insurance.

Bringing a Sex Abuse Case to Court in Missouri or Kansas

Although it is easier to hold a defendant liable for damages if they were charged criminally, law enforcement’s decision whether to charge a perpetrator does not prevent liability in a civil lawsuit. There are many reasons police and prosecutors choose not to pursue a perpetrator. One reason is that the burden of proof is higher in criminal trials than it is in civil cases, so even if there are no criminal charges, your civil lawsuit may still yield favorable results.

In a criminal lawsuit, the goal is to protect society as a whole with a conviction possibly resulting in a prison sentence, life-time registration as a sex offender, and fines. In a civil lawsuit, on the other hand, the goal is to help the victim recover compensation for their suffering. A civil lawsuit can also help make our community safer by publicly exposing both the perpetrator and the negligent employment practices of any company they were working for when the abuse occurred.

Seek Resources to Help Protect Yourself and Your Mental Health

If you live with your abuser or are in regular contact with your abuser, such as a co-worker, do what you can to end or limit that contact. If you have not already reported your abuse, you should consider reporting the abuse to law enforcement where the abuse occurred. Understandably, many people are reluctant to report their abuse to law enforcement, who may not take the matter seriously. You should also consider going to the emergency room so that a sexual assault nursing exam can be performed and they can treat you for any injuries you’ve suffered.

You can and should protect yourself by contacting organizations near you that specialize in protecting victims and helping them deal with their trauma. These organizations can help you get an order of protection against your abuser, find a safe place to live, and put you in touch with counselors and other services to help you.

The national organization RAINN (Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network) is dedicated to helping sexual abuse survivors. Calls are confidential. A link to their website is here and they can be reached at 1 (800) 656-HOPE (4673).

In the Kansas City area, MOCSA (the Metropolitan Organization to Counter Sexual Assault) helps survivors in the metro area and can also refer you to other services available. Calls are also confidential. Their website may be found here and they can be contacted at (816) 531-0233 or (913) 642-0233.

Discuss the Details of Your Sex Abuse Case with One of Our Experienced Attorneys!

Sex abuse is not treated lightly in the eyes of the law or at Meyerkord, Russell & Hergott. Our experienced legal team is dedicated to listening to and advocating on behalf of sex abuse survivors. You can rely on skilled attorneys to help you obtain the compensation you need to move forward from this terrible situation.