Sexual Abuse Litigation
We represent survivors of sexual assault and abuse, holding individuals and institutions accountable while pursuing systemic change.
35 YRS
Massachusetts extended the statute of limitations for child sexual abuse cases, allowing claims to be filed within 35 years after the victim reaches 18.
736M
An estimated 736 million women—almost one in three—have been subjected to physical violence at least once in their lives.
2
UN Women, “Facts and Figures: Ending Violence Against Women,” UN Women (Nov. 25, 2024).
734K+
Approximately 734,630 people suffered rape or attempted rape in the U.S. in 2018.
3
$900M
One of the largest sexual assault verdicts in U.S. history.
4
Noah Goldberg, “L.A. Jury Orders Alki David to Pay $900 Million in Sexual Assault Suit,” Los Angeles Times (June 19, 2024).
Institutions may be liable for negligent hiring, supervision, or retention of employees who commit sexual abuse.
- Exposing the “Abuser Playbook”: Power, Deception, and the Fight for Justice
Powerful sexual predators often hide in plain sight behind veneers of respectability. They use wealth, status, and carefully crafted public images to shield themselves from accountability. It’s a well-worn playbook: donate to elite institutions, bask in high-profile events, orchestrate flattering press coverage—anything to launder their reputation while continuing their crimes in the shadows. All the while, these abusers weaponize fear and influence to silence their victims. For years—sometimes decades—their misconduct remains an open secret, as those around them look away or actively cover for them.
- Predators Behind the Facade
Consider the case of Larry Nassar, a once-respected sports doctor who exploited his position to prey on the vulnerable. As the team physician for USA Gymnastics, Nassar sexually assaulted more than 500 young women and girls under the guise of medical treatment. Survivors and their families had begun reporting his abuse as early as 1997—yet institutions failed to act. USA Gymnastics, Michigan State University, and even the U.S. Olympic Committee turned a blind eye or dismissed complaints, allowing Nassar’s predation to continue for over two decades. His case is a chilling example of how trusted institutions often protect abusers and silence victims to safeguard thier reputations. All while forsaking the children they had a duty to protect.
Another notorious example is Jeffrey Epstein. He wielded money and influence to perpetrate a sprawling sex-trafficking operation. Long before becoming infamous as a disgraced Wall Street trader and financial criminal, Epstein worked as a teacher at Manhattan’s elite Dalton School, positioning himself among the wealthy and well-connected. He later weaponized his illicit fortune—including lavish donations to Harvard University—to cultivate an aura of legitimacy. Behind that façade, Epstein groomed and sexually exploited dozens of underage girls, all while maintaining a circle of enablers to shield him from consequences. His longtime associate Ghislaine Maxwell actively facilitated the abuse. She is now a convicted sex trafficker serving a 20-year federal prison sentence. Epstein’s network of complicity extended into respected professions. For instance, a prominent psychiatrist, Henry Jarecki, was accused in a 2024 federal lawsuit of participating in Epstein’s trafficking ring—both enabling the operation and sexually abusing at least one victim himself.
The case of the Alexander brothers offers another chilling illustration of abuse of power. These three real-estate moguls—Alon, Oren, and Tal Alexander—allegedly used their wealth and social status to lure women with promises of luxury, only to drug, rape, and violently assault them behind closed doors. Federal prosecutors described the brothers’ actions as a long-running sex-trafficking conspiracy involving multiple victims. Like Epstein and Nassar, the Alexanders are accused of weaponizing their status to exploit others while relying on silence and complicity to avoid exposure.
These examples reflect a common pattern. Predators and their enablers become masterful at lying, denying, and gaslighting to evade consequences. When allegations surface, they reflexively double down—using their clout to distort reality and discredit those who dare speak out. Decades can pass before such crimes are exposed, if they ever are. It often takes extraordinary courage from survivors to finally bring the truth to light and demand accountability.
- Breaking the Silence
Tragically, the emotional toll on survivors is immense. Enduring sexual abuse is devastating enough; having one’s truth dismissed or being publicly attacked for speaking out only compounds the trauma. In some cases, the weight of these experiences becomes unbearable. In 2025, Virginia Giuffre—one of Epstein’s most outspoken survivors and a champion for other victims—died by suicide at age 41. Her family remembered her as a “lifelong fighter” who could “no longer carry the weight” of the trauma she endured. Giuffre’s bravery in coming forward helped expose powerful perpetrators and emboldened others to seek justice. Her loss is a somber reminder of the lasting damage inflicted by abuse and by the years of institutional betrayal that too often follow.
Overview
We offer legal representation for survivors of sexual abuse and misconduct, pursuing legal action against perpetrators and the institutions that enable them. Our work spans workplaces, schools, religious organizations, and other institutions. Through litigation, we seek justice, advocate for systemic change, and pursue compensation for physical, emotional, and financial harm.
In 2025, director James Toback was ordered to pay $1.68 billion to 40 women who accused him of sexual abuse and other wrongdoing.
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Julia Jacobs, “James Toback Is Ordered to Pay $1.7 Billion in Sexual Assault Case,” The
New York Times (Apr. 10, 2025).
The Cost of Misconduct
Sexual violence is alarmingly common: over half of women and almost one in three men in the United States have experienced sexual violence involving physical contact in their lifetimes. Each assault carries immediate trauma and long-term repercussions. Survivors often suffer severe emotional distress—anxiety, depression, post-traumatic stress—that can persist for years. Many also bear tangible losses: medical and therapy bills, interrupted educations, derailed careers, and lost income. Coping with these consequences while trying to regain a sense of normalcy is a monumental challenge.
Institutions that fail to address sexual misconduct also pay a steep price. When abuse is swept under the rug, it corrodes trust and poisons the organization’s culture. Schools, corporations, and other entities that ignore or conceal wrongdoing inevitably face public outrage and legal liability once the truth emerges. The reputational damage can be lasting. A culture of silence around abuse is costly—not only for victims, but for entire communities. By bringing these issues to light and holding offenders accountable, we aim to help survivors recover and to spark changes that make institutions safer for everyone.
More than 50% of women and nearly 30% of men in the U.S. have experienced contact sexual violence.
7
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, “About Sexual Violence,” CDC (Jan. 23, 2024).
Your Rights
Survivors of sexual abuse and harassment have powerful rights and legal options under both state and federal law. In the workplace, laws like Title VII of the Civil Rights Act, Massachusetts Chapter 151B, and the Massachusetts Equal Rights Act prohibit sexual harassment and protect employees from retaliation for reporting misconduct. If a sexual assault or other crime occurs, survivors can report it to the police and seek criminal prosecution—potentially leading to imprisonment or other penalties for the offender. At the same time, survivors can file civil lawsuits against perpetrators (and any negligent institutions). Civil claims can seek compensation for physical injuries, pain and suffering, emotional distress, lost income, and medical expenses resulting from the abuse.
Importantly, the law recognizes that trauma may delay victims from coming forward. Massachusetts provides an extended window for survivors of childhood sexual abuse to sue, generally until they reach age 53 (that is, 35 years after turning 18) or within seven years of discovering the connection between the abuse and their adult trauma. And when abusers are people in positions of professional trust—such as doctors, therapists, coaches, teachers, or clergy—they may be held liable for breaching their fiduciary duty in addition to other claims. These provisions mean that even if years have passed, survivors still have opportunities to seek justice and hold wrongdoers accountable.
From the moment we accept a case, we meticulously prepare for trial.
Lawyers' Role
We represent clients in civil litigation against the individual perpetrators as well as the institutions that failed to stop the abuse. Our team works to secure financial compensation that can help pay for therapy, medical care, lost wages, and other damages—providing resources for survivors to rebuild their lives. Just as critically, we use each case as an opportunity to demand institutional change: pushing companies, schools, or other entities to reform the policies and cultures that allowed abuse to occur. Throughout the legal process, we prioritize confidentiality and compassion. We know how difficult it is for survivors to relive their experiences, so we handle each case with the utmost sensitivity and respect.
As a society, we are finally beginning to confront what was long hidden in plain sight. Survivors—backed by dedicated advocates and stronger laws—are breaking the silence and pushing institutions to reckon with the truth. No one, however powerful, is above the law, and no survivor should ever have to remain voiceless or unseen.
By standing with survivors and holding perpetrators to account, we aim to deliver not just compensation for our clients, but also a measure of healing and hope. In doing so, we help drive the changes needed to prevent the next abuse, the next cover-up, the next betrayed trust. Every survivor’s courage in seeking justice lights the way toward a safer, more accountable society for all.
How We Can Help
Workplace Sexual Harassment and Retaliation
Represent employees who experience harassment, hostile work environments, or retaliation for reporting misconduct, pursuing legal remedies under Massachusetts Chapter 151B and federal Title VII protections.
Institutional Accountability for Systemic Misconduct
Hold corporations, schools, religious organizations, and other institutions accountable for enabling or concealing sexual misconduct, advocating for compensation and systemic reforms.
Sexual Abuse in Elite Institutions and Private Schools
Advocate for survivors of abuse in prestigious schools, universities, and elite organizations where misconduct may be concealed by reputation, influence, or financial power.
Sexual Misconduct in Religious and Spiritual Organizations
Pursue legal action against religious leaders and institutions that allowed, concealed, or facilitated abuse under the guise of faith, mentorship, or spiritual guidance.
Civil Lawsuits for Sexual Assault and Exploitation
File lawsuits against perpetrators of sexual violence and exploitation, pursuing damages for physical, emotional, and financial harm under the Massachusetts Adult Survivors Act and related laws.
High-Stakes and Complex Abuse Cases
Represent survivors in litigation involving powerful individuals, corporations, and institutions, advocating for accountability and systemic change.
Sexual Misconduct in the Military and Government Contracting
Advocate for survivors of sexual abuse in military settings, federal agencies, and government contracting, addressing cases of harassment, assault, and retaliation.
Abuse and Exploitation in Corporate and Entertainment Industries
Hold executives, professionals, and organizations accountable for sexual misconduct that may have been concealed or enabled by corporate culture, financial influence, or public relations strategies.
Sexual Coercion in Financial and Investment Sectors
Represent survivors of sexual misconduct in the finance, venture capital, and investment sectors where power imbalances may create coercive environments.
Privacy Violations and Non-Consensual Image Distribution
Pursue legal action against those who engage in revenge porn, deepfake abuse, or unauthorized distribution of intimate images, seeking damages and legal remedies.
Sexual Exploitation and AI-Enabled Harassment
Address emerging cases involving AI-generated sexual exploitation, deepfake manipulation, and virtual harassment, holding responsible parties accountable.
Whistleblower Protection for Reporting Sexual Misconduct
Defend whistleblowers who expose sexual misconduct within corporations, institutions, and government entities, to protect them from retaliation.
Wrongful Termination and Retaliation Claims
Advocate for survivors who face job loss, demotion, or workplace retaliation after reporting sexual harassment or assault, pursuing damages for lost wages and other harm.
Breach of Trust and Professional Misconduct
Pursue claims against medical professionals, therapists, employers, and other individuals in positions of authority who engage in misconduct, violating professional and ethical responsibilities.
Human Trafficking and Corporate Complicity Cases
Hold corporations and individuals accountable for their role in enabling, financing, or turning a blind eye to human trafficking, forced labor, and systemic sexual exploitation.
Legal Advocacy for Sex Workers Facing Abuse
Represent sex workers harmed by assault, trafficking, coercion, wrongful arrest, or labor exploitation. Pursue claims against traffickers, abusive clients, exploitative employers, and unlawful police conduct. While M.G.L. c. 272, § 53A criminalizes most sex work in Massachusetts, survivors retain rights to protection, restitution, and civil remedies.
Intimate Partner Abuse and Coercive Control
Represent survivors of domestic violence, coercive control, and intimate partner sexual abuse, pursuing restraining orders, financial damages, and legal protections under Massachusetts abuse prevention laws (Chapter 209A).
Emotional and Financial Recovery for Survivors
Pursue compensation for therapy, medical expenses, lost income, and other damages to help survivors access necessary support and resources.
