Sexual Abuse Litigation
We represent survivors of sexual assault and abuse, holding individuals and institutions accountable while pursuing systemic change.
$1.5T
The global cost of violence against women was estimated at 2% of global GDP, or $1.5 trillion.
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736M
An estimated 736 million women—almost one in three—have been subjected to physical violence at least once in their lives.
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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.
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$900M
One of the largest sexual assault verdicts in U.S. history.
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Noah Goldberg, “L.A. Jury Orders Alki David to Pay $900 Million in Sexual Assault Suit,” Los Angeles Times (June 19, 2024).
24.8% of U.S. men have experienced contact sexual violence.
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- Exposing the "Abuser Playbook": Power, Deception, and Control
Sexual abusers often operate from a well-worn “abuser playbook,” using wealth, connections, and influence to shield themselves from accountability. These individuals craft elaborate facades by donating to prestigious institutions like Harvard, making high-profile public appearances, and carefully orchestrating PR campaigns. These tactics allow them to launder their reputations while continuing their heinous acts in the shadows, weaponizing fear and intimidation to silence their victims.
Consider the case of Larry Nassar, a serial child rapist who exploited his position as a USA Gymnastics team doctor to sexually assault more than 500 young women and girls under the guise of medical treatment.
Survivors began reporting his abuse as early as 1997, yet institutions failed to act, allowing him to continue preying on athletes for more than two decades. USA Gymnastics, Michigan State University, and the U.S. Olympic Committee ignored or dismissed complaints, enabling a widespread cover-up that prolonged his crimes. His case exemplifies how institutions protect abusers by silencing victims and prioritizing their reputations over the safety of vulnerable children they had a duty to protect.
Or consider Jeffrey Epstein, a NYC school teacher turned Wall Street trader, financial criminal, and convicted sex offender, who weaponized his illicit wealth and a network of enablers, including alleged co-conspirators like Ghislaine Maxwell, to traffic and exploit underage girls and young women. Similarly, Henry Jarecki, a psychiatrist with close ties to Epstein, has been accused in a federal lawsuit of participating in Epstein’s sex-trafficking operation. The lawsuit, filed in 2024, alleges that Jarecki acted as both an enabler and direct perpetrator of sexual abuse, exploiting his medical credentials to control and silence a victim of Epstein’s trafficking while also engaging in sexual violence himself.
The Alexander Brothers case is another chilling example of similar abuse of power. For over a decade, real estate moguls Alon, Oren, and Tal Alexander allegedly used their wealth, social status, and connections to lure women with the promise of luxury, only to drug, rape, and violently sexually assault them. Federal prosecutors described their alleged crimes as a long-running sex trafficking conspiracy, one in which multiple women were coerced, manipulated, and restrained during assaults. These cases reveal how sexual predators weaponize status and deception to exploit victims while their enablers run cover or look the other way.
Predators, along with their circles of enablers, are masterful at lying, denying, and gaslighting their victims, creating layers of deception to silence survivors and evade justice. When their abuse is brought to light, they reflexively double down on these tactics, using their influence to distort reality and discredit those who speak out. Their power often means decades pass before their crimes are revealed—if ever. In many cases, it takes extraordinary courage from survivors to expose the truth and demand accountability.
- Breaking the Silence, Seeking Justice
Our firm stands with the courageous survivors in their fight for justice, recognizing their extraordinary strength, resolve, and the meaningful change they inspire by confronting their abusers and the systems that enabled these atrocities. While telling victims’ stories can be an essential part of the healing journey, we understand that it can also be painful and retraumatizing.
To protect survivors’ privacy whenever possible, we seek to anonymize plaintiffs’ names in legal filings, as permitted under Massachusetts law, particularly in cases involving sensitive matters like sexual abuse. We are committed to pursuing meaningful compensation for the lasting emotional, financial, and professional harm caused by sexual abuse while working to promote broader systemic reforms.
We understand that sexual abuse spans all sectors and institutions, from workplaces to medical settings to elite social circles. Our mission is to hold these perpetrators and their enablers accountable under Massachusetts and federal law, including statutes like the Trafficking Victims Protection Act (TVPA).
Overview
We represent survivors of sexual abuse and misconduct, pursuing legal action against perpetrators and the institutions that enabled them. Our work spans workplaces, schools, religious organizations and other institutions. Through litigation, we seek justice, systemic change, compensation for physical, emotional, and financial harm.
In the U.S., 81% of women and 43% of men have experienced sexual harassment or assault in their lifetime.
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The Cost of Misconduct
Sexual misconduct results in both immediate harm and long-term consequences. Survivors often face severe emotional distress, including anxiety, depression, and PTSD, in addition to financial losses such as medical expenses, lost wages, and missed career opportunities.
For organizations, failing to address these abuses brings reputational damage and financial liability. Left unaddressed, systemic misconduct fosters a culture of silence, enabling further harm and deepening institutional complicity. Our firm helps survivors recover from these impacts, seeking accountability and institutional change.
In 2023, approximately 46% of rape or sexual assault victimizations in the U.S. were reported to the police, a significant increase from 21% in 2022.
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Your Rights
Survivors of sexual misconduct are entitled to protection under both state and federal law:
- Workplace Protections: Title VII, Massachusetts Chapter 151B, and the Massachusetts Equal Rights Act protect against sexual harassment and retaliation in the workplace.
- Claims for Sexual Assault: Survivors can report crimes to pursue criminal charges like imprisonment, fines, or probation for perpetrators while also filing civil claims for damages such as physical harm, emotional distress, lost income, and medical expenses.
- Massachusetts Adult Survivors Act: This law provides a window for survivors of historical sexual misconduct to file claims even after the statute of limitations has expired.
- Fiduciary Duty Claims: Professionals, such as doctors or employers, who engage in abuse may be liable for breaching their fiduciary duties to their clients or employees.
From the moment we accept a case, we meticulously prepare for trial.
Lawyers' Role
- Litigation Against Perpetrators and Institutions: We represent survivors in holding both individuals and organizations accountable for sexual harassment, assault, and institutional abuse.
- Support for Emotional and Financial Recovery: Our legal team seeks to secure compensation for victims, covering medical expenses, therapy costs, lost wages, and the emotional toll of abuse.
- Promoting Systemic Change: Through strategic litigation, we advocate for policies and institutional reforms that prevent future abuse and promote safer environments.
- Confidential and Compassionate Representation: We prioritize client confidentiality and offer a compassionate, respectful approach throughout the legal process.
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 Violence and Exploitation
Represent sex workers subjected to assault, trafficking, coercion, wrongful arrest, or labor exploitation, pursuing legal action against traffickers, abusive clients, exploitative businesses, and unlawful law enforcement actions. While Massachusetts law (M.G.L. c. 272, §§ 53A-53B) criminalizes most sex work, this does not negate workers’ rights to protection, restitution, and civil claims when they experience violence, exploitation, or abuse.
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.
