Sexual Abuse Litigation
We represent survivors in sexual assault and institutional abuse claims.
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 Control
Powerful sexual predators often hide in plain sight behind veneers of respectability. They use wealth, status, and carefully constructed public images to shield themselves from accountability. It’s a well-worn playbook: donate to charities and prestigious institutions, appear at high-profile events, and orchestrate flattering press coverage. These tactics launder their reputations, allowing them to continue horrific crimes in the shadows. Meanwhile, these abusers weaponize fear and influence to silence victims. For years, sometimes decades, their abuses remain open secrets, as their inner circles look away or actively cover for them.
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- Predators Behind the Facade
Consider Jeffrey Epstein, one of the most infamous serial pedophiles in U.S. history. Epstein began his career as a math teacher at Manhattan’s Dalton School. Later he became a Wall Street trader. He then used his illicit wealth and connections to make himself appear legitimate. For example, during the 2000s he donated at least $9 million to Harvard University. All the while he was secretly running a vast sex-trafficking operation. Investigators later found files documenting his sexual exploitation of over 250 underage girls at his homes in New York, Florida, and elsewhere. Court records show he raped girls as young as 14 at his mansion in Palm Beach. A later review by the FBI and DOJ concluded that Epstein had harmed over a thousand victims. Most of those victims were never publicly identified.
Epstein didn’t operate alone. He had a network of associates who helped him. Some were publicists who managed his image. One key accomplice was ‘apex predator’ Ghislaine Maxwell. She helped recruit and groom many of his victims. In 2021, Maxwell was convicted of sex trafficking minors. She is now serving a 20-year prison sentence. Even respected professionals were implicated in his crimes. In 2024, one of Epstein’s victims sued Dr. Henry Jarecki, a psychiatrist and former friend of Epstein. She accused him of acting as Epstein’s personal doctor for victims and of raping at least one patient Epstein sent to him. She dropped the lawsuit in 2025. All these facts paint a clear picture of Epstein. He was a calculating serial child rapist. Protected by wealth, influence, and powerful connections that remain unclear, he evaded justice and abused children for years.
Overview
We represent survivors of sexual abuse and misconduct in claims against perpetrators and the institutions that enable them. Our practice spans workplaces, schools, religious organizations, and other institutions throughout Massachusetts. In 2025, director James Toback was ordered to pay $1.68 billion to 40 women who accused him of sexual abuse and other wrongdoing.
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
Massachusetts allows survivors of childhood sexual abuse to file civil claims until age 53, or within 7 years of discovering the connection between the abuse and their injuries. Survivors have strong rights under Massachusetts and federal law:
- Civil action: Survivors can file civil lawsuits to recover damages for physical harm, emotional distress, lost income, and medical costs.
- Workplace protections: Title VII, Massachusetts Chapter 151B, and the Massachusetts Equal Rights Act prohibit sexual harassment and retaliation.
- Fiduciary duty claims: Professionals in positions of trust who abuse their power may be liable for breaching fiduciary duties.
From the moment we accept a case, we meticulously prepare for trial.
Lawyers' Role
Our attorneys represent survivors in court, holding perpetrators and institutions accountable for sexual harassment, assault, and cover-ups. Compensation pursued includes medical expenses, therapy costs, lost wages, and pain and suffering. Confidentiality and a trauma-informed approach guide every step of representation.
How We Can Help
Workplace Sexual Harassment and Retaliation
Represent employees facing harassment, hostile work environments, or retaliation for reporting misconduct.
Institutional Accountability for Systemic Misconduct
Hold corporations, schools, religious organizations, and other institutions accountable for enabling or concealing abuse.
Sexual Abuse in Elite Institutions and Private Schools
Represent survivors where misconduct is concealed by reputation or influence.
Sexual Misconduct in Religious and Spiritual Organizations
Accountability for religious leaders and institutions that allowed, concealed, or facilitated abuse.
Civil Lawsuits for Sexual Assault and Exploitation
Pursue damages for physical, emotional, and financial harm caused by sexual violence.
High-Stakes and Complex Abuse Cases
Represent survivors in matters involving powerful individuals, corporations, and institutions.
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Sexual Misconduct in the Military and Government Contracting
Counsel for survivors of abuse in military settings, federal agencies, and government contracting.
Abuse and Exploitation in Corporate and Entertainment Industries
Hold executives and organizations accountable for misconduct concealed by corporate culture or public relations.
Sexual Coercion in Financial and Investment Sectors
Represent survivors of misconduct in finance, venture capital, and investment sectors.
Privacy Violations and Non-Consensual Image Distribution
Pursue damages for revenge porn, deepfake abuse, and unauthorized distribution of intimate images.
Sexual Exploitation and AI-Enabled Harassment
Hold responsible parties accountable for AI-generated exploitation, deepfake manipulation, and virtual harassment.
Whistleblower Protection for Reporting Sexual Misconduct
Protect whistleblowers who expose misconduct within corporations, institutions, and government entities.
Wrongful Termination and Retaliation Claims
Recovery for survivors who face job loss or workplace retaliation after reporting harassment or assault.
Breach of Trust and Professional Misconduct
Accountability for medical professionals, therapists, and others in positions of authority who violate professional duties.
Human Trafficking and Corporate Complicity Cases
Hold corporations and individuals accountable for enabling, financing, or ignoring trafficking and forced labor.
Legal Advocacy for Sex Workers Facing Abuse
Represent sex workers harmed by assault, trafficking, coercion, or unlawful police conduct.
Intimate Partner Abuse and Coercive Control
Protection and recovery for survivors of domestic violence, coercive control, and intimate partner abuse.
Emotional and Financial Recovery for Survivors
Pursue compensation for therapy, medical expenses, lost income, and related damages.
Elder Care Abuse Accountability
Represent elderly and disabled survivors of abuse in nursing homes and care facilities.
Campus Title IX Advocacy
Counsel for college survivors, holding universities accountable for failures in responding to campus assault.
Dating App Liability Claims
Hold dating apps and platforms accountable when predators exploit them to commit sexual violence.
