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Sexual Abuse & Assault

Sexual abuse is a harrowing experience that no one should have to go through. If you or someone you know has been the victim of sexual abuse, it's important to know that you are not alone and there are people who can help.

Sexual abuse is any kind of non-consensual sexual contact. Unfortunately, sexual abuse is all too common; according to the National Sexual Violence Resource Center (NSVRC), 1 in 5 women and 1 in 71 men will be raped at some point in their lives. Child sexual abuse is also alarmingly common, with the NSVRC reporting that 1 in 4 girls and 1 in 6 boys will be sexually abused before they turn 18 years old. In many cases, abusers get away with their actions for years, sometimes even decades. This is because their victims were afraid of being disbelieved or mocked, or afraid of retaliation. If you have been a victim of sexual abuse, it is important that you understand that you are not alone and that you have options. Speaking up about what happened to you is the first step on the road to recovery.

The physical and psychological injuries that result from sexual abuse can be both long-lasting and devastating. Possible physical injuries include bruises, cuts, broken bones, sexually transmitted diseases, and pregnancy. Psychological injuries can include anxiety, depression, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), shame, self-blame, and suicidal thoughts or attempts.

Silver Golub & Teitell LLP has a well-earned reputation for successfully representing the victims of child sexual abuse, and our lawyers have helped our clients attain some of the largest recoveries in the country as a result of settlements and at trial. This includes a case against the American School for the Deaf and those who were child victims of abuse during their participation in the Boy Scouts of America (BSA). In the latter case, firm Partners Paul A. Slager and Jennifer B. Goldstein obtained a jury verdict resulting in a total judgment of nearly $12 million for an adult victim of child sexual abuse in Scouting. To date, this case remains the largest known compensatory jury award in the country to an adult survivor who sued the Boy Scouts for childhood sexual abuse.

While we cannot turn back time to prevent the trauma our clients have suffered, we believe that results like these not only provide important compensation for victims, but also can be a catalyst for change and a powerful deterrent to prevent future abuse and assault, improve youth safety in Connecticut organizations and otherwise make a positive impact in the community.

Representative Cases

A Waterbury, Connecticut jury awarded a former Boy Scout more than $7 million in compensatory damages for the sexual molestation and assault he suffered in the mid-1970s at the hands of a Boy Scout youth leader. The jury found the Boys Scouts organization was negligent, reckless and in violation of Connecticut’s unfair trade practices law in failing to use the vast archives of information it kept secret about sexual abuse in its Boy Scout program to take reasonable steps to keep Boy Scouts safe. The compensatory damage amount is the largest known in the history of cases against the Boy Scouts of America (BSA) in its 104-year history. After calculation of attorneys’ fees and interest, the total award to SGT’s client is more than $12 million.

Contacts

Photo of Ernie Teitell
Ernie Teitell

Partner

Photo of Paul A. Slager
Paul A. Slager

Partner

Photo of Ernie Teitell

Ernie Teitell Partner

(203) 325-4491

Photo of Jennifer B. Goldstein

Jennifer B. Goldstein Partner

(203) 325-4491

Photo of Joaquin L. Madry

Joaquin L. Madry Partner

(203) 325-4491

Photo of Jonathan M. Levine

Jonathan M. Levine Partner

(203) 325-4491

Photo of Marco A. Allocca

Marco A. Allocca Partner

(203) 325-4491

Photo of Nicole B. Coates

Nicole B. Coates Partner

(203) 325-4491

Photo of Paul A. Slager

Paul A. Slager Partner

(203) 325-4491

Photo of Sarah (Ricciardi) Russell

Sarah (Ricciardi) Russell Partner

(203) 325-4491

Contact Us

Contact our experienced attorneys today at (203) 325-4491 or info@sgtlaw.com to arrange a free, confidential consultation.

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