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Were you or a loved one sexually abused in Vermont? A new state law has repealed the statute of limitations on civil child sexual abuse lawsuits. The time to act is now.
Thousands of sexual abuse survivors have been granted a second chance at justice. Learn more in a free, confidential consultation.
Vermont has passed radical new legal reforms that could benefit thousands of sexual abuse survivors who were victimized in the state by dangerous predators. In a bill signed on May 13, 2019 by Governor Phil Scott, Vermont's legislature has abolished the statute of limitations on civil child sexual abuse lawsuits. Under previous Vermont law, survivors of child sexual abuse were granted only six years to pursue financial damages against their abuser and third-party defendants who enabled the abuse.
With the new legislation in place, Vermont becomes the latest state to recognize the struggles that many sexual abuse survivors face in coming forward. On average, survivors of child sexual abuse disclose their abuse at the age of 48, far later than Vermont's previous 6-year statute of limitation allowed for lawsuits. Today, however, there is no statute of limitations on child sexual abuse lawsuits filed in civil courts throughout Vermont, meaning survivors are allowed to file their lawsuit at any time.
To learn more: https://abuseguardian.com/sexual-assault-lawyer/vermont/
Vermont's most radical change, though, may be in making the statute of limitations repeal retroactive. In other words, the repeal of the statute of limitations applies even to cases that were previously barred by the state's old statute of limitations. That means survivors of sexual abuse who were abused decades ago have regained the right to pursue compensation. This is a sweeping change that could affect the lives of thousands of sexual abuse survivors who were victimized in Vermont.
Were you or a loved one sexually abused in Vermont? The time to act is now. Vermont's legislature has granted you and every other survivor in Vermont with unprecedented powers to seek justice. Even if the abuse occurred decades ago, you have gained a new opportunity to pursue justice and financial compensation by filing a private civil lawsuit.
You can now take the course of justice into your own hands. In a private civil lawsuit, you can pursue financial compensation and accountability from the people and institutions that harmed you. This is a major opportunity. Don't hesitate to take action.
Our experienced Vermont personal injury attorneys are here to help. We understand the powerful emotions caused by sexual abuse. You may still be struggling to handle painful feelings of anger, shame, grief and depression. These are natural reactions to a terrible trauma. Please know that you did nothing wrong. This was not your fault. It's important to put the blame where it belongs - with the person who harmed you, along with any institutions or organizations that facilitated the abuse.
You were victimized, perhaps by someone you trusted. Sexual abuse usually comes from the place we least expect it to - a trusted doctor, a sports coach, a priest, even a family member or friend. You are not to blame. Though it may not feel like it sometimes, justice is possible. Recovery is possible. Our attorneys have already helped countless sexual abuse survivors to pursue justice in the wake of trauma by filing private civil lawsuits. We've seen it happen so many times. In many cases, pursuing a civil lawsuit can be the first step on the path to true recovery. You can take control over this situation.
In dramatically reforming the statute of limitations on child sexual abuse, Vermont joins at least four other states, along with the District of Columbia, to have done so in recent months. New Jersey, New York, Arizona and Montana have all chosen to either abolish the statute of limitations or extend it by an average of 15 years in the wake of high-profile sexual abuse scandals from the worlds of Hollywood, gymnastics and the Catholic Church.
