Indiana Attorneys for School or Sports Sexual Abuse Victims
A parent should not be fearful of their child’s safety when they send them off to school. Teachers, teaching assistants, coaches, and administrative staff are entrusted with the welfare of all the children who attend the school. When one of these people acts in an inappropriate way, the emotional and physical well-being of the child is compromised and can be severely damaged. Sexual abuse and assault that is perpetrated by teachers or other school employees can cause life-long trauma to developing children and adolescents.
Victims of childhood sexual abuse can experience depression, anxiety, nightmares, fear of other people, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). These mental health issues need to be addressed to help a child heal. Psychiatric professionals provide a variety of therapies to help victims of sexual abuse. Through therapy a child can learn methods to cope with the trauma that was inflicted on them and find positive ways to build relationships with people throughout their life. It’s important to note that sexual abuse includes sexual contact with a child and can also include sharing obscene images with a child, taking inappropriate photos or videos of a child, or exposing oneself to a child. All of these behaviors are considered sexual abuse.
Summary of a sexual abuse case at a school
A student at an Indianapolis-area elementary school was seduced and repeatedly sexually assaulted by a teacher’s aide. The aide used social media to groom the child for the abuse. Grooming includes selecting a victim based on their vulnerability, gaining the victim’s trust by identifying a need and meeting it—with words or gifts, separating the victim from their peers to create a one-on-one relationship, and ultimately engaging in a sexual act. This teacher’s aide systematically victimized the child and inflicted serious psychological trauma. Cohen & Malad, LLP attorneys were hired to bring a civil case against the school for failing to protect the child from this abuse and to get compensation for the victim to pay for on-going psychiatric treatment for the trauma of the sexual abuse.
The USA Gymnastics sexual assault cases are another example of the severe impact sexual abuse can have on children and developing adolescents. The athletes in these cases trusted the recommendation and advice of their coaches to be treated by a staff physician. These coaches and the sports organization failed to safeguard these children from the abuse inflicted by the physician. Many of these athletes will require on-going psychiatric therapy to cope with the trauma the sexual abuse has had and will have on their lives moving forward.
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Indiana Sexual Abuse Lawyers
If you, your child, or someone else you know is a victim of sexual abuse or assault by a trusted advisor, contact us. Our attorneys have been trained by mental health professionals so as to not revictimize the Plaintiff when telling his or her story. Our attorneys have experience handling sexual abuse claims against schools and organizations and can help your family on the path to healing. We understand the sensitive nature of this type of lawsuit and prioritize our clients’ privacy and trust while fighting to get them the compensation they need to assist them in healing and coping with sexual abuse.