New Jersey Sexual Abuse
Many people have suffered sexual abuse at the hands of someone in a position of authority. Most of us are familiar with cases of sexual abuse in the Catholic Church due to several media publicized cases of priest sexual abuse, but church sex scandals are just one example of an issue that affects many in New Jersey. New Jersey sexual abuse also occurs at schools, camps, nursing homes, mental health facilities, and other places where circumstances allow. In New Jersey, Clement Bilski Jr., a trusted maintenance man abused 11 children ranging in age from 23 months to eight years old over a span of seven years. Speaking out about sexual abuse is important in two ways: It can stop the abuser from hurting others and it helps bring a sense of closure for the victim. Speaking out can feel intimidating, but you and your loved ones are not alone. Lawyers such as Sam Rogatinsky specialize in helping you find your voice in court.
Sexual Abuse
Unlike clergy abuse, sexual abuse can be perpetrated by anyone. Common places for sexual abuse to occur are schools, camps, nursing homes, mental health facilities, group homes, and organizations such as the Boy and Girl Scouts of America. Countless children have been sexually abused in New Jersey by those who were entrusted with their care, such as teachers, Boy Scout leaders, camp counselors, and so on. These adults are supposed to protect children, but instead cause them harm, such as Lindsay Massaro, a teacher who admitted she had sex with a 15-year-old student.
Adults are also sexually abused. At nursing homes and mental health facilities all over New Jersey, social workers and psychologists take advantage of the vulnerable adults that they are supposed to be protecting. Fortunately, the perpetrators can be made to pay for the pain they have caused, but you must seek representation. Sam will help to make sure that everything possible is done to assure that your suffering has not been in vain.
Clergy Abuse
Although the Catholic Church is not the only venue for sexual abuse, it has been the most publicized due to the lack of bishop accountability. When the media picked up on the fact that bishops were just moving sexually abusive priests to another church, news outlets ran with the story. The truth is that clergy abuse includes not only Catholic priests, but rabbis, ministers, reverends, pastors, office staff at places of worship, religious youth directors, and anyone who works for a place of worship, such as Fr. Wladyslaw Gorak who stalked and abused a woman in Newark, New Jersey. If you or someone you know has been sexually abused by someone in this category, you now have an avenue of help available to you. You do not have to be a victim anymore. Contact Sam to find out how you can take control of what happened and help make sure it doesn’t happen to others.
New Jersey Sexual Abuse and Clergy Abuse Statute of Limitations
The state of New Jersey is not as clear cut as many other states in determining the statute of limitations for civil sexual abuse claims. This may work for or against the interests of the sexual abuse survivor. The law says that the discovery rule is 2 years and then it interprets discovery with the following language from the statute. “In any civil action for injury or illness based on sexual abuse, the cause of action shall accrue at the time of reasonable discovery of the injury and its causal relationship to the act of sexual abuse. Any such action shall be brought within two years after reasonable discovery”
Additionally, the court can impose delayed tolling of the statute if the court finds that the plaintiff’s mental state, duress by the defendant, or any other equitable grounds.” Although the statute does not give clear cut answers and guidelines,the ambiguity that some may see in this law can work for the benefit of the abuse survivor.
If you were sexually abused by a priest, rabbi, coach, psychologist or any other person who sexually abused you, please don’t feel ashamed. We want to help you.
Contact sexual abuse lawyer Samuel Rogatinsky at (954) 995-3805 or send an email to samr@sexabuseattorney.org