Ohio Sexual Abuse
Many people have suffered sexual abuse at the hands of someone they trusted. 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 Ohio. Ohio sexual abuse also occurs at schools, camps, nursing homes, mental health facilities, and other places where circumstances allow. Such as Randall Ralston, who coached basketball at five Ohio high schools and in a youth league, was sentenced to nine years in prison for having unlawful sex with several girls, whom he coached and tutored. 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 and take place anywhere. 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 Ohio 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 John Haller, a St. Bernard youth softball and soccer coach sentenced to prison for a sexual relationship with an underage girl on one of his teams.
Adults can also be sexually abused. At nursing homes and mental health facilities all over Ohio, 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 youth pastor John Picard, found guilty on 42 counts of sexual battery committed on women in his Mansfield, Ohio church group. 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.
Ohio Sexual Abuse and Clergy Abuse Statute of Limitations
In the state of Ohio, a victim of sexual abuse has a twelve year statute of limitations for all childhood sexual abuse claims. Any cause of action brought by a victim of a childhood sexual abuse claim must be brought within 12 years of the date of accrual. Accrual begins on the 18th birthday of the victim.
Ohio has a great fraudulent concealment portion of their statute for their discovery rule. The Discovery Rule says that in any action on or after the effective date of the statute which is August 3, 2006, where the defendant has fraudulently concealed facts of the abuse claim, the statute of limitations will begin at the “time when the plaintiff discovers or in the exercise of due diligence should have discovered those facts.
Ohio, which is a very friendly state to Sexual Abuse survivors has enacted Retroactivity To the Effective Date of August 3, 2006. The new statute of limitations applies to all civil actions for claims resulting from childhood sexual abuse that occurred prior to the effective date of the act.
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 me, sexual abuse lawyer Samuel Rogatinsky at (954) 995-3805 or send an email to samr@sexabuseattorney.org