Vermont 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 Vermont. Vermont sexual abuse also occurs at schools, camps, nursing homes, mental health facilities, and other places where circumstances allow. Such as the case of Richard Foster, a teacher in Vermont for almost 20 years, who pleaded guilty to sexually abusing students and filming the abuse in order to create child pornography. 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 occur anywhere. The most 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 Vermont 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. This can also happen indirectly, such as the Roxbury Village School in Roxbury, Vermont, which recently settled for $1 million out of court for having failed to report the ongoing sexual abuse of one of its students.
Adults are also the victims of sexual abuse. At nursing homes and mental health facilities all over Vermont, 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. 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.
Vermont Sexual Abuse and Clergy Abuse Statute of Limitations
The state of Vermont has decent laws for victims of clergy and sexual abuse of all types. The age of majority in Vermont is 18 and the state has adopted delayed tolling for sexual offenses against minors. Delayed tolling in Vermont says that you can file a claim up to six years after reaching the age of 18. They also allow 6 years after the removal of a disability or imprisonment. So if you were abused and then incarcerated, you could file six years after you were released from prison.
Vermont also allows victims to assert the discovery rule. Clergy abuse and sexual abuse survivors have 6 years from discovery to file a claim. Also, the survivor does not need not to establish which act caused the injury, if the abuse was continuing.
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