Pennsylvania Sexual Abuse Lawyer
Understand how, when, and why to hire a Pennsylvania Sexual Abuse Lawyer.
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Author: Kathryn Kosmides
Survivor Advocate
- A sexual assault lawyer helps impacted individuals file a civil lawsuit for sexual abuse against employers, clergy members, schools/universities, and other institutions for their role in the harm.
- A variety of factors go into an individual’s ability to file a sexual abuse lawsuit including statute of limitations – an experienced Pennsylvania sexual abuse lawyer can help evaluate your case.
- If you experienced sexual abuse at work, in a rideshare, by a clergy member, or others associated with an institution or organization, you may have the ability to file a PA sexual abuse lawsuit.
Pennsylvania Sexual Abuse Legal Rights & Options
Over the last few years, hundreds of survivors of different forms of sexual abuse in Pennsylvania have come forward to seek help and healing. By coming forward, these individuals have started to shine a light on the widescale problem of sexual abuse in Pennsylvania, from clergy abuse to juvenile detention center abuse.
- In 2018, the number of rapes reported in Pennsylvania was 35 per 100,000 people.
- A report found that the average prosecution rate for all reported sex offenses in Pennsylvania between 2019 and 2023 was 24 percent. In eight counties, the prosecution rate was below 15 percent.
- In 2023, the Pennsylvania Annual Child Protective Services Report showed that 1,749 out of the 5,129 total substantiated child abuse reports were related to child sexual abuse.
If you or someone you know experienced sexual abuse in Pennsylvania, you have legal rights and options. These may differ depending on numerous factors, including the civil and criminal statutes of limitations.
In general, your rights and options include the following:
- File a Pennsylvania sexual abuse lawsuit
- Report the sexual abuse to law enforcement
- Report the sexual abuse to relevant oversight agencies
The best way to fully understand your rights is to contact an organization like Helping Survivors. We can help you understand your options and connect you with an experienced Pennsylvania sexual abuse lawyer.
If you or a loved one has experienced sexual abuse, you might be entitled to pursue justice through one or more of these options.
Pennsylvania Statute of Limitations
Pennsylvania Sexual Abuse Criminal Statute of Limitations
Pennsylvania’s criminal statutes of limitations set how long after an incident prosecutors have to file criminal charges. Each type of criminal offense in Pennsylvania has its own statute of limitations. This resource provided by RAINN lists the relevant criminal statutes of limitations for sexual offenses in Pennsylvania.
In addition, the deadline for prosecutors to file criminal charges for sexual offenses also depends on several factors, including the severity of the offense, the age of the victim, and when the harm occurred.
Note that an individual cannot press criminal charges against someone. They have a right to file a report with law enforcement, which may trigger a criminal investigation. Law enforcement will share the results of the investigation with prosecutors, who will determine whether to file criminal charges.
If you have specific questions about the Pennsylvania criminal statute of limitations, we can help answer your questions if you reach out to us.
Pennsylvania Sexual Abuse Civil Statute of Limitations
The Pennsylvania civil statute of limitations sets the amount of time a victim has to file a civil lawsuit against the perpetrator, institutions that enabled the abuse, and any other relevant third parties.
The Pennsylvania civil statute of limitations for sexual offenses is complex and generally depends on when the harm happened and how old the individual was when it happened.
Under a 2019 Pennsylvania law amending the civil statute of limitations, child sexual abuse survivors abused before age 18 have until their 55th birthday to file a lawsuit. Before the 2019 law, the civil statute of limitations required child victims to file a case within 12 years of turning 18—or their 30th birthday.
However, the 2019 law is not retroactive. Therefore, only those born after November 26, 1989, have until their 55th birthday to file suit. Survivors who had already turned 30 by 2019 are time-barred from filing lawsuits.
Meanwhile, the 2019 law also gives individuals who were between the ages of 18 and 23 when the sexual abuse occurred until their 30th birthday to file suit. Adult victims who were over age 23 when the sexual assault occurred only have two years from the incident date to file suit
Many Pennsylvania lawmakers have recognized it can take decades for someone to seek help after experiencing sexual abuse. Thus, some have been considering opening a window for survivors of child sexual abuse to file suit over cases where the deadline has previously expired. So far, that measure—which would require a ballot measure to amend the state constitution—has not passed. We will continue to keep this page updated as new laws are passed.
Even if you believe the Pennsylvania civil statute of limitations has passed, we highly recommend contacting us as there may be exceptions or changes to the current laws that apply to your case.
Types of Pennsylvania Sexual Abuse Lawsuits
Many survivors may consider filing a sexual abuse lawsuit in Pennsylvania, whether they experienced sexual abuse committed by clergy or a youth pastor, by a school teacher, at a summer camp, or in other contexts.
A civil lawsuit allows the survivor to seek monetary damages for the harm they endured and potentially pursue other civil remedies. In general, most Pennsylvania sexual abuse lawsuits are filed against institutions that enabled the abuse, such as churches, hospitals or other medical institutions, schools, universities, or youth camps. This is because the main outcome of a civil lawsuit is a monetary settlement or judgment, and these institutions either have the means to pay damages.
Understanding if filing a sexual abuse lawsuit in Pennsylvania makes sense in your case can be difficult.
In general, it may make sense to pursue a civil lawsuit for sexual abuse if:
- Your claim is within the Pennsylvania civil statute of limitations.
- An organization’s staff member or volunteer perpetrated the harm.
- The organization either had knowledge of the abuse but failed to take action, retaliated against you, or enabled abuse through its own negligence.
- A law firm is willing to take the case on a contingency fee basis.
Most Pennsylvania sexual abuse lawsuits against organizations involve the following types of abuse:
- Clergy or youth pastor abuse
- Summer or youth camp abuse
- Pennsylvania juvenile detention center abuse
- Pennsylvania inmate abuse
- Employment-based sexual harassment or abuse
- School or university sexual abuse
In a civil lawsuit, you must be able to prove that the abuse happened and that the organization reasonably should have known the abuse was happening. This burden of proof is lower in civil cases than in criminal proceedings. You need not have reported the abuse to the organization at the time. Only a lawyer can determine whether you have a strong case. Therefore, we recommend contacting us so we can connect you with an experienced attorney today.
In general, it may not make sense to file a Pennsylvania sexual abuse lawsuit if:
- You fear further retaliation or injury if the abuse becomes public
- The suit will be against an individual who lacks the financial means to pay a large settlement or judgment
In the United States, there is a common belief that anyone can sue anyone. While this is technically true, it often does not make emotional or financial sense to file a sexual abuse lawsuit for a variety of reasons. When you file suit, you must go through the civil discovery process, and the opposing party can countersue—even if their claims are false. The opposition might even attempt to abuse the litigation process. These tactics can lead to thousands in legal costs you are paying a lawyer on an hourly basis.
If you cannot collect a judgment or verdict from the individual, it likely does not make emotional or financial sense to pursue a sexual abuse lawsuit.
Only a lawyer can evaluate your case. Meanwhile, one law firm might be willing to take a case that another firm may not. We can connect you with experienced lawyers for a free case evaluation to determine if filing suit makes sense. They can also explain the process of filing a civil lawsuit and advise you about the potential outcomes.
We are here to listen and advocate for you.
Title IX Lawsuits and Actions Against Pennsylvania Universities
If you have been sexually harassed or assaulted while attending a Pennsylvania college or university, you may be able to file a civil lawsuit against the school. In Pennsylvania, we have seen recent university lawsuits against Penn State regarding the now-retired fencing coach Wes Glon, Penn State’s football hazing lawsuits, and the well-documented case sexual abuse case against Jerry Sandusky.
However, to file a Pennsylvania sexual abuse lawsuit against a university, you must go through the Title IX reporting process first. When a student files a complaint alleging sexual assault or harassment, institutions must investigate and adjudicate through an established grievance process. If you’ve reported abuse to your college or university and it failed to act, you faced retaliation for reporting the abuse, you were discouraged from filing a Title IX claim, you were forced to change your schedule, or you experienced some other form of harm for reporting the abuse, you might be eligible to file a civil lawsuit.
Title IX has many nuances. Contact us to learn your rights and options regardless of where you are in the Title IX reporting process. We can connect you with a lawyer who might be able to assist with this process and help you pursue your legal options.
Pennsylvania Nursing Home Sexual Abuse Lawsuit
If you or a loved one has experienced sexual abuse at a nursing home, you might be eligible to file a sexual abuse lawsuit against the facility, its owners, and other relevant third parties.
Unfortunately, those in nursing homes are particularly vulnerable to sexual abuse. Such abuse at nursing homes often goes unreported due to the lack of family connection, the victim’s inability to explain what happened, or the fear of being retaliated against or losing their living situation. We encourage family members to always keep an open line of communication with loved ones in nursing homes and make them feel they can tell you about anything they are uncomfortable with, including sexual assault.
Pennsylvania Clergy Sexual Abuse Lawsuits
Pennsylvania was one of the first states to launch wide-scale investigations into sexual abuse by priests at Catholic churches across the state. Several investigations, including a 2016 grand jury investigation, found that hundreds of priests in all eight of Pennsylvania’s Catholic dioceses have been credibly accused of sexually abusing over 1,000 child victims. The attorney general published a 900-page report detailing this pervasive abuse and cover-ups. Since then, lawmakers have enacted new laws to help survivors seek justice and hold perpetrators accountable.
In 2020, the nonprofit investigative journalism outlet ProPublica launched a searchable public database listing priests credibly accused of sexual abuse. The database contains information on the following Pennsylvania clergy members:
- 50 abusers from the Diocese of Allentown
- 35 abusers from the Diocese of Altoona-Johnstown
- 94 abusers from the Diocese of Erie
- 21 abusers from the Diocese of Greensburg
- 72 abusers from the Diocese of Harrisburg
- 76 abusers from the Archdiocese of Philadelphia
- 108 abusers from the Diocese of Pittsburgh
- 83 abusers from the Diocese of Scranton
Many Pennsylvania clergy sexual abuse lawsuits have been filed and settled over the last decade. These clergy abuse lawsuit settlements include the following:
- As part of its bankruptcy reorganization plan, the Roman Catholic Diocese of Harrisburg agreed to establish an $18.25 million settlement fund to resolve 59 sexual abuse claims in November 2022. Previously, in 2019, the diocese paid $12.8 million in compensation to 111 survivors.
- As of May 2022, the Archdiocese of Philadelphia said it had paid $44 million to settle around 200 of the more than 600 sexual abuse claims it had faced and anticipated paying an additional $130 million by the time the fund was fully disbursed.
- As of December 2022, the Diocese of Pittsburgh had paid $19.2 million to resolve 224 claims.
- As of October 2019, the Diocese of Greensburg had reported paying $4.35 million to settle claims with 57 survivors of clergy sexual abuse.
Even though several Catholic dioceses in Pennsylvania have settled claims related to sexual abuse, you might still be able to file a lawsuit if you experienced clergy sexual abuse.
Additionally, if you experienced sexual abuse by a clergy member of another religion or denomination, such as the Jehovah’s Witnesses or the Mormon church, you might be able to file a Pennsylvania clergy sexual abuse lawsuit to seek monetary compensation for your harm.
We can help you understand your rights and options to file if you contact us today.
Pennsylvania Doctor Sexual Abuse Lawsuits
Doctor sexual abuse lawsuits are on the rise, particularly in the wake of the high-profile cases against Larry Nassar and Dr. Robert Hadden.
In 2019, Pennsylvania pediatrician Dr. Johnnie Barto was convicted of 69 criminal offenses related to sexually abusing 31 children—most between 8 and 12 years old—over several decades. Patients of Dr. Barto are encouraged to come forward and seek justice by filing or participating in lawsuits against the medical facilities where he worked and other responsible parties.
In 2024, Vladimir Iakomi, a Lancaster County-based doctor, was charged with sexually assaulting two female patients. He has allegedly fled from the United States to Turkey. Local police are working with the federal Department of Homeland Security and the FBI to apprehend him.
In another case, Eric Tarter, a medical assistant at Penn State Health, allegedly pretended to be a licensed doctor and sexually abused several patients of the clinic under the guise of professional medical care. He currently faces several criminal charges. Meanwhile, lawyers are exploring possible civil claims against the medical provider.
Many patients do not recognize doctor sexual abuse when it happens. If you believe you were sexually abused by a doctor, including unnecessary or painful medical procedures involving your genitals, contact us as soon as possible. We can connect you with an experienced lawyer who can evaluate your case and help you understand your rights and options.
Other Pennsylvania Sexual Abuse Lawsuits
There have been other sexual abuse lawsuits filed against high-profile individuals and institutions in Pennsylvania over the last few decades outside of the above.
For example, individuals who have experienced sexual assault during an Uber or Lyft ride may be eligible to file a Pennsylvania sexual abuse lawsuit. Valentine Perez, a Pennsylvania rideshare driver, was arrested after sexually abusing a male passenger—the second passenger to report him for abusive behavior.
Parents might also be eligible to file sexual abuse lawsuits against youth or summer camps for sexual abuse. Camp Woodward, a summer camp based in Centre County outside of State College, settled a sexual abuse lawsuit over the sexual abuse of a 14-year-old female gymnast by her coach, Nathaniel Singer.
If you have experienced sexual abuse by an employee or volunteer of any institution while under their care, whether a school, camp, religious organization, doctor, or other organization, you might be eligible to file a sexual abuse lawsuit. Speak with a Pennsylvania sexual abuse lawyer as soon as possible. We can connect you with an experienced lawyer today for a free consultation. An attorney can explain your rights, the process for filing a lawsuit, and the potential outcomes.
We are here to listen and advocate for you.
Pennsylvania Sexual Abuse Lawyer FAQs
Understanding your legal rights and options after experiencing any form of sexual abuse in Pennsylvania can be confusing and complicated. We’re here to help answer your questions, especially about hiring a Pennsylvania sexual abuse lawyer.
Below are the most commonly asked questions we receive. However, every case is unique, and you might have options beyond those mentioned, so contact us to learn more.
Who can be held responsible for Pennsylvania institutional sexual abuse?
Institutional sexual abuse involves abuse perpetrated by an employee, volunteer, or representative of an organization. The institution or organization reasonably should have known about the abuse and either enabled it or failed to take reasonable steps to prevent the harm.
The organization, its leaders, executives, insurers, and any other relevant parties might be held responsible for Pennsylvania institutional sexual abuse. An experienced lawyer will review your case and identify the parties responsible.
What are the differences between a civil and criminal sexual abuse case in Pennsylvania?
Abuse survivors can seek compensation for their damages in civil sexual abuse cases. In general, the burden of proof is lower in civil cases than in criminal prosecutions.
A criminal sexual abuse case involves the filing of criminal charges by a prosecutor against the perpetrator. An individual cannot press criminal charges against someone but can report the abuse to law enforcement to initiate a criminal investigation. Reporting also creates an important paper trail documenting the harm, which can encourage others to come forward in the future.
How do I hire a PA sexual abuse lawyer?
In general, most sexual abuse law firms will provide a free consultation to review the facts and circumstances of your case. After this initial consultation, the lawyer will determine whether they think you have a case. Most firms handle such cases on a contingency fee basis, meaning they charge no upfront fees and do not get paid unless they recover compensation for you. A lawyer who takes a case on a contingency fee agreement is generally confident in their ability to win the case and collect a financial judgment. The law firm will take a percentage of the winnings if and when you win the case.
However, some law firms charge hourly fees for representation, usually between $250 and $500 an hour. However, we do not recommend such an arrangement because the costs are unknown and often depend on the other party’s response. The attorney fees could quickly mount, and you could end up facing thousands in costs.
Helping Survivors works with a variety of law firms, including Pennsylvania sexual abuse lawyers, who can provide a free consultation to explain this process and give their professional opinion regarding the prospects of a sexual abuse lawsuit.
Does it cost money to hire a PA sexual abuse lawyer?
Most experienced PA sexual abuse lawyers will take cases on a contingency fee basis, meaning there should be no upfront costs for pursuing a claim. They do not get paid unless and until you win your case. They will receive a percentage of the settlement or judgment as their fee. They are willing to take this risk because they believe they can succeed in recovering compensation for you.
You can pay a law firm an hourly fee to represent you in a Pennsylvania sexual abuse lawsuit. However, such fee arrangements are usually offered by lawyers who are unsure of their ability to win the case or collect a judgment. Unfortunately, some law firms take advantage of sexual abuse survivors who want justice and convince them to file a civil lawsuit on an hourly basis, only to rack up hundreds of thousands of dollars in attorney fees with no potential to recoup the costs if they do win.
What are the damages in a PA sexual abuse lawsuit?
Every case is unique. The recoverable and monetary compensation vary. In general, the value of a sexual abuse lawsuit depends on factors like the nature and severity of the harm, how often it occurred, the culpability of the institution or organization in the harm, whether the organization tried to cover it up, and the strength of the case.
A skilled and experienced PA sexual abuse lawyer may be able to estimate the damages in a sexual abuse lawsuit after reviewing the facts and circumstances of your case.
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