Sex Abuse

Child, Teen or Adult Victims

Sex abuse remains a serious national problem. Nearly one million children are victims of abuse each year, and about 120,000 were victims of sexual abuse. The vast majority of those cases go unreported. Adults can also be the victims of sex abuse whether by rape of a stranger, relative, teacher, date rape, abusive spouse, or by a counselor, doctor, chiropractor, therapist, psychotherapist, or psychiatrist. On college campuses, rape or date rape has been known to occur at parties, some of which are sponsored by a fraternity or sorority. 

Sex abuse or molestation sometimes is caused by persons in positions of trust: relatives, caregivers, day care workers, teachers, baby-sitters, youth counselors, bus drivers, pastors, priests, ministers, bishops, elders, clergy, preachers, choir directors, or other members of the church. In instances of abuse by those who work for organizations, the organizations can be held liable in certain circumstances. For example, they can be liable if they were aware of the abuse and took no action, failed to conduct a background check, or failed to adequately supervise someone whom they knew had a history of sexual abuse.  In some instances, state officials such as child protective services or foster homes fail to protect children and foster children or report abuse.  There also may be a failure to investigate child abuse. 

Sex abuse—whether child, teen, young adult, or adult victim—is devastating. A victim may be able to take control by exercising their legal rights. In the case of a minor child or minor children, the most important goal is to remove the child from further risk of abuse or molestation. If the victim is being abused by a spouse or partner, he or she may obtain a restraining order against the abuser.

A victim may have a secondary goal of obtaining compensation from abuse or those who allowed the abuser to harm the victim. For example, victim compensation can be used to obtain counseling to begin to heal the injuries caused by sex abuse. A victim may also obtain punitive damages to punish the wrongdoer and deter others from sex abuse.

If you or your loved one has been subject to sex abuse, rape or molestation, it is important to have an Oregon attorney evaluate any personal injury claim you or your loved one may have for the sexual abuse, rape or molestation. The law provides strict deadlines for bringing personal injury claims for sex abuse, rape or molestation. It is critical that you contact an Oregon lawyer or Portland lawyer if you think that you may have a claim. A Portland personal injury lawyer at Vangelisti Kocher LLP can provide you a free, confidential consultation to discuss you or your loved one's injuries and legal rights.

Sex Abuse in Nursing Homes

For cases involving personal injury from sex abuse in nursing homes, please click on the Sex Abuse link under Practice Areas on our related site at www.nwnursinghomelaw.com.   This site provides specific information on sex abuse, rape or molestation in nursing homes and information on locating a lawyer or attorney to handle nursing home sex abuse, rape or molestation cases in Portland Oregon.

If you have a potential sex abuse case in Washington, please visit our sister-site for Washington.

Cities Served:

Ada, Adair Village, Adams, Adrian, Agness, Airlie, Albany, Alicel, Alkali Lake, Allegany, Allston, Aloha, Alpine, Alsea, Amity, Antelope, Applegate, Arago, Arch Cape, Arlington, Arock, Ashland, Ashwood, Astoria, Athena, Aumsville, Aurora, Austin, Azalea, Baker City, Ballston, Bandon, Banks, Barview, Bates, Bay City, Beatty, Beaver, Beaver MArsh, Beaverton, Bellfountain, Bend, Biggs, Birkenfeld, Blachly, Blodgett, Blue River, Bly, Boardman, Bonneville, Boring, Breitenbush, Bridgeport, Brightwood, Broadbent, Brogan, Brookings, Brooks, Brothers, Brownsmead, Brownsville, Bunker Hill, Burlington, Burns, Burns Junction, Butte Falls, Buxton, Camas Valley, Camp Sherman, Canby, Cannon Beach, Canyon City, Canyonville, Cape Meares, Carlton, Cascade Locks, Cascade Summit, Cascadia, Cave Junction, Cayuse, Cecil, Celilo, Central Point, Charleston, Chemult, Chenoweth, Cherry Grove, Cheshire, Chiloquin, Christmas Valley, Clatskanie, Coburg, Colton, Columbia City, Condon, Coos Bay, Coquille, Cornelius, Corvallis, Cottage Grove, Cove, Crabtree, Crane, Crater Lake, Crawsfordsville, Crescent, Crescent Lake, Creswell, Crow, Culp Creek, Culver, Curtin, Detroit, Diamond, Diamond Lake, Dayville, Drew, Dufur, Dunes City, Echo, Estacada, Fort Klamath, Fossil, Gates, Garibaldi, Gearhart, Gilchrist, Greenhorn, Government Camp, Idanha, Klamath Agency, La Pine, Lakeview, Malian, Medford, Merlin, Myrtle Creek, McKenzie Bridge, Mill City, North Umpqua, Oakridge, Prospect, Rhododendron, Sandy, Sisters, Sunriver, Warm Springs, Welches, Westfir, Zigzag, Grass Valley, Hampton, Lonerock, Madras, Maupin, Metolius, Mitchell, Moro, Mosier, Paulina, Post, Prineville, Redmond, Rowena, Rufus, Shaniko, Spray, The Dalles, Wasco Adams, Elgin, Enterprise, Haines, Halfway, Heppner, Hermiston, Huntington, Imbler, Imnaha, Irrigon, Island City, John Day, Joseph, La Grande, Lexington, Long Creek, Lostine, Medical Springs, Milton-Freewater, Monument, Mt Vernon, North Powder, Oxbow, Pendleton, Pilot Rock, Prairie City, Richland, Seneca, Summerville, Sumpter, Ukiah, Umatilla, Union, Unity, Wallowa, Weston Adel, Drewsey, Frenchglen, Hines, Jordan Valley, Juntura, Lakeview, Nyssa, Ontario, Plush, Vale, Hebo, Nehalem, Manzanita, Neahkahnie, Oceanside, Pacific City, Rockaway Beach, Seaside, Tillamook, Warrenton, Wheeler, Depoe Bay, Florence, Gleneden Beach, Lincoln City, Mapleton, Newport, Otter Rock, Reedsport, Seal Rock, Siletz, Toledo, Waldport, Winchester Bay, Yachats, Gold Beach, Lakeside, Myrtle Point, North Bend, Port Orford, Powers, Wedderburn  Banks, Forest Grove, Gaston, Gresham, Happy Valley, Hillsboro, Lake Oswego, Marquam, Milwaukie, Molalla, North Plains, Oregon City, Portland, Rainier, Sandy, Scappoose, St. Helens, Tigard, Troutdale, Tualatin, Vernonia, West Linn, Wilsonville, Cave Junction, Canyonville, Central Point, Dillard, Drain, Eagle Point, Elkton, Glendale, Glide, Gold Hill, Grants Pass, Jacksonville, Klamath Falls, Oakland, Phoenix, Prospect, Riddle, Rouge River, Roseburg, Shady Cove, Sutherlin, Talent, Umpqua, White City, Winchester, Winston, Wolf Creek, Yoncalla, Dallas, Dayton, Detroit, Donald, Dundee, Eugene, Falls City, Gates, Gervais, Halsey, Harrisburg, Independence, Jefferson, Junction City, Keizer, Lebanon, Lowell, Lyons, McMinnville, Mill City, Millersburg, Mt.Angel, Molalla, Monmouth, Newberg, Oakridge, Oregon City, Philomath, Salme, Scio, Scott Mills, Sheridan, Silverton, Sodaville, Springfield, Stayton, St. Paul, Sublimity, Sweet Home, Tangerit, Turner, Veneta, Walterville, Waterloo, Willamina, Woodburn, Yamhill

Counties Served in Oregon:

Baker County, Benton County, Clackamas County, Clatsop County, Columbia County, Coos County, Crook County, Curry County, Deschutes County, Douglas County, Gilliam County, Grant County, Harney County, Hood River County, Jackson County, Jefferson County, Josephine County, Klamath County, Lake County, Lane County, Lincoln County, Linn County, Malheur County, Marion County, Morrow County, Multnomah County, Polk County, Sherman County, Tillamook County, Umatilla County, Union County, Wallowa County, Wasco County, Washington County, Wheeler County, Yamhill County.

Alternate Spellings:

Atorney, Attroney, Attourney, Attornies, Atturnies,Atroney, Atorney, Atorneys, Attroney, Atturney, Atturneys, Attourneys, Attorneyship, Lowyer, Laywer,Lowyer, Lawyres, Lawyre, Lowyers, Laywers, Layre, Lawer, Premies, Permesis, Primesis, Primisis, Liabilitie, Laibility, Laibilitie,  Mesotheluim, Mesetheliem, Mesothleium, Mesothlieum, Abstestos, Apestos, Abpestos, Deafective, Dafective, Dafektive,  Nurseing, Accdents, Acidents, Orgon, Orge, Oregan, Washton, Washingten, Portlond, Portlund, Litgation Litagtion, Litation,Therepy, Therpy, Tharpy, Solicator, Solicators, Judgement, Judgements