What Is the Statute of Limitations for Delray Beach School Sexual Assault Lawsuits?

If you were abused by a teacher, coach, or counselor while attending school in Delray Beach, many years may have passed since the incident(s). After becoming an adult and developing the strength to address these experiences, you may be considering a sexual abuse lawsuit in Delray Beach for the first time. What if too much time has passed? What is the statute of limitations in this situation?

Florida Has Eliminated the Statute of Limitations for Serious Child Sex Abuse Lawsuits

According to the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Florida has no statutes of limitation for crimes against children. In 2020, “Donna’s Law” took effect, making it easier for victims to pursue civil lawsuits against their abusers regardless of how much time has passed. This applies to most sex crimes against children that may occur in a school environment. In other words, you probably don’t need to worry about the statute of limitations if you were abused by an adult at school in Florida. Even if the abuse occurred many decades ago, you should still be able to move ahead with a lawsuit.

Gathering the Courage to Speak Up Is Half the Battle

Although Florida may impose minimal time limits on school sexual abuse lawsuits, victims must still gather enough courage to actually step up and speak out. This is often more challenging than the legal process itself. People may have various fears about simply discussing their sexual abuse with others, let alone filing lawsuits.

First, you should know that everything you say to your sexual abuse lawyer is completely confidential. These lawyers must respect the attorney-client privilege, and they could lose their license to practice law if they repeat anything you say to anyone else without permission. In addition, you are under no obligation to move forward with a lawsuit after meeting with a lawyer. Even if you never officially hire a lawyer, they still must respect your privacy and the attorney-client privilege.

You May Need to Start Gathering Evidence as Soon as Possible 

The statute of limitations can be challenging for victims, but it also serves a purpose. Once a certain amount of time has passed, evidence can be difficult to find. Abusive teachers, coaches, and counselors might be deceased by the time you decide to sue. Records might have been lost or destroyed. As a result, it makes sense to file your lawsuit as soon as possible, even if there is no statute of limitations for these kinds of cases in Florida.

Can a Delray Beach School Sexual Assault Lawyer Help Me?

A Delray Beach school sexual assault lawyer may be able to help if you’re ready to take legal action. Even if a significant amount of time has passed since your abuse, you may still have the right to sue the school district and other liable parties. Consider discussing your unique situation with Steinberg Law today.

Source: 

floridapolitics.com/archives/346266-donnas-law-lifts-statute-of-limitations-on-childhood-sexual-abuse-cases/