Every 98 seconds, someone in this country is sexually assaulted. This and other horrifying statistics are released by the RAINN organization.
In New York City, assault charges can have very serious consequences, anywhere from probation to years in jail. If they are severe allegations and injuries involved, we will often seek significant jail time and restitution from the assailant. We can also seek an Order of Protection for you from your assailant.
If you or a loved one has been sexually harassed or assaulted, you deserve peace of mind and justice. Getting these sexual predators prosecuted means keeping them off the streets and away from other vulnerable people.
Types of Sex Crimes Include:
- Non-consensual sex (rape)
- Cat-calling
- Unwanted touching
- Unwanted groping
- Unwanted sexual talk
- Not stopping when the victim says “no”
- Sex with a minor
- Sexual misconduct
- Second- and third-degree sexual abuse
- Third-degree patronizing a prostitute
- Groping on subways and buses
You may wonder who can be sued for sex crimes, outside of the specific attacker. The answer is anyone whose negligence, carelessness, or actions allowed the assault to occur in the first place. This can include:
- Employers: Your employer must take your health and safety seriously. If they maintain an environment that allows sexual joking or unwanted touching, or if your employer hires a sexual predator, the employer could be held liable for any crimes that employee commits. By failing to accurately and properly screen potential new hires, they are being negligent in their duties to their employees.
- Property owners: Property owners, both residential and commercial, have an obligation to protect patrons and guests. If a dangerous property condition allows a sexual assault to occur, the property owner could be held liable under premises liability. For example, a parking garage may have lacked adequate security which could have prevented a sexual crime from taking place.
- Organization and Institutions: Sometimes organizations or even religious institutions are part of covering up sex crimes and even childhood sexual abuse. If any organization fails in their obligation to protect their members or covers up a crime or even just fails to investigate accusations, they can be held liable. Examples include colleges and universities, religious institutions, and even organizations like the Boy/Girl Scouts of America.
Legal Representation
Sex crimes can be incredibly nuanced and sexual assault is a very complex legal and emotional issue. At Ronemus & Vilensky, we are experienced sexual assault attorneys, who have compassion and empathy for what you have gone through. We are committed to carefully and thoroughly investigating every aspect of your case, preparing you for what to expect and advising you on how best to proceed.
If you have been a victim of sexual misconduct, then you certainly deserve compensation. While a lawsuit cannot and will not make the trauma go away, it can help make your recovery easier and less expensive, and require accountability from those who wronged you or whose negligence allowed this assault to happen.
Compensation can help cover things such as:
- Medical bills and expenses
- Ongoing therapy/counseling sessions
- Lost wages from being out of work
- Pain and suffering
- Emotional distress
Your needs as a victim and survivor are often not taken into account in the court system, and you need a sexual assault attorney who will stand up for your needs, your rights, and will make sure your voice is heard.
The Law Offices of Ronemus & Vilensky are not afraid to take your attacker and any other responsible parties to court. We will see that justice is done in every legal avenue, including helping you get a restraining order to keep your attacker far from you and to enact consequences if it is broken.
We will help you navigate the medical and insurance claims, the nuances of assault cases, and help you regain your peace of mind and sense of safety.
Recent Case
A recent case we won for our client is being featured in VerdictSearch’s New York publication. In this case, we helped the plaintiff sue the City of New York, the Department of Education, and an individual teacher. The plaintiff was only 15 years old when she was sexually assaulted by her high school music teacher. It continued for some time, even on school grounds. He was arrested in 2013 on statutory rape and other charges. The teacher was investigated after a family member reported the relationship. The teacher was fired and eventually sentenced to 5 years in jail. Plaintiff’s counsel alleged that the City of New York and the Department of Education was negligent in its supervision and our client suffered from depression and emotional distress long term. The matter was settled and our client was awarded a total of $215,000.
You deserve peace of mind and justice. If you or anyone you know has been the victim of any sexual assault or sex crimes, please call the Law Offices of Ronemus & Vilensky immediately. We can help. We can’t erase what happened to you, but we can make sure that those responsible will not be allowed to continue.
