Child Sexual Abuse Lawyer

At Konta, Georges & Buza P.C., we understand that coming forward about child sexual abuse requires immense courage. Our compassionate legal team serves survivors throughout New York City’s five boroughs, providing dedicated advocacy and unwavering support through every step of the legal process. Contact our Manhattan office for a confidential consultation where we can discuss your rights and options for pursuing justice.

Located in the heart of Manhattan, our child sexual abuse lawyers have helped countless survivors seek justice and compensation under New York’s Child Victims Act and related legislation. We recognize that each case is unique and demands individualized attention, strategic planning, and careful handling.

Your Rights as a Sexual Abuse Survivor

New York State has enacted groundbreaking legislation that expands the rights of child sexual abuse survivors. The Child Victims Act and subsequent Adult Survivors Act have opened new pathways for justice, allowing survivors to pursue civil claims against their abusers and the institutions that enabled them, regardless of when the abuse occurred.

As your child sexual abuse lawyer, we will thoroughly explain these laws and how they apply to your situation. We handle cases involving abuse that occurred in various settings across New York City, including:

• Schools and educational institutions throughout the five boroughs
• Religious organizations and houses of worship
• Youth sports programs and recreational facilities
• Foster care homes and child welfare organizations
• Summer camps and after-school programs
• Healthcare facilities and medical centers
• Public and private institutions

How a NYC Child Sexual Abuse Lawyer Can Protect Your Child’s Rights

At Konta, Georges & Buza P.C., we understand the profound impact of child sexual abuse on families throughout New York City’s five boroughs. Our child sexual abuse lawyers work tirelessly to protect your child’s rights while pursuing justice with compassion and dedication.

• Immediate Legal Protection: A child sexual abuse lawyer can secure immediate protective orders and ensure your child’s safety from the alleged abuser, coordinating with NYC law enforcement and child protective services when necessary.
• Evidence Preservation: Our sexual assault victim lawyers work quickly to gather and preserve crucial evidence, including security footage from NYC locations, witness statements, medical records from local hospitals, and documentation from school administrators.
• Medical Care Coordination: We help connect families with trusted medical professionals throughout Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens, Bronx, and Staten Island who understand how to document abuse while providing trauma-informed care.
• Criminal Case Support: While focused on your civil case, our child sexual abuse lawyers work alongside the Manhattan District Attorney’s office and other NYC borough prosecutors to ensure criminal proceedings don’t compromise your civil claims.
• School System Navigation: We guide families through interactions with NYC Department of Education officials, ensuring your child’s educational rights are protected while maintaining confidentiality.
• Institutional Accountability: Our team investigates whether schools, religious organizations, or youth programs throughout NYC failed to protect your child, holding these institutions accountable for negligent supervision or hiring.
• Compensation Recovery: A child sexual abuse lawyer pursues all available forms of compensation, including coverage for ongoing therapy with NYC specialists, medical treatment, and damages for emotional trauma.
• Statute of Limitations Protection: We ensure your case is filed within New York State’s legal deadlines, including special provisions under the Child Victims Act for historical cases of abuse.
• Privacy Safeguards: Our sexual assault victim lawyers implement strict protocols to protect your child’s identity throughout legal proceedings, including sealed court records when appropriate.
• Support Service Access: We connect families with NYC’s network of child advocacy centers, trauma counselors, and support groups, ensuring comprehensive care beyond legal representation.
• Insurance Navigation: Our team handles all communications with insurance companies, preventing them from taking advantage of families during vulnerable times.
• Long-term Protection: We structure settlements to provide for your child’s future needs, including ongoing mental health care with trusted NYC providers and educational support.

Compensation Your Child May Be Entitled To After Surviving Sexual Abuse

Our child sexual abuse lawyers work diligently to secure comprehensive compensation that addresses both the immediate and long-term needs of survivors throughout New York City’s five boroughs.

• Medical Treatment Costs: Coverage for emergency care, ongoing medical treatment, and specialized care at NYC’s leading hospitals, including Mount Sinai, NewYork-Presbyterian, and other trusted healthcare facilities.
• Psychological Care Expenses: Compensation for trauma therapy, counseling sessions, and mental health treatment with qualified providers across Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens, Bronx, and Staten Island.
• Educational Support Services: Funding for additional educational assistance, tutoring, and specialized programs to help your child maintain academic progress during recovery.
• Pain and Suffering Damages: Monetary compensation that acknowledges the physical and emotional trauma your child has endured, calculated based on New York State legal standards.
• Future Care Requirements: Long-term compensation structured to cover ongoing therapeutic needs, future medical care, and continued mental health support as your child grows.
• Lost Educational Opportunities: Compensation for any interruption to your child’s education, including costs for making up missed schooling or alternative educational arrangements.
• Family Therapy Coverage: Support for family counseling sessions to help parents and siblings cope with secondary trauma and provide better support for the survivor.
• Residential Treatment Programs: Funding for intensive treatment programs at specialized facilities when recommended by mental health professionals.
• Quality of Life Impact: Compensation addressing changes to your child’s daily life, social interactions, and overall wellbeing following the abuse.
• Punitive Damages: Additional compensation that may be awarded to punish particularly egregious conduct by abusers or negligent institutions in NYC.
• Lost Future Earnings: Compensation accounting for potential impact on future career opportunities and earning capacity.
• Security and Protection Costs: Coverage for additional security measures, including changes to living arrangements or schools when necessary for your child’s safety.

As your sexual assault victim lawyers in New York City, we understand that no amount of compensation can undo the trauma your child has experienced. However, our child sexual abuse lawyers are committed to securing the financial resources necessary to support your child’s healing journey and future wellbeing. Contact our Manhattan office to discuss how we can help protect your child’s rights to full and fair compensation.

NYC Child Sexual Abuse Cases We Take

At Konta, Georges & Buza P.C., our child sexual abuse lawyers represent survivors across New York City’s five boroughs, handling cases with the sensitivity and dedication they deserve.

• School-Related Abuse: Cases involving teachers, administrators, or staff members at NYC public and private schools, including incidents at after-school programs and school-sponsored events throughout Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens, Bronx, and Staten Island.
• Religious Institution Cases: Claims against churches, synagogues, mosques, and other religious organizations throughout NYC where abuse occurred during religious education, worship services, or youth programs.
• Sports Program Abuse: Cases involving coaches, trainers, or program staff at NYC recreational centers, private sports clubs, youth leagues, and school athletic programs.
• Medical Facility Incidents: Claims against healthcare providers, including cases from NYC hospitals, pediatric clinics, and medical offices where abuse occurred during examinations or treatments.
• Foster Care System Abuse: Cases involving foster parents, group home staff, or other caregivers within NYC’s foster care system, including claims against placement agencies and supervision organizations.
• Youth Organization Cases: Claims involving Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, summer camps, and other youth organizations operating throughout the five boroughs.
• Institutional Negligence: Cases against NYC organizations that failed to properly screen employees, investigate complaints, or protect children under their supervision.
• Historical Abuse Claims: Cases filed under the New York Child Victims Act, allowing survivors to seek justice for past abuse regardless of when it occurred.
• Public Transportation Cases: Claims involving abuse that occurred on NYC subway systems, school buses, or other forms of public transportation.
• Residential Facility Incidents: Cases from group homes, juvenile detention centers, and other residential facilities throughout NYC where children were under institutional care.
• Cultural Program Abuse: Claims involving after-school programs, art classes, music lessons, and other cultural or educational activities across NYC’s diverse communities.
• Digital Exploitation Cases: Claims involving online predators, exploitation through social media, or technology-facilitated abuse targeting NYC youth.

As your sexual assault victim lawyers, we pursue these cases with unwavering dedication to achieve justice for survivors. Contact our Manhattan office to speak with a child sexual abuse lawyer about your situation in a confidential, supportive environment where your story will be heard and respected.

Who is Liable for a Child’s Sexual Abuse?

At Konta, Georges & Buza P.C., our child sexual abuse lawyers pursue all parties whose actions or negligence contributed to abuse, ensuring comprehensive accountability under New York State law.

• Direct Perpetrators: The individual who committed the abuse bears primary liability, and our sexual assault victim lawyers can pursue both criminal charges through NYC prosecutors and civil claims for damages.
• Educational Institutions: NYC schools, both public and private, may be liable if they failed to conduct proper background checks, ignored warning signs, or neglected to implement adequate supervision policies to protect students.
• Religious Organizations: Churches, synagogues, and other religious institutions throughout the five boroughs can be held accountable for abuse by clergy members, particularly if they concealed prior incidents or transferred accused abusers.
• Healthcare Facilities: Manhattan hospitals, medical centers, and clinics across NYC may bear responsibility when abuse occurs during medical care, especially if they failed to properly screen or monitor staff.
• Youth Organizations: Sports leagues, after-school programs, and youth groups operating in NYC can be liable for abuse by coaches, mentors, or volunteers if they didn’t maintain proper safety protocols.
• Foster Care Agencies: Organizations placing children in foster homes throughout NYC bear responsibility for thoroughly screening foster parents and monitoring placements for signs of abuse.
• Property Owners: Landlords and property managers of NYC buildings may share liability if inadequate security measures or unsafe conditions contributed to the abuse.
• Supervisory Staff: Administrators, managers, and other supervisors who failed to report suspected abuse or take appropriate protective action can be held personally liable.
• Employment Agencies: Companies that place workers in positions with access to children across NYC may be liable if they failed to conduct thorough background checks.
• Government Entities: NYC public agencies overseeing child welfare, education, or youth services may bear responsibility when their negligence contributes to abuse.
• Transportation Providers: School bus companies, transit authorities, and other transportation services in NYC can be liable for abuse that occurs during transit under their supervision.
• Negligent Caretakers: Adults legally responsible for a child’s care may be liable if they failed to take reasonable steps to prevent known or suspected abuse.

Types of Child Sexual Abuse

At Konta, Georges & Buza P.C., our child sexual abuse lawyers in NYC handle cases involving all forms of sexual abuse, working with sensitivity and determination to protect survivors’ rights across the five boroughs.

• Contact Abuse: Direct physical contact of a sexual nature, which our sexual assault victim lawyers frequently encounter in cases involving trusted adults in positions of authority throughout NYC schools, organizations, and institutions.
• Covert Abuse: Inappropriate behaviors disguised as normal caregiving or medical procedures, often occurring in NYC healthcare facilities, schools, or youth programs where adults have legitimate reasons for contact with children.
• Exploitation Through Technology: Online grooming, solicitation, or exploitation through social media, messaging apps, or other digital platforms targeting NYC youth.
• Voyeuristic Abuse: Violations of privacy for sexual gratification, including inappropriate photography or recording in NYC schools, recreational facilities, or other locations where children should feel safe.
• Sexual Harassment: Persistent inappropriate comments, gestures, or behaviors of a sexual nature that create hostile environments in NYC educational institutions, youth programs, or other settings.
• Exposure to Sexual Content: Deliberate exposure of children to sexual material or acts, including incidents in NYC schools, recreational facilities, or through digital means.
• Commercial Exploitation: Trafficking or exploitation for commercial purposes, which our child sexual abuse lawyers pursue aggressively through both civil and criminal channels in NYC courts.
• Ritualistic Abuse: Systematic abuse occurring within organized groups or institutions, often involving multiple perpetrators and victims across NYC communities.
• Grooming Behaviors: Calculated pattern of gaining trust through gifts, special attention, or privileges, commonly seen in cases involving NYC youth organizations, religious institutions, and educational settings.
• Peer-to-Peer Abuse: Sexual abuse perpetrated by other minors, often occurring in NYC schools, youth programs, or residential facilities where proper supervision was lacking.
• Institutional Abuse: Systematic abuse occurring within NYC organizations meant to care for children, including schools, religious institutions, and youth programs.
• Multiple Perpetrator Abuse: Cases involving networks of abusers who may share victims or information, requiring complex investigation and litigation strategies from our sexual assault victim lawyers.

If your child has experienced any form of sexual abuse in New York City, our child sexual abuse lawyers are here to help with compassionate support and powerful advocacy. Contact our Manhattan office for a confidential consultation where we can discuss your rights and options for pursuing justice.

Warning Signs of Child Sexual Abuse

Our child sexual abuse lawyers have worked with numerous families throughout NYC’s five boroughs, and we understand the importance of recognizing potential signs of abuse early.

• Behavioral Changes: Sudden shifts in personality, including withdrawal from favorite activities or friends, particularly after spending time at specific NYC schools, programs, or with certain adults.
• Physical Indicators: Unexplained injuries, discomfort walking or sitting, or complaints of pain that might prompt visits to Manhattan medical centers or local NYC healthcare providers.
• Sleep Disturbances: New patterns of nightmares, fear of sleeping alone, or bedwetting, which our sexual assault victim lawyers often hear reported by parents seeking help.
• Academic Performance: Unexpected drops in grades or difficulty concentrating in NYC schools, particularly if these changes follow interaction with specific staff members or programs.
• Inappropriate Knowledge: Understanding of sexual topics beyond age-appropriate levels, often noticed by NYC teachers or after-school program staff.
• Social Withdrawal: Avoiding specific locations in their NYC neighborhood or refusing to attend certain activities that were previously enjoyed.
• Emotional Signs: Unusual anger, anxiety, or depression that may be noticed by Manhattan therapists or school counselors working with the child.
• Physical Avoidance: Resistance to physical contact or specific types of clothing, particularly after attending certain NYC youth programs or activities.
• Technology Changes: Unusual secretiveness about online activities or receiving unexplained gifts, which our child sexual abuse lawyers increasingly see in cases involving digital exploitation.
• Regression Behaviors: Return to earlier developmental behaviors, often noticed by NYC daycare providers or elementary school teachers.
• Eating Habits: Significant changes in appetite or eating patterns that might be observed by school cafeteria staff or after-school program supervisors across NYC.
• Relationship Changes: New fear or avoidance of specific adults or locations in their NYC community that previously caused no concern.

What to Do if You Suspect Child Sexual Abuse

Our child sexual abuse lawyers guide NYC families through the critical first steps after suspecting abuse, ensuring proper actions are taken to protect children and preserve legal rights.

• Ensure Immediate Safety: Remove the child from any immediate danger and prevent contact with the suspected abuser while maintaining a calm, supportive environment in your NYC home or safe location.
• Document Everything: Record dates, times, locations, and specific behaviors that raised concerns, including any relevant details about NYC schools, programs, or individuals involved.
• Contact Law Enforcement: Report suspicions to the NYPD’s Special Victims Division or your local precinct in Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens, Bronx, or Staten Island for immediate investigation.
• Medical Evaluation: Seek immediate medical attention at a NYC hospital with a certified Sexual Assault Forensic Examiner (SAFE) program, such as Mount Sinai or NewYork-Presbyterian.
• Report to Authorities: Contact the New York State Child Abuse Hotline (1-800-342-3720) and notify relevant NYC agencies, including the Administration for Children’s Services if appropriate.
• Preserve Evidence: Keep any physical evidence, including clothing or communications, that your sexual assault victim lawyer may need for building a strong civil lawsuit.
• Professional Support: Connect with a qualified child therapist or counselor in NYC who has experience working with abuse survivors and can provide appropriate trauma-informed care.
• School Notification: If abuse occurred in an educational setting, inform NYC Department of Education officials through proper channels while maintaining documentation of all communications.
• Legal Consultation: Contact our Manhattan office to speak with a child sexual abuse lawyer who can guide you through protecting your child’s legal rights and pursuing justice.
• Maintain Routine: Help your child maintain normal activities when possible, coordinating with NYC schools and programs to ensure appropriate support and safety measures.
• Digital Protection: Secure all electronic devices and document any concerning online interactions that may be relevant to NYC law enforcement or your sexual assault victim lawyer.
• Support Network: Build a circle of trusted adults in your NYC community who can provide emotional support while maintaining strict confidentiality about the situation.

Remember, as your child sexual abuse lawyers in New York City, we’re available 24/7 to provide guidance and support during this challenging time. Contact our Manhattan office immediately for a confidential consultation where we can discuss the specific steps needed for your situation.

Get Help from NYC Child Sexual Abuse Lawyers You Can Trust

When your child needs protection and justice, our child sexual abuse attorneys at Konta, Georges & Buza P.C. are here to help. Based in Manhattan, we serve families across all five boroughs with dedication, compassion, and unwavering commitment to your child’s wellbeing. Contact our office today for a confidential consultation with a sexual assault victim lawyer who will listen with empathy and fight tirelessly for your family’s rights.

NYC Child Sexual Abuse Lawyer FAQs

How long do I have to file a child sexual abuse case in New York?

Under the Child Victims Act and subsequent legislation, survivors in NYC now have until their 55th birthday to file civil claims. Additionally, there are special “look-back windows” that may allow cases to be filed regardless of when the abuse occurred. Our child sexual abuse lawyers can evaluate your specific situation and explain all applicable deadlines.

Will my child have to testify in court?

Our sexual assault victim lawyers work to minimize any additional trauma to your child. While testimony may sometimes be necessary, we utilize various methods to protect your child, including closed-circuit testimony, written statements, and psychological support throughout the process.

How much does it cost to hire a child sexual abuse lawyer in NYC?

At Konta, Georges & Buza P.C., we handle these cases on a contingency fee basis, meaning you pay no upfront costs. We only receive payment if we secure compensation for your family. This ensures all NYC families have access to quality legal representation.

What if the abuse happened years ago and there’s no physical evidence?

Many successful cases are built on testimony and circumstantial evidence. Our child sexual abuse attorney work with NYC investigators, psychological experts, and other professionals to build strong cases even without physical evidence.

How do you protect my family’s privacy during legal proceedings?

We implement strict confidentiality protocols, including filing under pseudonyms when appropriate, securing sealed records, and carefully controlling information shared in public documents. The privacy of sexual abuse victims is a top priority throughout the legal process.

What if my child’s abuser is also facing criminal charges?

Our sexual assault victim lawyers coordinate with Manhattan District Attorney’s office and other NYC borough prosecutors to ensure the civil case strengthens, rather than interferes with, any criminal proceedings. The civil case can proceed regardless of the criminal case outcome.

Can we sue an institution if they enabled or covered up abuse?

Yes, NYC institutions that failed to prevent abuse, ignored warning signs, or covered up incidents can be held liable. This includes schools, religious organizations, youth programs, and healthcare facilities throughout the five boroughs.

What support services are available during the legal process?

We connect families with trusted NYC-based trauma counselors, support groups, child advocacy centers, and other resources to ensure comprehensive support throughout the legal journey.

How long does a child sexual abuse case typically take?

Each case is unique, but our child sexual abuse lawyers work efficiently while ensuring thorough investigation and preparation. We keep you informed of progress and timelines throughout the process.

What if abuse occurred at a NYC public school or government facility?

Special rules apply when filing claims against government entities, including specific notice requirements and deadlines. Our sexual assault victim lawyers understand these requirements and ensure all procedures are properly followed.