Your Maine Sexual Abuse Lawyers
Empowering survivors to speak out and seek justice
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Accountability, Healing, and Justice for Victims of Child Sexual Abuse
Organizations and individuals who allow or commit sexual abuse must be held accountable. The trauma—psychological, emotional, and physical—can profoundly alter a victim’s life. No one should endure such pain, and justice must be pursued.
Berman & Simmons is the only law firm in Maine with a dedicated practice group representing survivors of sexual abuse. Our attorneys provide compassionate representation for abuse survivors, and our staff have undergone trauma-informed training to help traumatized clients navigate this emotional process. Whether abuse occurred in schools, religious organizations, daycare, or youth sports, we are committed to helping victims find healing, closure, and justice.
We Recognize and Respect the Courage It Takes to Come Forward
The decision to reach out to a lawyer to explore a possible lawsuit is a difficult and monumental one for anyone who has been subjected to sexual abuse. At Berman & Simmons, we recognize the incredible courage and strength that it takes for you to come forward and share your story. When you are ready to move forward, our sexual abuse attorneys are here to help.
Maine’s First Trauma-Informed Legal Team for Sex Abuse Survivors
Berman & Simmons pioneered the practice of trauma informed lawyering in Maine. All of our sexual abuse lawyers and staff have received trauma-informed training to help us better represent our clients. We will work with you in a manner that acknowledges the difficulty of discussing your experiences. With empathy, respect, patience, and a steadfast dedication to your well-being, we will listen to you and guide you through the legal process at every step. Our lawyers are committed to maintaining confidentiality, respecting personal boundaries, and standing up against people and institutions intent on silencing your voice.
You Need the Best In Your Corner
Survivors deserve the best representation. That’s why Berman & Simmons has partnered with professional experts in the field of sexual abuse and assault response services to develop the best practices for working with survivors of sexual assault and abuse. We will work hard to give you choices, provide a supportive attorney-client relationship, and help hold perpetrators accountable and win your case. By bringing your claim, you can help prevent future abuse and keep the community safer.
We will form the best team to represent you. As a Berman & Simmons client, you won’t go through any of this alone.
Bringing Accountability to Institutional Child Sex Abuse
When child sex abuse arises in the context of an organization or larger group, Berman & Simmons stands ready to take on the intuitions that failed to protect the children under their care.
Churches and Religious Institutions
Abuse occurs across religions and denominations, often violating deep trust. We stand prepared to take on any religious group, from the Catholic Church, to Jehovah’s Witnesses, to Seventh Day Adventists, or The Salvation Army. We support abuse survivors regardless of their beliefs or the institution’s size.
Private Schools
Private schools must ensure the safety of the minor students under their care, both inside and outside of the classroom. When teachers, coaches, or staff members take advantage of students, we hold schools accountable.
Youth Sports and Clubs
Youth organizations must protect the children that participate in their programs. When coaches, instructors, or volunteers abuse the children in these programs, we help ensure survivors receive the justice and support they deserve.
Summer Camps
Summer camps are supposed to be a place where children make happy memories, but all too often they have provided settings for sexual abuse to be carried out against campers. Whether the abuse was by a counselor or staff member, we stand up for the children who were abused while attending summer camp in Maine.
Cases Against Individual Perpetrators of Child Sexual Abuse
Whenever possible, we help survivors of child sexual abuse bring legal claims directly against the individuals who abused them. This most often occurs in situations where the perpetrator of the abuse has substantial assets from which a settlement or judgment could be collected. This may include assets like a large inheritance, extensive property ownership, or family wealth.
We have also developed expertise in pursuing sexual abuse claims against recently-deceased perpetrators of abuse. This process includes filing a probate court claim with the estate of the perpetrator, so that the assets of the deceased can be put towards settlement of the child sex abuse case.
Related Practice Areas
Sexual abuse cases often overlap with other claims, including emotional trauma, psychological injuries, child abuse, wrongful death, and long-term physical and mental health impacts. At Berman & Simmons, we are dedicated to holding perpetrators and negligent institutions accountable, ensuring survivors receive full compensation for their physical, emotional, and financial suffering.