News Alert (6/23/21): This week the State of Maine changed the statute of limitations for those born before August 11, 1970, who were sexually abused as children, allowing them to pursue civil claims against their abuser.
- Read editorial: “Maine took a small step to empower survivors of child sex abuse”
- Read news article: “Maine lists barrier to bringing child sex abuse suits”
If you are seeking a sports coach sexual abuse lawyer to advocate for you, contact Berman & Simmons Trial Attorneys. We can help get you the justice you deserve.
Summer Camps must never allow children to be sexually abused.
Sexual abuse at children’s overnight and day camps has tarnished the lives of thousands of kids over the past several decades. A recent CBS News expose uncovered reports of more than 500 alleged acts of sexual abuse at camps over the past 50 years, though many experts believe the actual number of abuse cases is significantly higher. While the overwhelming percentage of adults and teens who work at summer camps are responsible and trustworthy, camps also attract would-be predators who see a ripe environment for engaging in horrific acts of molestation and abuse.
Parents trust those who run children’s camps to ensure the safety and well-being of their kids while they attend. This includes properly screening, hiring, training, and supervising counselors and staff to prevent abusers and acts of abuse from causing irreparable physical, psychological, and emotional harm to the campers in their care. For decades, all Camps have known that they needed to have strong abuse prevention policies in place. When a camp and its leadership fail to meet this fundamental responsibility, they can and should be held accountable.
At Berman & Simmons, our lawyers specialize in working with survivors of childhood or adolescent sexual abuse, including those who experienced such trauma at an overnight or day camp. With empathy, compassion, and a deep appreciation of the courage it takes for victims to come forward, we fight to get sexual abuse victims the justice they deserve and the compensation that can help them move forward.
Lack of Standards and Oversight Leaves Campers Vulnerable to Predators
More than 14 million American kids attend camps each year. Maine is a mecca for summer camps. It seems like everyone went to camp in Maine when they were a child. In Maine alone, over 63,000 campers come to the state every summer, contributing $495 million to the state’s economy. Run by a wide range of religious groups, youth organizations, private companies, and public entities, summer, overnight, and day camps are a huge industry. But it is also an industry that is surprisingly and relatively unregulated, and lacking uniform standards for safety, training, and accreditation.
For example, eight states have no licensing requirements for overnight camps, and in 18 states, there are no mandatory background checks for counselors and other employees. Combine this lack of oversight with thousands of kids away from home, unsupervised by parents, and in unfamiliar environments. It is easy to see why sexual predators gravitate towards summer camps to have unsupervised access to vulnerable and vulnerable and impressionable children.
Regardless of any regulatory requirements, camp operators have a duty to take reasonable steps to avoid hiring potential sex offenders and prevent acts of abuse. These steps can include:
- Conducting criminal background checks as part of the hiring process.
- Providing sexual abuse awareness training for staff members.
- Establishing policies and procedures for identifying, reporting, and addressing incidents of suspected sexual abuse.
- Educating campers on what to do if they feel unsafe or experience inappropriate staff conduct.
- Creating a system to monitor the behavior of older campers with their younger peers.
Survivors of Camp Sexual Abuse Can Now Seek Justice No Matter How Long Ago the Acts Occurred
Most acts of sexual abuse at overnight, summer, or day camps constitute criminal offenses that can result in severe penalties for the perpetrators of such heinous acts. But victims can also seek justice, accountability, and compensation through civil lawsuits against not only the individual abuser but also against the camp owners, operators, and leadership whose negligence allowed or facilitated the abuse
Those abused and assaulted at children’s overnight or day camps can carry the burdens of their experiences for years or decades until they are ready to come forward.
All survivors of Child Sexual Abuse can file lawsuit now.
Maine recently changed the law to allow any victim of childhood sexual abuse to bring claims and seek compensation from their abuser no matter how long ago the abuse occurred. Berman & Simmons Practice Group Leader Michael Bigos testified before the state legislature regarding several bills designed to help survivors and was present when Maine Governor Janet Mills signed the statute of limitations extension for childhood sexual abuse lawsuits into law.
Compassion, Confidentiality, and Care for Victims of Sexual Abuse at Camps
At Berman & Simmons, our experienced sexual abuse attorneys will work with you in a manner that acknowledges the difficulty of discussing your trauma and the courage it takes to do so. Our lawyers are committed to maintaining confidentiality, respecting personal boundaries, and standing up against those who abused their power to take advantage of vulnerable children. If you suffered sexual abuse while away at camp as a child and are ready to speak with one of our Maine child sexual abuse attorneys and learn more about your rights, please contact us to arrange a free, confidential initial consultation.
Hire Our Qualified Sexual Abuse Attorneys in Maine
If you’ve been sexually abused at a Campground or Sleepaway Camp and need expert legal counsel, turn to Berman & Simmons. Our sexual abuse lawyers will help you get maximum compensation and bring accountability to institutional abuse.
If you suffered sexual abuse as a child and are ready to speak with one of our Maine child sexual abuse attorneys and learn more about your rights, please contact us to arrange a free, confidential initial consultation.
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FAQs
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What do I prepare for the first call or meeting with you?
For your first meeting with us, simply tell us your story and explain in your own words what happened and how your life has been affected. If you’re meeting with us in person, you can bring notes about what happened to you, driver insurance information, names of any witnesses, photos of the accident damages or injuries, medical records, and other related paperwork if you have it and if it’s applicable, but that information isn’t necessary. Really all you need to do is be yourself, speak with us honestly, and be willing to tackle your problems with us.
Initial conversations between potential clients and our staff members are often done over the phone. Rest assured that everything we discuss is confidential and protected under law.
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How much will a lawyer cost me?
The lawyers at Berman & Simmons work on a contingency basis. That means you pay nothing up front and nothing unless we settle or win your case. We will consult with you, evaluate your situation, and do initial research free of charge. This is true even if we decide you don’t have a valid claim. We will also cover all necessary case expenses and you will not be obligated to reimburse us until and unless we recover monies on your behalf. if we do take your case and win a settlement or a jury verdict in your favor, a percentage of the compensation goes to pay for our costs and the work done by our legal team.
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How will I know if I have a case?
To pursue a case, we will need to prove that you suffered a substantial personal injury and the injury was directly caused by the negligence of another party. A bad result alone is not enough to establish negligence. We let you know upfront if we are able to move forward with the legal process, or if we don’t think you have a case. Generally, we will know if you have a case after our first phone call or meeting.
If we believe you have a valid claim and decide to move forward with litigation, our attorneys and staff will then take it from there and do everything else that needs to be done, including obtaining and reviewing records relevant to your case, such as accident reports and other law enforcement documents, employer records, medical records, and other information.
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How long will it take to resolve my case?
Every case is different, and there is no way to predict how long it will take for your case to be resolved. Some cases end in a matter of months, while the most complex and challenging cases, such as a medical malpractice case, can span several years. The vast majority of cases, however, are resolved before a trial and usually within a year.
The goal is to make sure you receive fair compensation for your injuries, no matter how long it takes whether that comes in the form of a pre-trial settlement, or with a jury verdict in your favor.
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How much is my case worth?
There are many factors that need to be considered when determining the value of your case. Every case is unique and it takes a team effort — including your attorney, staff researchers, and outside experts — to determine the extent of your damages and how much your case is worth. There are two types of damages for which you could receive
compensation: Economic and non-economic.If your case goes to trial and a jury agrees you deserve compensation, the jury members will decide how much the money you should receive for each category of damages.