Sex Abuse Survivor
We’ll Fight for Your Child
Hach Rose Schirripa & Cheverie LLP is representing survivors in a case against a serial sex abuser in Florida. The alleged perpetrator is John Robert White, a 53-year-old school bus driver from Vernon, FL, who was arrested and charged with several sex crimes in early June 2022, as reported by News 4 WTVY. An investigation by the Washington County Sheriff’s Office (WCSO) found that multiple individuals have made allegations that the man sexually molested them.
The investigation was initiated by the WCSO school resource deputy on May 5, after a student was overheard saying that she had been sexually molested by the father of a friend. Two more survivors have since stepped forward, stating that White had been molested on multiple occasions.
White has been charged with several crimes, including one count of lewd and lascivious behavior against a person aged 12-16, one count of lewd and lascivious battery against a person aged 12-16, and one count of lewd and lascivious molestation against a person under age 12. Washington County Sheriff Kevin Crews has stated that the department suspects that there are more survivors who have yet to come forward.
The sex abuse lawyers of Hach Rose Schirripa & Cheverie LLP have extensive experience representing survivors of child sex offenses and helping them pursue justice through compensation. If your child was harmed by the alleged perpetrator, contact our team today for a free consultation to discuss your legal options. We understand how childhood sexual abuse can upend young lives, and if your child is a survivor of sex abuse, your family deserves the chance to hold their abuser accountable in civil court. Call us today at (212) 779-0057 for a free consultation about your child’s case.
Why You Should File a Lawsuit
While it can seem intimidating, the purpose of a sex abuse lawsuit is to hold an abuser financially accountable for their crimes by demanding compensation for the harm they’ve caused. The civil legal process is separate from criminal legal proceedings. Criminal charges are brought by the state, but civil lawsuits can be brought by survivors of sex abuse or their parents, if the survivors are minors. While perpetrators of child sex abuse can face fines, jail time, sex offender registry, and other penalties if convicted in criminal court, the “penalty” in a civil trial is strictly financial. The burden of proof is also lower than in criminal court, where the prosecution must prove a case “beyond a reasonable doubt.”
At Hach Rose Schirripa & Cheverie LLP, we know how traumatic it can be for a child to live through sexual abuse. Many survivors of child sex abuse experience significant emotional and mental health problems later in life and may suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
Coming forward with allegations of sexual abuse takes immense courage. If your child was sexually abused, you can be certain that the attorneys at Hach Rose Schirripa & Cheverie LLP will handle their case with the utmost compassion and sensitivity. We want to empower and educate survivors of child sexual assault and to help them fight for the compensation they deserve.
When you hire our team, you will work with a small group of attorneys who will thoroughly familiarize themselves with all the details of your case. Our goal is to honor your child’s bravery in coming forward by fighting tirelessly to defend their rights and advocate for their interests in and out of court. Holding your child’s abuser accountable in civil court can be an important step toward healing.
Frequently Asked Questions
Below, you will find the answers to some of the questions that our firm is most commonly asked by survivors of sexual abuse and their loved ones.
Will My Child’s Confidentiality Be Protected?
Often, our legal team is able to reach a settlement with the other party without having to file a lawsuit or litigate a case at trial. If a settlement agreement can’t be reached and the case does go to trial, we can file a lawsuit that names your child anonymously as a John or Jane Doe. Courts understand the importance of allowing minors to maintain their anonymity. In some cases, a judge may seal the records of the case, while in other cases, legal proceedings are not accessible to the public. To learn more about confidentiality in the legal process, you should consult an attorney from Hach Rose Schirripa & Cheverie LLP.
How Long Do I Have to File a Lawsuit?
Children who have been sexually abused may not fully understand what has transpired or may choose not to report the incident to an adult for various reasons, including shame and fear. Many survivors of child sex abuse repress memories of the abuse until something triggers the memory later in life.
In Florida, where the sexual offenses described above were allegedly committed, the statute of limitations for childhood sexual assault against minors was recently eliminated. Under “Donna’s Law,” survivors of childhood sexual abuse committed on or after July 1, 2020 are now able to file lawsuits against their abusers no matter how much time has passed.
Prior to Donna’s Law, Florida House Bill 525, which was signed into law in 2010, eliminated the statute of limitations for civil claims related to child sex abuse of minors who were under 16 at the time of the offense, but not for older minors.
How Much Will It Cost to Bring a Civil Lawsuit?
At Hach Rose Schirripa & Cheverie LLP, our attorneys work on a contingency fee basis, which means we don’t collect our legal fees upfront. Instead, we only collect our fee if we successfully obtain compensation for our clients. If we don’t win your case, we don’t get paid.
Contact Hach Rose Schirripa & Cheverie LLP
We are currently representing clients and pursuing investigations on behalf of sex abuse survivors in the Vernon, Florida case, as well as others. If your child is a survivor of sex abuse, contact Hach Rose Schirripa & Cheverie LLP today at (212) 779-0057 for a free, no-risk case evaluation. You should also feel free to visit our Resources page, where you can find more FAQs, testimonials, and results. We will help you understand your legal rights and the potential outcome of your civil case. Put our skilled attorneys to work for your child today.