New York Sexual Exploitation by Therapists and Other Professionals Lawyers

Holding Abusers Accountable for their Actions

Approximately 321,500 individuals face sexual violence each year in the United States. Statistics reveal that eight out of 10 acts of sexual violence are committed by a perpetrator known to the victim.

Regardless of the age at which an individual has suffered sexual abuse and exploitation, the emotional, physical, and mental trauma can carry on for years after the incident. Our attorneys at Hach Rose Schirripa & Cheverie LLP empathize with victims of sexual violence and want to deliver the quality legal care their situation warrants.

Survivors of sexual abuse should know that they have the right to pursue a civil lawsuit and administrative remedies to punish the perpetrator that caused them harm.

When you feel ready to speak out about your abuse and want to obtain justice, our sexual abuse attorneys at Hach Rose Schirripa & Cheverie LLP are ready to provide the legal support you deserve. Our team is committed to protecting the rights of victims of sexual assault.

What Is Therapist Abuse?

Individuals may seek therapy for any number of reasons.

Because of the gravity of the situation frequently associated with therapy, the relationship between a patient and a therapist should be open, secure, and stable. Patients deserve to feel safe and protected in an environment where they are sharing emotionally traumatizing events they have dealt with.

Often times, patients develop an overly dependent relationship with their therapist as a result of the open communication that occurs. Undoubtedly, the breaches of their fiduciary duties to their patient will have a major effect on the success a patient’s treatment.

Sadly, therapists may begin to misuse that trust given to them for indecent purposes. Imbalances in power between a therapist and a patient can lead to breaches of ethical boundaries and can occur in any of the following scenarios:

Exploitative, controlling, or manipulative behaviors that negatively affect the patient.
Therapist encouraging actions that may harm the patient.
Therapist taking advantage of patients who are already in a vulnerable state.
An individual being dropped as a patient without reasonable disclosure from the therapist.
The therapist partaking in an unethical relationship with a client.

Therapists and other professionals that abuse their position by crossing boundaries deserve to be reprimanded to the highest possible degree of the law. Sexual assault by a therapist can be unbelievably traumatizing and result in long-lasting physical, emotional, and mental pain.

If you have suffered sexual assault at the hands of a therapist or other professional, seek legal counsel from compassionate and determined attorneys of Hach Rose Schirripa & Cheverie LLP by contacting us at (212) 779-0057. We are ready to deliver the personalized attention and care your claim deserves.

Signs of Therapist Abuse

There is no denying the significant role a therapist plays in the lives of their patients. However, this influence can be easily used for their own immoral and unethical desires.

Therapists who engage in wrongful sexual conduct, rape, or other forms of sexual assault are abusing their authority and breaking the law. The consequence of these acts can often cause the patient to suffer from the symptoms of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder.

If you believe your therapist is taking advantage of you in some manner, there are a number of questions you can ask yourself to determine this:

Is the therapy helping you or hurting you?
Does your therapist seem to be acting in an unprofessional manner?
Has your therapist made suggestive sexual references, questions, or comments?
Do they encourage actions that are not in your best interest or which are unlawful?
Has the therapist tried contacting you outside of therapy sessions?
Do you feel that your therapist has some hold over you?
Have they ever made physical contact with you such as hugging, kissing, or any other touching that made you feel uncomfortable?

This list does not include all the behaviors that may signal sexual abuse by a therapist but can give you an idea of what actions are out of line and inappropriate. If your gut instinct tells you that your therapist is acting in an inappropriate and unlawful manner, you have the right to put an end to it and seek justice.

If you have suffered patient sexual abuse, seek help from a loved one, law enforcement, or sexual abuse attorney. For a legal consultation with our trustworthy New York sexual abuse lawyers, contact us right now at (212) 779-0057.

Commonly Reported Acts Of Sexual Abuse

The American Psychological Association defines sexual abuse as any unwanted sexual activity in which the perpetrator uses force, threatens the victim, or commits sexual actions when the victim is not able to provide consent. Sex with a patient is prohibited by almost every professional organization that provides psychotherapy. In many cases this prohibition will continue for 2 years after the proper termination of therapy and in some professions even longer. A patient can also seek the applicable licensing Board to revoke that therapist right to provide therapy treatment.

Sexual assault can take many forms. All of the following sexual actions are commonly reported by victims seeking legal action against their abuser:

Attempted Rape: A forceful act of sexual violence in which the perpetrator attempts to penetrate the victim.
Unwanted Touching: Any inappropriate physical contact that is sexual in nature.
Penetration, or Rape: A forceful act of sexual violence in which the perpetrator penetrates the victim.
Date Rape: Use of drugs to render the victim unconscious prior to committing acts of sexual assault.

If any of the listed cases of sexual abuse apply to you, know that there is help available to assist in your recovery. For survivors inquiring if their situation qualifies for a sexual abuse claim, contact our sexual abuse attorneys at (212) 779-0057.

Filing A Sexual Assault Claim

The New York Child Victims Act is a bill that became effective in early 2019. The new law has extended the statutes of limitations for filing a sexual abuse claim in the state of New York.

Victims that faced sexual abuse as a child, but withheld from telling their story and pursuing legal action, may now come forth under the new guidelines, which include:

Sexual abuse survivors can file a civil lawsuit against their offender up until their 55th birthday.
Victims can file for criminal charges against their offender up until the age of 28.
The bill provides victims of any age a one-year “look back window” in which they can file a claim against their abuser.
Survivors of sexual abuse who were assaulted by a perpetrator working for a public institution can file a lawsuit without having to submit a notice of claim.

Know that if you have faced sexual violence, you are not alone. The empathetic New York sexual abuse attorneys of Hach Rose Schirripa & Cheverie LLP understand the emotional, physical, and mental trauma caused by such violence can be extremely damaging. That is why we fight with everything we have to help you secure the justice you deserve and the compensation you need to obtain treatment to begin healing.

Do not hesitate to call the sexual abuse attorneys of Hach Rose Schirripa & Cheverie LLP right now at (212) 779-0057.

Sexual Exploitation by Therapist: The Legal Options

Damages That May Be Recovered In A Sexual Abuse Claim

Although there is no standard value of compensation that a survivor of sexual abuse can secure, certain factors can be calculated into determining the total damages that may be recovered. Your experienced sexual abuse attorney at Hach Rose Schirripa & Cheverie LLP can help determine the economic and non-economic damages that will impact your overall compensation.

Our skillful attorneys can help survivors recover the following damages in their sexual abuse case:

Medical expenses
Lost wages
Loss of future income
Pain and suffering
Emotional distress
Loss of enjoyment of life

The damages that you may recover in a civil lawsuit are dependent on the circumstances of your specific situation.

Remember, victims may also file for criminal charges if their situation warrants it. Perpetrators of sexual abuse can potentially face fines and/or jail time.

If you have any questions or concerns about how to file your civil sexual abuse claim, seek the experienced team of Hach Rose Schirripa & Cheverie LLP by contacting us today at (212) 779-0057 for a confidential case evaluation.

How Hach Rose Schirripa & Cheverie LLP Can Serve You

Victims that have recently been abused, or survivors that are bringing about their case after the emergence of the New York Victims Act, can stand to benefit from seeking legal counsel from the dependable and trustworthy sexual abuse attorneys of Hach Rose Schirripa & Cheverie LLP.

We understand how devastating an incident of sexual violence can be and the heavy toll it can take on one’s life. We take sexual abuse claims extremely serious and have a supporting team of medical professionals, research specialists, and other legal professionals who can help us to secure the necessary evidence needed to develop the strongest claim possible for you.

If you or a loved one have faced acts of sexual violence by a therapist or other professional, we aim to help you recover damages through a civil lawsuit and pursue justice through a criminal lawsuit if the situation fits.

Do not hesitate to seek help in recovery. In these trying times, look to a loved one, law enforcement, and committed attorneys for support. When you are ready to take legal action against your perpetrator, the New York sexual abuse attorneys of Hach Rose Schirripa & Cheverie LLP are ready to fight for you.

Know your rights and seek assistance in recovery from sexual assault. For more information, contact us right now at (212) 779-0057.