Sexual abuse is a very sensitive area of the law, especially when minor children are involved. These cases can include sexual abuse by a clergy member, school teacher or school staff member, a coach, or a family member. Sexual abuse also can involve elderly victims abused by nursing home staff members.

The growing and well publicized issue in this area of the law is church sex abuse cases. These cases can unfortunately cause life changing psychological and emotional damages. Sexual abuse can have a variety effects on a child, ranging from dramatic behavioral changes to poor performance in school. These effects can be a permanent and ongoing issue for the rest of a person's life.

If this law firm gets involved in a sex abuse case, we employ psychologists to interview and evaluate the child. This helps us better determine that sexual child abuse actually took place, and it also gives us a better idea as to potential damages. 

In addition to the actual abuser, defendants can include churches, schools and day care centers were sex abuse occurred due to unsafe conditions, insufficient background checks or hiring practices that led to the abuse. Defendants may also include hospitals and nursing homes where insufficient safety practices led to abuse.

Our law firm is currently working on several high-profile sexual abuse cases in the Chicago area, including three cases against the Chicago archdiocese and a case against a large Illinois school bus company.

According to the federal government, victims of sexual abuse are three times more likely to suffer from depression, four times more likely contemplate suicide, 13 times more likely to abuse alcohol, and 26 times more likely to abuse drugs.  Further, 15% of sex abuse victims are under the age of 12, 44% of victims are under the age of 18, and 93% of children sexually abused know their attacker.

If you or a loved one have an issue to discuss regarding a church sex abuse case or any other type of sexual abuse case, please contact a Chicago sexual abuse lawyer at Abels & Annes for a very private and confidential free consultation.  Call 312-399-8988 to speak to a lawyer now.