You Are Not Alone, And You Have Options
If you or someone you love has survived abuse or a violent crime, it’s normal to feel overwhelmed, angry, or unsure where to turn. At the Moran Law Group, we meet clients in these moments every day. We believe you deserve compassionate support, clear information, and a plan to move forward.
Our Pennsylvania attorneys help survivors pursue civil claims for compensation and accountability. Whether the harm happened in a school, workplace, healthcare facility, religious organization, rideshare, bar, apartment complex, or private home, we listen first—then build a strategy that fits your goals. Some clients want privacy and a settlement. Others want firm public accountability. Many want both. We’re here to pursue what matters to you.
This guide explains how civil cases for abuse and crime victims work in Pennsylvania, what you can recover, how we build your case, and how we support you from your first call through resolution.
Abuse and Crime Victim Cases: What Does That Mean?
“Abuse and crime victim cases” is a broad category of civil claims brought by survivors against the people and institutions that caused, enabled, or failed to prevent harm. These cases can include:
- Sexual Assault and Sexual Abuse (adult and child survivors)
- Institutional Abuse (abuse or exploitation enabled by schools, churches, youth organizations, nursing homes, group homes, hospitals, employers, or landlords)
- Physical Assaults and Violent Crimes (including bar fights, assaults in parking garages, domestic violence-related assaults, or attacks at short-term rentals and hotels)
- Negligent Security (property owners or businesses failing to provide reasonable security, leading to assault or other violence)
- Online Exploitation-Linked Harms (in some cases, when platforms, managers, or third parties failed basic duties)
Civil cases are distinct from criminal prosecutions. A criminal case is about punishing a wrongdoer for breaking the law; a civil case is about you—your healing, your losses, and holding all responsible parties financially accountable.
Sexual Assault vs. Sexual Abuse: Understanding the Terms
People use “sexual assault” and “sexual abuse” in everyday language to describe a wide range of non-consensual sexual conduct. In civil cases, the exact label is less important than proving the harmful conduct and its impact on your life. We focus on the facts, the harm, and the entities that share responsibility.
Common civil claims we file in these cases include battery, intentional infliction of emotional distress, negligence, negligent hiring/supervision/retention, negligent security, premises liability, and—in institutional cases—direct and vicarious liability for the acts of employees, volunteers, or agents.
Consent (or lack of it) is central. If you could not consent (because of age, intoxication, fear, coercion, incapacitation, or power imbalance), the law provides avenues for civil accountability.
Child Sexual Abuse: Special Considerations
Cases involving children are especially sensitive. Survivors may not disclose for years due to fear, shame, grooming, or trauma. Our team is trained to work at the survivor’s pace, coordinate with trauma-informed providers, and take steps to protect privacy.
In many child abuse cases, institutions are part of the story—schools, sports organizations, youth groups, camps, churches, and childcare settings. We investigate how abuse was allowed to happen: missed warning signs, prior complaints, inadequate screening, lack of supervision, or failures to act. When institutions put children at risk or cover up misconduct, they can be held civilly responsible.
Institutional Abuse: When Organizations Fail to Protect
Institutional abuse happens when a person is harmed in an environment where an organization has a duty to keep people safe. This could involve:
- Schools and universities (teacher or coach misconduct, peer assaults, dorm safety failures)
- Religious institutions and youth organizations (grooming, supervision failures, coverups)
- Healthcare facilities (abuse in hospitals, nursing homes, group homes, or rehab centers)
- Employers and workplaces (harassment, assault by coworkers or supervisors, retaliation)
- Property owners and management companies (inadequate lighting, broken locks, and ignored complaints)
Civil law holds organizations accountable for their own negligence (e.g., hiring, training, supervision, security) and sometimes for the actions of their agents. These cases often inspire safety reforms—better background checks, reporting lines, training, and security measures—so others are protected going forward.
Civil vs. Criminal: Can I Do Both?
Yes. A criminal case (if law enforcement pursues one) and a civil case can happen at the same time or separately. You do not need a criminal conviction to win a civil case. The burdens of proof are different, and civil claims can reach entities—like schools, property owners, or employers—that criminal prosecutions do not typically target.
When both tracks are active, our attorneys coordinate with prosecutors when appropriate to protect your interests. We keep you informed about the benefits and risks of timing choices so you can decide what feels right.
Who Can Be Held Liable?
Depending on the facts, potential defendants may include:
- The individual wrongdoer(s)
- Institutions that hired, supervised, or enabled the person who harmed you
- Property owners/managers who failed to provide reasonable security (lights, locks, cameras, guards, access control, responsive policies)
- Businesses that ignored prior complaints or created unsafe conditions
- Third-party contractors responsible for safety or security
We identify every party that played a role. That widens the path to compensation and can lead to systemic change.
What Compensation Can Survivors Recover?
While every case is different, available civil damages often include:
- Medical and counseling costs (past and future)
- Lost income and diminished earning capacity
- Pain and suffering and the emotional impact of trauma
- Loss of enjoyment of life and relationships
- Out-of-pocket expenses linked to the assault or ongoing safety needs
- Punitive damages in egregious cases to punish and deter wrongful conduct
Money can’t undo what happened, but it can fund care, reclaim stability, and signal that your pain matters.
How We Build Your Case (With Sensitivity and Care)
We designed our process to reduce the burden on survivors while building the strongest case possible.
- Confidential Consultation
We listen. We explain options. We map next steps at your pace. - Trauma-Informed Evidence Gathering
We coordinate with your providers and—only with your consent—collect records and witness accounts. We often supplement with security audits, policy reviews, and expert testimony in areas like psychology, institutional practices, and premises security. - Institutional Investigation
We request internal documents, prior complaints, incident reports, staffing logs, training materials, security footage, and audits. We look for patterns and decision points where the institution failed. - Damages Documentation
We quantify the full impact of the harm with medical, therapeutic, and vocational assessments—so your settlement or verdict reflects reality, not just the immediate aftermath. - Strategic Resolution
We pursue negotiation and mediation when that serves your goals, and we litigate when defendants refuse accountability. Your preferences on privacy and publicity guide our approach.
How Long Do Cases Take?
Timelines vary. Some cases resolve in months; others take longer, especially if there are multiple defendants or complex institutional issues. What matters most is your timeline and goals. If swift resolution and privacy are priorities, we’ll aim for an efficient, confidential settlement where appropriate. If your priority is structural change and full accountability, litigation may be necessary. Either way, we set expectations early, update you consistently, and never push you faster than you’re ready to go.
What To Do Now (and What Not To Do)
If you feel safe doing so, consider these steps:
- Get medical care and counseling. Your well-being comes first.
- Save evidence (texts, emails, social media messages, photos, clothing, medical records, incident reports).
- Write down what you remember as soon as you can, including times, locations, witnesses, and anything said or done.
- Report when ready. Some survivors file police reports immediately; others pursue civil action first. We’ll talk through options and risks so you can decide.
- Avoid direct contact with the abuser or the responsible institution.
- Call us for a confidential consultation. Even a short conversation can clarify your rights and next steps.
Your Privacy Matters
We can file suit under initials, take steps to limit public exposure, and structure negotiations to protect your personal story. When public accountability is part of your healing, we discuss targeted ways to seek it while safeguarding your wellbeing.
Our Commitment to Survivors
- Trauma-informed approach at every step
- Clear, consistent communication (you’ll always know what’s happening and why)
- No upfront fees—we work on contingency in these cases, so you pay nothing unless we recover for you
- A team that believes you and fights relentlessly for the outcome you want
Quick Guides You May Find Helpful
To make this resource easy to explore, we’ve prepared short, plain-language explainers on common questions. Each support page dives deeper into definitions and next steps:
What Is Sexual Assault?
A straightforward guide to what typically counts as sexual assault in civil cases, how consent works, and real-world examples survivors ask about most.
What Is Sexual Abuse?
How abuse differs in context and pattern—especially for children and vulnerable adults—and what grooming can look like. We explain why delayed disclosure is common.
Child Sexual Assault & Child Sexual Abuse
What parents and adult survivors should know about recognizing signs, preserving evidence, and civil options when institutions fail kids.
Institutional Abuse
A roadmap to claims against schools, churches, youth groups, healthcare facilities, and other organizations—including what “negligent hiring/supervision” and “negligent security” really mean.
Degrees and Aggravating Factors (Know the Terms)
Plain-English explainers on terms survivors often hear—like aggravated sexual assault, statutory sexual assault, or different “degrees” of sexual assault—and why those labels matter differently in civil vs. criminal contexts.
These short guides are meant to empower you with vocabulary and context—so conversations with doctors, counselors, law enforcement, and attorneys feel a little less daunting.
Answers to Common Questions
Do I need a criminal case before I bring a civil claim?
No. A civil claim is separate. You don’t need an arrest or conviction to pursue compensation. In fact, many survivors choose civil action when criminal charges aren’t filed or don’t reflect the full scope of harm. We’ll explain how the two tracks interact and help you choose the timing that protects your rights.
Can I stay anonymous?
In many situations, yes. Courts often allow initials or other protective measures in sensitive cases. We can also seek protective orders to limit disclosure of personal details in discovery. If privacy is your top priority, we build our strategy around that from day one.
What if the abuse happened years ago?
You may still have options. Time limits (statutes of limitations) vary and can change. There may be extensions or special rules for child abuse, delayed discovery, or institutional concealment. Don’t assume you’re out of time—call us. We evaluate timelines immediately and preserve your claims.
Will I have to go to court?
Many cases settle without a trial. That said, we prepare every case as if it will be tried. If testifying becomes necessary, we’ll ensure you’re supported, prepared, and protected with trauma-informed practices. You control your level of participation, and we’ll talk through options at every step.
How much is my case worth?
Every case is unique. Value depends on the facts, the strength of liability evidence, the extent of your damages (medical care, therapy, lost income, pain and suffering), and the number of responsible parties. We never give cookie-cutter numbers. After we investigate, we’ll explain a realistic range and strategy to maximize your recovery.
Why Survivors Choose Moran Law Group
- Experience with sensitive, high-stakes cases. We routinely pursue claims against individuals and institutions that failed to protect people in their care.
- Resources to match powerful defendants. We work with experts in trauma psychology, security, institutional policies, and vocational economics to present the full truth of your harm.
- Relentless advocacy, respectful process. You set the goals; we fight to achieve them with care and precision.
- Local to Pennsylvania. We know the courts, communities, and defense strategies you’re likely to encounter here.
Ready When You Are
The hardest step is often the first one. If you’re not ready to take action, that’s okay. If you are, we’re here.. We’ll answer your questions, outline your options, and give you space to decide.
Call Us—Confidentially
When you’re ready, contact the Moran Law Group for a free, confidential consultation. Tell us what happened and what you want to see happen next. We’ll take it from there—carefully, respectfully, and relentlessly.
If you’re unsure whether you have a case, that’s exactly when to call. You don’t have to decide anything today—just learn your options and feel heard.
FAQs
1) What’s the difference between suing the abuser and suing an institution?
Suing the abuser targets the person who harmed you. Suing an institution targets the organization that enabled or failed to prevent that harm—through negligent hiring, supervision, training, security, or policies. In many cases, both claims apply. Institutions often have insurance or assets that can meaningfully compensate you and fund care. They can also implement reforms to prevent future harm. We investigate all potential defendants, explain the pros and cons of each route, and design a strategy that fits your goals, privacy needs, and timeline while maximizing accountability and financial recovery.
2) How do you protect my privacy during a lawsuit?
We can file under initials, seek protective orders, and ask the court to restrict sensitive information. We limit what’s shared in discovery, use trauma-informed interview practices, and coordinate with your providers to shield nonessential records. We also structure negotiations and settlements to protect confidentiality where appropriate. If public accountability matters to you, we’ll discuss targeted ways to pursue it while minimizing exposure. At every step, your comfort and safety drive our strategy, and we adjust tactics if your needs change. Our goal is firm accountability with as much privacy as you want.
3) What evidence should I keep?
Save anything that helps tell the story: texts, emails, DMs, location data, photos, videos, medical records, therapy bills, incident reports, work or school complaints, keycards or access logs (if you can get them), and names of witnesses. Don’t delete social media—capture screenshots instead. If clothing or personal items might have evidentiary value, store them in a clean paper bag. Write down what you remember, even if it feels small. Bring what you have to your consultation; we’ll evaluate relevance, issue preservation letters, and handle the formal evidence collection so you don’t have to.
4) What if I reported the incident and nothing happened?
Sadly, this is common. In civil court, we are not limited by a prosecutor’s decision. We can directly sue the responsible person and any institutions that failed you. We’ll obtain internal documents, prior complaints, and policy records through the civil discovery process—evidence that isn’t always central to criminal prosecutions. Civil law empowers you to seek compensation, accountability, and change even when criminal charges aren’t filed or don’t reflect the full harm. Your experience matters. We’ll evaluate the record, fill the gaps, and pursue the path that best serves your healing and goals.
5) How do legal fees work?
In these cases, we typically work on a contingency fee; you pay nothing upfront, and our fee is a percentage of the recovery. If there’s no recovery, you owe no attorney’s fees. We explain the fee agreement in plain language, including case costs (experts, filing fees, records) and when those are reimbursed. Transparency is essential; you’ll get regular updates on offers, expenses, and strategy. Our incentives are aligned with yours: we’re motivated to maximize your outcome while respecting your privacy and wellbeing. If you have questions about fees, we answer them before we begin.
Additional Abuse and Crime Resources
What Is Sexual Assault? A Guide for Survivors and Families
What Is Statutory Sexual Assault? A Guide for Survivors and Families
Institutional Abuse: What It Means and How We Hold Institutions Accountable
Sexual Abuse Survivors: Understanding Your Rights and When to Contact a Personal Injury Attorney
Institutional Abuse of a Minor: Your Legal Rights and When to Contact a Personal Injury Attorney