Sexual abuse causes deep and lasting harm physically, emotionally, and financially. Survivors often face years of therapy, ongoing medical care, and significant life disruptions, including lost income and strained relationships. While the criminal justice system can hold perpetrators accountable through prosecution, it does not provide survivors with financial compensation for these losses.
Civil law offers another path. By filing a sexual abuse lawsuit, survivors can seek damages from the individual or institution responsible, holding them accountable in a way that addresses both justice and recovery. Every state has its own laws and timelines for bringing these claims and navigating them can be complex. That is where an experienced sexual abuse attorney becomes essential.
At Survivor Advocates, our mission is to guide survivors through this process with dignity, confidentiality, and respect. With offices in New York and California — and a trusted network of attorneys nationwide — we are equipped to handle even the most complex and high-profile cases, wherever they arise.
How a Sexual Abuse Attorney Can Help
For many survivors, the idea of pursuing legal action is overwhelming — especially when the abuser is a public figure, medical professional, or someone in a position of trust. Our role as the attorney is to make the process feel empowering, hopeful, and healing.
Survivor Advocates will:
- Listen to your story without judgment and help you understand your legal options.
- Investigate the abuse discreetly and thoroughly, gathering evidence to support your claim.
- File a civil lawsuit seeking compensation for medical expenses, therapy costs, lost income, and pain and suffering.
- Work alongside criminal prosecutors if there is an ongoing criminal case, ensuring your interests are protected in both processes.
- Hold enabling institutions accountable, such as employers, schools, religious organizations, or medical facilities.
- Protect your privacy, using confidentiality tools where the law allows.
Why Survivors Choose Survivor Advocates
The attorneys of Survivor Advocates have decades of combined experience handling high-profile abuse cases against some of the most powerful defendants in the country. We have represented survivors in cases involving:
- Music mogul Sean “P. Diddy” Combs
- Film producer Harvey Weinstein
- Former Columbia University OB-GYN Dr. Robert Hadden
- Urologist Dr. Darius Paduch
- Major employers and corporate executives
- Religious and educational institutions
Our approach combines legal precision with trauma-informed care. We work directly with survivors — not through layers of staff — to ensure each client receives the personal attention their case demands.
The Survivors of Sexual Abuse We Represent
Survivor Advocates represents clients in a broad range of sexual abuse and assault cases, including:
- Abuse by public figures, celebrities, and other high-profile individuals
- Sexual abuse in medical settings, including doctors, nurses, and therapists
- Abuse within schools, universities, and religious institutions
- Workplace sexual harassment, exploitation, and assault
- Human trafficking and exploitation
- Child sexual abuse claims, including cases brought by parents or guardians
- Cases involving multiple survivors and institutional negligence
Civil Lawsuits vs. Criminal Cases
Sexual abuse can be addressed through both the criminal justice system and civil litigation, but they serve different purposes.
- Criminal cases are brought by the state to punish the perpetrator and can result in imprisonment or other penalties. These proceedings do not provide direct compensation to the survivor.
- Civil lawsuits are initiated by the survivor to seek financial compensation for harm suffered. This may cover therapy costs, medical bills, lost wages, and pain and suffering.
In some situations, both criminal and civil cases can proceed at the same time. Survivor Advocates can guide you through the civil process and, when appropriate, coordinate with prosecutors to ensure your rights and interests are fully protected.
Confidential, Compassionate, Elite Representation
High-profile and sensitive cases require trust, discretion, and empathy. At Survivor Advocates, we provide:
- Trauma-informed, non-judgmental approach — We believe survivors and listen with compassion.
- Discreet case intake — Your privacy is protected from the first conversation.
- Attorneys with deep experience and compassion — Decades of combined success in sensitive, high-stakes cases.
- Expert handling of public figures and confidential matters — We know how to shield your identity while building a strong case.
- Protection of your privacy and your voice — Every decision is made with your safety and comfort in mind.
At Survivor Advocates, you are not defined by what happened to you. You are defined by your courage to speak up, and we are here to stand beside you every step of the way.