Civil Justice for Sexual Assault Survivors in Georgia
Sexual assault causes profound physical, psychological, and economic harm. While the criminal justice system focuses on punishing perpetrators, a civil lawsuit focuses on you — the survivor — and the compensation you deserve for what was done to you.
At Kenneth S. Nugent, P.C., we handle sexual assault civil cases with the highest level of sensitivity and confidentiality. Our attorneys understand the courage it takes to pursue accountability, and we are committed to supporting survivors through every step of the legal process with professionalism, discretion, and determination.
Third-Party Liability: Holding Institutions Accountable
In many sexual assault civil cases, the most important defendant is not the perpetrator — it's the institution, business, or property owner whose negligence created the conditions for the assault. Third parties that may be liable include:
- Hotels and motels with inadequate security or broken door locks
- Bars and nightclubs that over-served alcohol to the perpetrator or failed to intervene
- Apartment complexes and landlords who failed to repair locks or provide adequate lighting
- Rideshare companies whose driver screening and monitoring failures allowed assaults to occur
- Universities and schools that failed to respond appropriately to known threats
- Religious institutions that covered up known abuse
- Employers who ignored harassment and assault by supervisors or coworkers
- Healthcare facilities that failed to prevent patient assault by staff members
These institutional defendants carry substantial insurance and have the resources to pay meaningful compensation. Pursuing them — alongside the perpetrator — is often the path to full accountability.
Damages Available to Sexual Assault Survivors in Georgia
Civil recovery for sexual assault may include compensation for:
- Medical expenses — emergency treatment, forensic examination, STI testing and treatment, and ongoing gynecological or physical care
- Psychological therapy — PTSD treatment, trauma counseling, and long-term mental health support
- Lost wages — for time missed from work during recovery
- Reduced earning capacity — when trauma affects the survivor's ability to maintain employment
- Pain and suffering — physical and emotional
- Punitive damages — when the perpetrator or a third party acted with particular recklessness or malice
How We Handle Sexual Assault Cases
We understand that pursuing civil legal action after sexual assault is a deeply personal decision. Our approach:
- All initial consultations are completely confidential and free of charge
- Survivors work with attorneys, not paralegals, throughout their case
- We take every available legal step to protect your identity in court filings
- We coordinate with advocates and therapists to minimize the burden of the legal process
- We handle all cases on contingency — no fee unless we win
If you're ready to talk, call us at 1-800-CALL-KEN or reach out online. You will be treated with complete respect and sensitivity.
Frequently Asked Questions
A criminal case is brought by the government to punish the perpetrator. A civil lawsuit is brought by you — the survivor — to seek financial compensation for your injuries. You can pursue a civil claim regardless of whether criminal charges are filed or result in a conviction. The standard of proof in civil cases (preponderance of the evidence) is lower than in criminal cases (beyond a reasonable doubt).
Yes, in many cases. Property owners and businesses have a duty to provide reasonable security. If a hotel, bar, apartment complex, rideshare company, university, church, or employer failed to protect you from a foreseeable assault, they may bear civil liability. These third-party cases often yield larger recoveries than suing the perpetrator directly, because businesses carry insurance.
Georgia's statute of limitations for sexual assault civil claims varies by the specific nature of the claim and when the harm was discovered. For adult survivors, the standard personal injury limitations period may apply, though there are exceptions. For claims involving child sexual abuse, different rules apply. Contact our attorneys immediately — do not delay based on uncertainty about timing.
Our attorneys take every available step to protect survivor privacy, including requesting that courts allow pseudonymous filing and opposing unnecessary public disclosure. While court proceedings are generally public, we work to minimize exposure of sensitive personal information and respect the confidentiality of our clients throughout the process.