Sexual Abuse

Helping the Victims of Sexual Abuse Find Justice

Holding child molesters and their protectors accountable

The law firm of Serbin, Kovacs & Nypaver L.L.P. is a national leader in representing sexual abuse victims. Lawyer Richard Serbin has been representing child sexual abuse victims for over 20 years, gaining financial recoveries for many abuse survivors. He has the distinction of having obtained the only verdict ever achieved in Pennsylvania on behalf of a victim of sexual abuse against a pedophilic priest, the diocese and the bishop who knowingly reassigned this child predator.

Equally important to the men and women whose lives have been devastated by these criminal acts is the opportunity to hold church leaders, supervisors and employers who looked the other way accountable. It is inexcusable for people in positions of authority to knowingly place children at risk. Sadly, we now know from the priest-child sex scandals exposed throughout the United States and internationally, that is exactly what has occurred for decades in the Catholic Church and in other churches as well.

We have been crusaders for victim's rights in Pennsylvania and around the country. We have handled well over 150 sexual abuse cases in Pennsylvania and other states. Our pioneering work has influenced the case law that has developed in this area of the law. We have represented people from all over the United States who were sexually molested as children, in cases against members of the clergy, teachers, school guards and individuals in the daycare/camp setting.

If you are a victim of sexual abuse, whether in Pennsylvania, or any other state, contact the law office of Serbin, Kovacs & Nypaver L.L.P. as soon as possible. It is important that you act quickly, before memories fade and legal problems with the statute of limitations occur.

Sexual Abuse Cases and the Statute of Limitations

Pennsylvania's law dealing with sexual abuse enacted in 2002, will help more recent victims of abuse get justice and compensation. The statute of limitations law in Pennsylvania for adults who were victims of child abuse has been strictly upheld by the Courts. More mature adults may therefore find that their case is barred because they waited too long to file their claim. Other states, however, such as Delaware and California have laws that create a "legal window" of opportunity that permit older claims, otherwise time barred, to go forward. Many courts in other states have taken a more flexible approach to the law in their interpretation of the statute of limitations when it comes to sexual acts against children.

Before you decide it's too late to pursue justice, call our office at 814-944-6111 or email a sexual abuse attorney today.  We have achieved financial recoveries through negotiated settlements for many people who had claims that fell outside the Statute of Limitations.  Some churches and church denominations understand that it typically takes years before a victim of abuse can present their claim. These churches recognize their moral duty to attempt to do justice for victims who have suffered from this devastating betrayal of trust, even if the claim is filed years after the offensive sexual contact occurred.  Let us see if we can help you hold your abuser and their protectors accountable.

You could not get justice as a child, but you may be able to do so now.

We will treat you with compassion and understanding. Through our years of experience we understand the serious effects of sexual abuse. Contact our law firm if you suffered sexual abuse by a member of the clergy, teacher, camp counselor, security guard, or other trusted adult.

http://www.snapnetwork.org/.

http://www.bishop-accountability.org/.

http://www.abolishsexabuse.org/.