At Atnip & Associates, PLLC, we are dedicated to helping the survivors of sexual assault and abuse get the accountability and justice they deserve for what they’ve suffered. While the criminal justice system handles the prosecution and punishment of alleged sex criminals, it often leaves victims without the help they need to rebuild their lives. That’s where we come in.
If you’ve been the target of sexual abuse or assault in Berkley, Michigan, we can file a lawsuit against the perpetrator on your behalf, demanding compensation for the financial, physical, and emotional harm that’s been done to you. What’s more, we understand that you’re dealing with a lot right now, which is why we’ll pursue your claim at no upfront cost to you. We firmly believe that financial considerations should have no bearing on your right to justice.
Contact Atnip & Associates, PLLC, today for a free consultation with a sexual assault attorney serving Berkley, Michigan, and let’s pursue justice together.
Sexual assault and abuse are terms that describe a wide range of inappropriate, sexually aggressive behavior. If one person sexually touches another person without that person’s consent, coerces them to engage in sexual conduct against their will, or harasses them in a sexual nature, that person has engaged in sexual assault.
More specifically, here are some examples of sexual assault and abuse:
If you’re the survivor of any of this behavior, we want you to know that you are in no way to blame for what happened and that you deserve to seek justice for what you’ve suffered.
If you’re dealing with the immediate aftermath of sexual abuse or assault in Berkley, the following charities and support networks can help:
Do not hesitate to reach out to the team at Atnip & Associates, PLLC, for help. We can connect you with area resources to help you now while building a case aimed at securing you the compensation you need to rebuild your life.
Sexual assault and abuse are crimes, and the state will punish anyone found guilty of perpetrating them. Penalizing sex criminals is important to the health of society at large, but it does little to offset the specific harm that the target of their crimes has suffered. Fortunately, Michigan state law also provides a path to a more personal form of justice for these individuals: the sexual assault lawsuit.
Unlike criminal charges, which are tried in criminal courts, lawsuits play out in civil courts, an entirely separate justice system. Crucially, there is a lower standard of proof in civil courts than in criminal courts. Rather than having to establish that the perpetrator harmed you beyond a reasonable doubt, you need only show that it is more likely than not that they harmed you. This lower burden of proof means that it is easier to win a case of sexual assault in civil court than it is in criminal court.
Furthermore, because these two court systems are separate, what happens in one will not have a determinative effect on what happens in the other. In other words, a perpetrator can be found not guilty in criminal court and still be found liable for committing sexual assault in civil court. Furthermore, you can sue someone for sexual assault even if they have never been charged with that crime.
Survivors of sexual assault often face profound challenges, both in the immediate aftermath of the assault and over the long term. Seeking compensation is often an essential step in addressing the many consequences of such a traumatic event. Compensation aims not only to cover the dollar-and-cents expenses incurred by the survivor but also to acknowledge and provide for the ongoing emotional and psychological consequences of their trauma.
More specifically, survivors can claim compensation for their:
In particularly egregious cases of sexual abuse or assault, survivors can receive punitive damages. These are awarded in cases of particularly egregious wrongdoing to punish the perpetrator and deter similar conduct in the future.
Atnip & Associates, PLLC, are experienced sexual assault attorneys who are proud to serve residents of Berkley, Oakland County, the Detroit Metro region, and the state of Michigan at large. Our award-winning team has over 85 years of collective experience to offer you, as well as an ironclad commitment to pursuing justice and compensation on your behalf. If you choose us to represent you, you can be confident that we will:
The current statute of limitations on sexual assault claims in Michigan gives three years from the date of the assault or abuse to file. However, if you were under 18 at the time, you have until your 28th birthday to bring your claim. These laws are subject to change, so if you believe you may have a case, please contact us as soon as you are ready.
At Atnip & Associates, PLLC, we want to help you seek justice and accountability for what happened to you. Contact us today for a free consultation with a sexual assault and abuse attorney serving Berkley, Michigan, and let’s stand up for your rights together.
