Under Missouri law, anyone who has been the victim of sexual abuse or assault can file a civil lawsuit and potentially get financial compensation. This post will discuss the basic elements of a sex abuse civil lawsuit in Missouri. We will also examine the potential settlement value of Missouri sex abuse lawsuits.
Missouri Sex Abuse Lawsuit Updates
Sex abuse law is changing and evolving more now than ever. Before we get into the nuts and bolts of these claims, let’s look at the most recent legal developments in civil sex abuse lawsuits in Missouri:
December 5, 2024 – $177 Million Verdict Affirmed
A Missouri appeals court upheld a $177 million verdict against Hyatt Corp., including $149 million in punitive damages, in a case involving the sexual assault of a female guest by a hotel security guard in 2016. The court determined that Hyatt exhibited a “conscious disregard” for guest safety, justifying the punitive damages.
The lawsuit alleged that Hyatt negligently hired and supervised the security guard, who had a lengthy arrest history for sexual misconduct, including deviant behavior and sexual assault. Despite this history, Hyatt failed to uncover these records during its hiring process. The guard used a master key to enter the guest’s room at the Hyatt Regency St. Louis at the Arch, where he assaulted her while she was asleep.
The appeals court highlighted Hyatt’s failure to cooperate with law enforcement, including withholding key usage records and surveillance footage linking the guard to the crime. Hyatt also instructed its staff not to assist police and failed to inform authorities when the guard planned to flee town. The court criticized Hyatt for prioritizing corporate interests over the victim’s safety and failing to follow its own policies, which required assisting guests who are victims of crimes.
The court also rejected Hyatt’s argument that evidence of the guard’s arrest history was inadmissible hearsay, ruling it was relevant to the claim of negligent hiring. The court emphasized that Hyatt’s inadequate investigation into the guard’s criminal background directly contributed to the assault, affirming the jury’s original findings.
October 21, 2024 – New Women’s Prison Lawsuit
A woman has filed a lawsuit against Montgomery County, Missouri, and various individual defendants, alleging that while detained at the Montgomery County Jail from August 2015 until her acquittal after charges of murdering her husband in January 2019, she endured repeated instances of sexual harassment, assault, and abuse.
She alleges that improper sexual touching of her breasts and vagina were explained away as the way life is in jail and she would just have to accept it. One of the defendants allegedly said that he was “just having fun with her like a horse you ride hard put away wet.” She says she reported the conduct to superiors who did nothing to stop it.
Her lawsuit brings forth claims under 42 U.S.C. § 1983, accusing the defendants of violating her constitutional rights under the Fourth, Eighth, and Fourteenth Amendments, which protect against unreasonable searches and seizures, cruel and unusual punishment, and ensure due process. The complaint also includes state law claims for negligent and intentional infliction of emotional distress, as the plaintiff details the severe emotional toll of her treatment, which led her to attempt suicide.
October 8, 2024 – Residential Treatment Facilities
Victims’ attorneys in Missouri are intensifying their focus on abuse and neglect within residential treatment centers, with a particular emphasis on facilities run by companies like Universal Health Services (UHS), Acadia Healthcare, and Devereux Advanced Behavioral Health.
Recent revelations from a U.S. Senate Finance Committee report have highlighted the extent of abuse at these centers, showcasing the systemic failures that allow physical, emotional, and sexual abuse to occur, often under the radar of regulators. These facilities, funded in large part by taxpayer dollars through Medicaid, have been implicated in fostering environments that prioritize profits over the safety of vulnerable children.
These are the UHU and Acadia facilities in Missouri that are in focus:
- Universal Health Services (UHS)
- Two Rivers Behavioral Health System – Kansas City (closed in 2019)
- Cedar Ridge Treatment Center – Linn Creek
- Acadia Healthcare
- CenterPointe Hospital – St. Charles
- St. Louis Behavioral Medicine Institute – St. Louis
- Piney Ridge Treatment Center – Waynesville
September 12, 2024 – Hotel Sexual Assault Settlement
A Missouri woman who was sexually assaulted in her hotel room at Lake of the Ozarks has settled a premises liability lawsuit against Quail’s Nest Resorts, Inc. and its owner for $1 million.
The woman was attacked while asleep by a man who broke into her room using a master key. The assailant was identified after leaving evidence behind and attempting another break-in at the same hotel. The settlement represents the hotel’s insurance policy limits.
July 25, 2024 – New Clergy Abuse Lawsuit
July 24, 2024 – Prison Sexual Assault Lawsuit
In a new prison sexual abuse lawsuit filed last week, the plaintiff, alleges that she was sexually assaulted while detained at the St. Louis City Justice Center.
Her suit claims that the assault occurred when correctional officers negligently placed a male inmate, Theodore Barnett, known for his violent and inappropriate sexual behavior, in a cell designated for female inmates. The lawsuit argues that the City of St. Louis and the involved correctional officers failed to follow policies and procedures that require male and female inmates to be housed separately and that they did not provide adequate supervision, thereby creating a dangerous environment that led to the assault.
The victim is seeking damages for the physical and emotional injuries suffered as a result of the sexual assault, and for the negligence and deliberate indifference shown by the defendants.
July 10, 2024 – School Sex Abuse Lawsuit Involving Disabled Child
In a new lawsuit, the plaintiff, represented by a legal guardian, alleges that he was sexually abused by a janitor at Eureka High School. The janitor has been arrested and charged with sexual abuse and child molestation.
The plaintiff, who has Down Syndrome and Autism, contends that his disabilities severely impaired his ability to communicate and protect himself, making him particularly vulnerable to the abuse. This school sex abuse lawsuit accuses the school districts of failing to prevent or respond adequately to the abuse, despite having prior knowledge of the perpetrator’s inappropriate conduct.
The defendants, Rockwood School District and Special School District of Saint Louis County, filed a motion to dismiss, arguing that the plaintiff’s complaint lacks sufficient factual detail to support claims under Title IX, Section 1983, and the Missouri Human Rights Act. They contend that the allegations are vague and do not specifically identify individuals or job titles of school employees who had knowledge of the abuse, thus failing to establish that the school districts had actual notice of the abuse or were deliberately indifferent.
The court has not ruled yet. But the motion will almost certainly be denied. Plaintiff’s complaint provides sufficient factual details to state plausible claims for relief under the relevant statutes. The complaint outlines specific incidents of abuse, identifies the general nature of the positions of school officials who were aware of the abuse, and describes the failure of the school districts to take appropriate action. Besides, if the court thought detail was lacking, the path would be allowing plaintiff to amend the complaint . But that should not be necessary.
June 10, 2024 – Lawsuit Against Counselor
The counselor, who worked for Gateway under a contract with the Missouri Department of Corrections, is accused of inappropriate conduct, including giving gifts, using a burner phone to communicate secretly, and sending suggestive messages. The plaintiff claims this behavior interfered with her drug treatment and caused emotional and psychological harm.
One of the defendants filed a motion to dismiss. That motion was denied last week.
April 3, 2024 – Sex Abuse Lawsuit Against Extended Stay America Hotels
A sex abuse lawsuit initiated this week accuses Extended Stay America hotels of complicity and profit from the sex trafficking of a woman identified here as K.R.M. She alleges that the companies’ actions and omissions directly facilitated her exploitation. The lawsuit alleges that the sex trafficking occurred at an Extended Stay America hotel located on N. Linbergh Boulevard in Hazelwood, Missouri.
The suit contends that K.R.M. was the victim of sex trafficking, subjected to force, fraud, and coercion for the financial benefit of her trafficker at an Extended Stay America location. It argues that the defendants, given the visible and known prevalence of trafficking in the hospitality sector, either knew or should have known of such activities and yet failed to adequately or effectively intervene.
February 28, 2024 – Law to Extend Missouri Statute of Limitations in Sex Abuse Cases
As we discuss below, Missouri law requires victims of sexual abuse as children to pursue legal action by the age of 31 or within three years of recognizing the cause of their injury or illness as related to the abuse. A new bill aims to extend this statute of limitations by 10 years, allowing victims until the age of 41 to file a lawsuit.
This legislative effort responds to the challenges victims face in confronting their trauma and seeking justice. The push for change is supported by data indicating a significant percentage of children in the U.S. experience sexual abuse before adulthood, with many not reporting the abuse until much later in life, with the average age of reporting for males being 52. So the new statute of limitations would still be unfair to victims… but at least better than what we have now.
The bill has garnered unanimous support from the Missouri House Judiciary Committee for two consecutive years and passed the Missouri House in the 2023 session. Yet, incredibly, it has yet to overcome imaginary hurdles in the Missouri Senate. People would lose their minds if they saw how the sausage was made, particularly with litigation like this that would bring justice to victims who have suffered so much.
Survivors and family members affected by abuse at Kanakuk Kamps have testified in favor of the bill, highlighting the long-lasting impact of abuse and the legal and emotional challenges of pursuing justice under current limitations.
Definition of Sexual Abuse in Missouri
Sexual abuse and sexual assault are defined in Missouri as any deliberate sexual touching or contact without the other individual’s consent, motivated by sexual gratification, arousal, or humiliation.
To meet the criteria of sexual abuse or battery, two fundamental components must be present. First, the sexual touching must be intentional. Instances where one unintentionally touches a person’s breast or genitals, such as in a crowded elevator or while attempting to prevent a fall, lack the requisite intent to qualify as sexual battery.
The second crucial element is the absence of consent. For intentional sexual touching to be deemed sexual abuse, it must occur without consent. Under Missouri law, individuals under 18 years of age are incapable of providing consent for sexual touching. This means that any sexual interaction with a minor by an adult is automatically classified as sexual battery.
For example, if an adult engages in a sexual relationship with a 15-year-old, it constitutes sexual battery even if the 15-year-old consents willingly. Legally, the 15-year-old lacks the capacity to consent to sexual contact with the adult.
When Can Abuse Victims Sue?
Sexual abuse or assault is both a criminal and civil offense in Missouri. This means that sex abuse victims have the right to press criminal charges and/or file a civil lawsuit and seek financial compensation. Anyone who has been the victim of sexual abuse or assault can file a lawsuit.
Sex abuse victims can file a civil lawsuit regardless of whether the abuser was ever criminally charged or convicted. In fact, victims can file a civil lawsuit even if they never reported it to the police and even if they never told anyone about the incident.
The evidentiary burden for proving sexual battery in a civil case is much lower than the burden in a criminal case. This means it is much easier for a plaintiff in a civil lawsuit to prove that the sexual abuse or assault occurred. So even if an abuser escapes criminal justice, they can still be held accountable in a civil court.
Who Can Be Held Liable in Missouri Sex Abuse Lawsuits?
The individual person who committed the abuse or assault can always be a defendant in a sex abuse civil lawsuit. The only issue is that person might already be dead or in jail, and they probably don’t have enough money to pay a verdict or settlement for the lawsuit.
If you want to get money out of a sexual abuse lawsuit you will to have a viable claim against a third party with deep pockets like a school, church, or corporation. Under Missouri law, third parties can be held liable if the victim can show that they were somehow negligent in preventing the sexual abuse or failing to protect the victim.
Here is an example of how third parties can be held liable in sex abuse civil lawsuits. Late’s say Sally was sexually abused by her public school teacher Mr. Smith. Sally never told anyone about the abuse, but the school had previously received several complaints about Mr. Smith’s inappropriate conduct and they never bothered to investigate. Sally can file a sex abuse lawsuit against the school for negligence.
Statute of Limitations for Missouri Sex Abuse Lawsuits
If the sexual abuse occurred when the victim was a minor (under the age of 18), then that victim has until their 31st birthday (10 years after reaching age 21) to file a civil lawsuit based on that sexual abuse. Missouri also has a “delayed discovery” exception that applies in child sex abuse cases. Under this rule, a childhood sexual abuse victim has 3 years from the time that they first discover that they have a physical or psychological injury caused by the abuse. Mo. Rev. Stat. § 537.046.
Sex Abuse Lawsuits Against the Catholic Church in Missouri
In Missouri, there have been significant sex abuse lawsuits, particularly involving the Catholic Church. For instance, in November 2023, a Missouri Catholic priest, Father Ignazio Medina, was found guilty by the church of soliciting sex from an adult during confession and was subsequently prohibited from holding office, hearing confessions, and publicly celebrating or leading Mass without explicit permission from his diocesan bishop. This case highlighted issues of abuse within the church and the actions taken by church authorities in response to such allegations.
Additionally, the St. Louis Archdiocese agreed to a $1 million settlement in June 2023 for a lawsuit filed by a man who was sexually abused as a minor by a priest from the Ascension Catholic Church in Chesterfield. This settlement is part of a broader pattern of legal actions taken against the church for sexual abuse by clergy members.
In July 2019, the Archdiocese of St. Louis released a list naming 64 clergy members with substantial allegations of child sexual abuse, further revealing the extent of the issue within the church in Missouri.
Missouri Detention Center Sex Abuse Lawsuits
In Missouri, there is real crisis regarding sexual abuse allegations within juvenile detention centers that is just now started to get sorted out.
New lawsuits allege that staff members at these facilities abused their positions of authority to sexually exploit or harm juvenile detainees. These legal actions contend that the sexual abuse of children resulted from negligence in hiring and supervising staff, as well as failures to maintain a safe environment for the detainees. The detention center sex abuse lawsuits often involve direct abuse by staff members or failure to prevent abuse between residents, which the administration could have mitigated or avoided.
Missouri’s statue of limitations is a problem in these cases. There is increasing pressure on Missouri legislators to revise these limitations, particularly for detention center sexual abuse cases, allowing victims more time to seek justice and compensation.
Here are some of the major juvenile detention centers in Missouri and reported issues with them:
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- Hogan Street Regional Youth Center (St. Louis): This facility has been reported for high rates of sexual victimization among juvenile facilities in the U.S., according to a Department of Justice report. Allegations include staff misconduct, bringing contraband into the facility, and a fatal incident involving a teen inmate falling from a third-story window. The center was finally closed in 2023.
- Watkins Mill Park Camp (Lawson): Located in Lawson, this camp has faced reports of non-consensual sexual acts involving both staff and inmates, contributing to concerns about the safety and supervision within the facility.
- Hillsboro Treatment Center (Hillsboro): This center has been challenged by staffing shortages, which have reportedly led to increased incidents of violence, abuse, and a toxic environment, including staff misconduct.
- W.E. Sears Youth Center (Poplar Bluff): While specific incidents were not extensively highlighted, the facility has faced allegations of sexual abuse and negligence in protecting detainees.
- Riverbend Treatment Center (St. Joseph): Allegations here include inadequate supervision and instances of abuse, although specific cases were not detailed in public reports.
- St. Louis County Juvenile Detention Center (St. Louis County): This center has been the subject of complaints regarding staffing shortages, health and safety violations, and concerns over abuse, prompting planned investigations by local authorities.
- Missouri Hills Youth Center (St. Louis): Similar to other centers, Missouri Hills has faced criticism for staff behavior and management practices that may have compromised the safety of youth detainees.
- Northwest Regional Youth Center (Kansas City): Reports of staff misconduct and inadequate protections for detainees have been noted, although specific incidents were less detailed.
- Southwest Regional Youth Center (Springfield): Like other regional centers, this facility has encountered issues related to the safety and treatment of juveniles under its care.
- Fulton Reception and Diagnostic Center (Fulton): Primarily an intake and diagnostic facility, Fulton has also faced concerns about staff behavior and the treatment of detainees.
Missouri Sex Abuse Verdicts and Settlements
In calculating Missouri sex abuse settlement amounts, the first and most critical factor is whether the defendant has sufficient assets or insurance coverage to pay a settlement or verdict. You need a defendant who can provide compensation. This is why our lawyers rarely take family abuse claims. The possibility of getting compensation is remote in these cases.
If you get past that hurdle, the severity of the abuse becomes a key determinant. Cases involving more severe, frequent, or prolonged abuse will result in higher settlements. The physical and emotional harm suffered by the victim is also central to the calculation. Medical expenses for treatment, therapy, and counseling will be factored in, along with any documented psychological impacts, such as PTSD, depression, or anxiety.
The victim’s age at the time of the abuse will further influence the settlement value, with cases involving younger children typically resulting in larger compensation amounts due to their increased vulnerability and the long-lasting effects of the trauma. The extent to which the abuse has impacted the victim’s life—whether through difficulties in maintaining employment, relationships, or mental health—will also play a significant role.
In cases involving institutional defendants, such as churches, schools, or youth organizations, where there is evidence of negligence or a cover-up, the settlement amounts will be significantly higher.
Here are some example Missouri sex abuse and assault settlement amounts and jury payouts:
- $1,000,000 Settlement: A woman staying overnight at a Lake of the Ozarks hotel in Laclede was sexually assaulted in her room after a man broke in using a master key. The assault occurred while she was asleep, and the attacker was later identified after attempting to break into another guest’s room at the same hotel. The woman filed a premises liability lawsuit against the hotel and its owner, claiming negligence in security measures. The case settled for $1 million in 2024.
- $1,675,000 Settlement: The Archdiocese of St. Louis agreed to settle claims by the family of a boy who was sexually abused by a priest. The priest admitted to sexually abusing the boy several times. The victim was in kindergarten when the abuse began and the priest was sentenced to 15 years.
- $2,250,000 Verdict: adult female participants in a drug court operated by defendant Lincoln County, claimed they were sexually abused/assaulted by a sheriff’s employee who was hired as the tracker in the drug court program, the person who interacted with them on a daily basis, enforced their curfews, took them for urine tests and monitored them for minor offenses. The alleged that he used his control over their lives to coerce them into sexual favors.
- $2,000,000 Settlement: The Archdiocese of St. Louis agreed to pay $2 million to resolve sexual abuse claims brought by a group of 18 victims who claimed that they were abused by a group of 6 different priests, and at least one nun. Each claimant received about $110,000 in compensation.
- $160,000 Settlement: A Catholic religious order (the Marianist Province of the United States) agreed to settle a case in which a former student at a private school operated by the order (St. John Vianney High School). The student claimed that he was sexually abused by one of the Brothers who was a teacher at the school.
- $10,000,000 Settlement: The diocese of Kansas City-St. Joseph agreed to pay $10 million to resolve sexual abuse claim brought by a group of over 40 victims. The victims alleged that they were abused by members of the diocese between the late 1950s and the mid 1990s.
- $2,000,000 Settlement: The diocese of Kansas City-St. Joseph settled this case in which a priest (Father Shawn Ratigan) took pornographic pictures and videos of a 2-year-old girl. Over the year, Ratigan was found to have taken similar pictures of hundreds of children.
Contact Us About Missouri Sex Abuse Lawsuits
If you were the victim of sexual abuse and want to file a sex abuse lawsuit in Missouri contact us online or at 800-553-8082.