Texas Sex Abuse Lawsuit

Victims of sexual abuse or sexual assault in Texas can file civil lawsuits against their abuser and other third parties, such as schools, churches, etc. Our sex abuse lawyers help victims get financial compensation by filing civil lawsuits against parties who negligently allowed the abuse to occur or failed to prevent it.

In this post, we will look at the process of filing a civil lawsuit for sexual abuse in Texas. We will look at the relevant laws regarding sex abuse and the average settlement value of these cases.

Texas Sex Abuse Lawsuit Updates

Sex abuse laws and the legal landscape in Texas are constantly evolving, making it essential for survivors and their families to stay informed. Texas lawmakers and courts frequently update legislation and judicial interpretations regarding statutes of limitations, liability standards, and the rights of survivors, often expanding pathways for those seeking justice.

In recent years, Texas has seen changes aimed at making it easier for victims to come forward, including laws that extend the time survivors have to file claims and that hold institutions accountable for negligence in cases involving abuse.

Our lawyers monitor developments in sex abuse lawsuits closely, as each change can impact the strength of a case, available avenues for redress, and potential compensation.

November 7, 2024: In a recent lawsuit filed in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Texas, the family of a minor is seeking damages from the United Independent School District (UISD) and an individual teacher under Title IX and 42 U.S.C. §1983.

The child in this case is a minor middle school student. His parents became concerned after noticing unusual behavior, including having cash on hand and making purchases that seemed out of place for his age. His father decided to examine his phone, where they discovered cash transfers from one of his teachers, along with sexually suggestive pictures and discussion of the fear that she might be pregnant.  She eventually confessed to most of it.

The family’s lawsuit alleges that he was repeatedly sexually abused at least 12 times by his teacher, often on the Antonio Gonzalez Middle School campus. The lawsuit claims that the school district exhibited “deliberate indifference” by failing to take immediate corrective measures under Title IX and by neglecting its duty to protect students from sexual harassment and assault.

The lawsuit seeks compensatory damages for the child’s mental anguish, severe emotional trauma, and subsequent medical diagnoses, including Major Depressive Disorder.

October 31, 2024:  In a new lawsuit filed in the Western District of Texas, a Crawford family of a high school student claims that Crawford Independent School District (CISD) failed to protect him from severe and sustained bullying, harassment, and even sexual assault by peers over the course of two years. The complaint asserts that despite numerous reports to school administrators, including the principal and assistant principal, the school district allegedly took no effective action to stop the abuse or create a safe environment for the child

According to the complaint, the young man became a frequent target for bullying based on his physical appearance and perceived masculinity. Alleged incidents include verbal abuse, threats, physical assaults, and multiple acts of sexual harassment in the school locker room. H.S.’s family repeatedly requested intervention from CISD staff and administrators, but the district allegedly failed to investigate the reports or take steps to prevent further harm. The family claims that the bullying continued even after he transferred to a new school and that he now suffers from significant trauma and mental health challenges as a result of the ongoing harassment.

This page has a focus on settlement amounts in sex abuse lawsuits so we should give some insight on this type of case. Claims involving children abusing other children are generally more challenging to bring than those involving faculty or staff abuse because of the difficulty in establishing direct negligence or liability on the part of the institution. When a faculty member abuses a child, it is easier to demonstrate that the school, daycare, or institution had a responsibility to prevent the abuse due to their direct oversight, training responsibilities, and authority over the employees.  Usually, there are tons of red flags that get passed.

In contrast, when children abuse other children, proving liability usually requires demonstrating that the institution was aware of the risk or should have foreseen the potential for abuse and failed to take reasonable steps to prevent it. This is a higher bar to meet. Institutions often effectively argue that children’s behavior is less predictable and that they cannot reasonably foresee or prevent every incident. Plaintiffs often need to show a strong pattern of known behavior or prior incidents that the institution ignored, which can be difficult without clear evidence of prior complaints or reports. That does not mean these cases cannot be won.  They are won—and there are big settlements— all of the time.  But the evidence of negligence needs to be strong.

October 18, 2024: In a new lawsuit filed federal court a family from Tyler, Texas, is suing Whitehouse Independent School District (WISD) on behalf of their child. The lawsuit alleges the child, who has autism, was subjected to severe harassment, bullying, and retaliation on campus. The complaint details incidents beginning in early 2023, where the child was verbally and physically harassed by students at school. The harassment included inappropriate sexual comments and touching. This reportedly continued for months despite repeated complaints by the child and the family to school staff and officials.

September 24, 2024: A Texas woman filed a new lawsuit yesterday against Uber, alleging she was sexually assaulted by an Uber driver in Travis County, Texas, during a ride in September 2022.

This case was filed not in Texas but in California. The way that works is that there is an Uber sexual assault class action lawsuit (more technically, an MDL) in California that was created to handle lawsuits filed by plaintiffs nationwide alleging similar claims of sexual assault involving Uber drivers.

When a Texas plaintiff files directly into this MDL, they bypass filing in Texas courts and instead join the consolidated proceedings in California. The MDL’s goal is to streamline pretrial processes, such as discovery and motions, and to avoid conflicting rulings by having a single judge oversee these similar cases. Although centralized in California, the Texas plaintiff’s claims remain governed by Texas law. If the case does not settle or get dismissed within the MDL, it may be sent back to Texas for trial. This process ensures that plaintiffs from different states can benefit from the efficiencies of the MDL while preserving the specific legal considerations of their home state.

August 27, 2024: Kenneth “Ken” Wayne Bost, a former Sheriff’s Deputy in Orange County, Texas, was criminally indicted this week on charges of child sexual abuse. Bost had work at the Sheriff’s office for several years when the initial complaint was made earlier this summer. His employment was immediately terminated and the subsequent investigation led to the criminal charges.

August 15, 2024: Gateway Church, a massive church based in North Texas, is now facing a new sex abuse scandal.  A new lawsuit was filed this week alleging that a church member sexually abused a youth group member. Back in 2020, Gateway Church settled a group of lawsuits alleging that its found sexually abused children.

August 12, 2024: In a disturbing new lawsuit filed in Dallas County, Texas, a mentally incapacitated woman identified as Jane Doe accused a driver for Dallas Area Rapid Transit (DART) and its contractor, MV Transportation, Inc., of sexual assault and negligence.

Jane Doe, who is intellectually disabled with an IQ of 41, boarded a DART paratransit van driven by the defendant. It is alleged that the perpetrator, after misleading Jane Doe by initially concealing his identity with a mask and sunglasses, diverted the van to a secluded location, where he sexually assaulted her. The lawsuit claims that man had previously exhibited inappropriate behavior towards Jane Doe, which her parents reported to DART. Incredibly, despite this, DART continued his employment, allowing him to transport Jane Doe again, leading to the sexual assault.

The complaint argues the obvious if these facts are true: DART and MV Transportation failed in their duty to protect the vulnerable people in their care.

July 24, 2024: A Dallas woman became one of the most recent victims to join the Uber driver sexual assault class action MDL. The woman filed a complaint in the MDL in which she says her Uber driver pulled off on the side of the road and attempted to rape her in the back seat of his car. She was eventually able to fight him off, but not before he ripped off her pants and left her emotionally scarred. The incident occurred in the Dallas arts district.

June 24, 2024:  An appellate court in Houston has decided two cases involving Tran Dang, a participant on the reality TV show “Love is Blind,” who alleged she was sexually assaulted by another participant during filming. The results were mixed for the plaintiff.

In one case, Kinetic Content, the producer of the show, appealed the trial court’s denial of its special appearance, arguing that the court lacked personal jurisdiction over it because it was not directly involved in Dang’s recruitment or employment and had limited contacts with Texas. The court found that Kinetic had sufficient contacts with Texas to justify jurisdiction over Dang’s false imprisonment and negligence claims but not the assault claims, resulting in a mixed ruling where the case was remanded for further proceedings.

In another related case, Kinetic Content appealed the trial court’s denial of its motion to dismiss Dang’s motion for sanctions under the Texas Citizens Participation Act (TCPA). Kinetic argued that Dang’s motion for sanctions qualified as a “legal action” under the TCPA, which aims to protect constitutional rights and dismiss meritless lawsuits. The appellate court disagreed, stating that the right to impose sanctions belongs to the court, not the party, and thus does not qualify as a “legal action” under the TCPA. Consequently, the appellate court affirmed the trial court’s denial of Kinetic’s TCPA motion to dismiss.

June 14, 2024:  The families of two girls allegedly sexually abused by a former Boerne gymnastics coach are suing the coach, Boerne Gymnastics Center, its owner, and USA Gymnastics for failing to protect the children.

Filed in state district court, the lawsuit names former coach Michael Spiller, Boerne Gymnastics Center owner Lorna Spellman, and USA Gymnastics, the national governing body for the sport.  The sex abuse lawsuit, representing two girls abused in 2022 at ages 9 and 10, seeks unspecified damages of $1 million or more for physical and mental suffering, medical expenses, loss of earning capacity, and legal costs.

The lawsuit alleges that Spiller had a history of sexual abuse dating back to 1983 and that Spellman, aware of these allegations, did nothing to prevent further incidents. The suit claims Boerne Gymnastics fostered a culture that allowed Spiller’s behavior to persist and failed to properly train, supervise, or retain him.

Spiller is in jail serving a ten year sentence.

June 3, 2024: In Doe v. Lorena Independent School District, the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Texas addressed a case involving a pre-kindergarten student, Jane Doe, and another student, identified as “Student A,” who was sexually abused by a substitute teacher. The teacher was charged with sexual abuse and sent to jail for 40 years without the possibility of parole.

The family filed a lawsuit against the school district, alleging multiple failures by the school administration to respond to reports of the substitute teacher’s vile behavior, which included lying under a blanket with students and locking the classroom door with students inside. All warning signs for abuse, which is exactly what was happening to this five-year-old child.  He was sexually abusing the child and convincing her that he was her boyfriend.   Despite several reports from staff members about the teacher’s conduct – they actually took pictures of what he was doing, according to the lawsuit – the administration did not take effective action, allowing the abuse to continue.

The allegations against the perpetrator are always awful in these cases.  But the claims against the school district are also punitive damages level awful.  School officials were given easy opportunities to protect that child on a level that is rarely seen in sex abuse lawsuits.  The parents also allege in their lawsuit that not only did the school district sit idly by as their child was raped and molested, but it also disparaged the family after they dared question how the teacher was able to repeatedly abuse Jane Doe at school, saying they only wanted to hurt the school.  If true, that is next level “blame the victims,” and those employees should be fired.

This case is ongoing. A few weeks ago, the school district’s audacious attempt to dismiss the case was summarily shot down.

May 16, 2024: The families of two girls who were allegedly sexually abused by a former Boerne gymnastics coach are suing the coach, the Boerne gym where he worked, and a national gymnastics organization, claiming they failed to protect the children. The lawsuit names gymnastics coach Michael Spiller, Boerne Gymnastics Center and its owner Lorna Spellman, and USA Gymnastics. Filed in state district court, the suit seeks damages of $1 million or more for physical pain, suffering, mental anguish, medical expenses, loss of earning capacity, loss of household services, and legal costs.

The suit alleges that Spiller molested the girls during a 2022 gymnastics class, despite previous allegations of abuse dating back to 1983. It claims Spellman knew about these allegations but failed to take action, fostering a culture that allowed such behavior to persist. Additionally, it accuses USA Gymnastics of certifying Spiller as a coach despite multiple allegations and maintaining Boerne Gymnastics Center as a certified training facility. The lawsuit argues that this negligence misled parents into believing their children were safe. Both the Boerne Gymnastics Center and USA Gymnastics have declined to comment on the pending litigation.

April 25, 2024: Several women have filed a lawsuit against a Baptist megachurch in Houston and the Southern Baptist Convention, accusing them of enabling a sexual predator to serve as a youth minister. The suit, filed in Texas state court, alleges that the church, Champion Forest Baptist Church, and its leaders not only sheltered the convicted predator, Timothy Jeltema, but also enabled him to destroy evidence. Jeltema, who is now serving a prison sentence, admitted to sexually abusing approximately 25 girls.

The complaint details how Jeltema exploited his position of trust and authority to sexually abuse teenage girls from the church, who were aged between 14 and 16 at the time of the incidents. The church is accused of failing to establish protective boundaries, thereby facilitating Jeltema’s predatory behavior. The lawsuit claims that the church dismissed Jeltema only after his behavior was reported and failed to promptly inform other potential victims or their parents. It also highlights an incident where church leaders tried to intimidate law enforcement and influence the investigation, further endangering the victims and obstructing justice.

The plaintiffs are seeking over $1 million in exemplary damages, citing negligent hiring, failure to report child abuse, and gross negligence by the church. The lawsuit aims to hold the church accountable and, importantly for many of these women, prevent future misconduct in faith-based organizations.

April 23, 2024: Dr. James Wasson is an obstetrician/gynecologist in Tyler, TX.  Our research suggests he was a member of the UT Health Jacksonville, but he is no longer listed as a provider at any UT Health East Texas facility.

We are unaware of a single lawsuit against this doctor or any criminal charges against him. To summarize, we have no solid evidence that this doctor has ever done anything wrong.

So why are we talking about him?  The reviews. Many of the reviews say he is awesome. But there is a theme to the reviews that makes us ask if anyone has had a bad experience.

March 29, 2024: A plastic surgeon from the Houston area has been ordered by a Texas appeals court to respond to allegations of sexually assaulting a patient during her recovery from breast augmentation surgery. The court concluded that the patient is not required to provide expert testimony to prove that sexual assault does not adhere to accepted medical practice.

The First Court of Appeals’ three-justice panel dismissed the surgeon’s ridiculous claim that the patient needed to present a medical expert’s report to proceed with her lawsuit. The focus of the patient’s allegations is on inappropriate contact that clearly does not pertain to the medical procedure performed.

What is the case about? The patient has accused the surgeon of engaging in sexual misconduct while she was in the recovery room post-surgery in October 2022, including making inappropriate physical contact with her. She initiated a sex abuse lawsuit against the surgeon and his practice, alleging assault, sexual assault, intentional infliction of emotional distress, negligence, and gross negligence.

February 22, 2024: A Catholic priest from Brownsville, Texas has been arrested and charged with child molestation and sex trafficking. The priest, Fernando Gonzalez Ortega, was promptly removed from his duties by the church following the arrest.

February 24, 2023: A new law was formally introduced in the Texas legislature (Tx. H.B. 206) that would fully eliminate the statute of limitations period for victims of child sexual abuse to bring civil lawsuits.

Filing a Civil Lawsuit for Sex Abuse in Texas

Texas law permits victims of sex abuse to bring civil lawsuits and seek monetary compensation. The right to bring a civil lawsuit is not contingent on whether the victim pressed criminal charges. Abuse victims can file a civil suit regardless of whether they reported the abuse to the police when it happened. It also doesn’t matter whether the abuser was convicted.

Victims can bring civil lawsuits for sexual abuse as long as they are presently willing to testify under oath about the facts of the alleged sexual abuse or assault. Other forms of evidence, such as medical records or fact testimony from other witnesses, can also support the victim’s testimony.

If you file a sexual abuse lawsuit in Texas, the case will be public record. However, you may be able to keep your name and identity confidential. Texas’s court rules allow victims to keep their names confidential and use “Jane Doe” or initials in court filings.

Holding Third Parties Liable in Texas Sex Abuse Lawsuits

If you want to file a sex abuse lawsuit in Texas, you always have the option of naming the individual who actually committed the abuse as a defendant. Unless that person is rich and famous, however, suing the abuser is usually pointless because they probably don’t have money to pay for a settlement or verdict in the case (even if they are not already dead or in jail).

If you want to get money in a sex abuse civil lawsuit in Texas, you need to go after a third party with deep pockets or insurance like a school, church, or organization. Third parties such as schools and churches can be held liable in sex abuse cases based on negligence. If you can show that the third party defendant was negligent and that negligence enabled the abuse to happen, they can be liable.

For example, if a teacher sexually abuses a student, the school can be named a third-party defendant. The school can be held liable for failing to investigate, negligent supervision, or negligent hiring. Another example would be if you get raped in a dimly lit parking garage, you could sue the garage owner for negligent security.

Negligent Hiring in Sex Abuse Case

The Texas Supreme Court has not explicitly defined an employer’s duty in hiring employees. An employer can be held liable to a third party if it hires, retains, or supervises an employee known, or who should have been known, to be incompetent or unfit for the job, and this incompetence or unfitness poses an unreasonable risk of harm to others due to the employee’s job-related duties.

The extent of an employer’s responsibility in screening employees various with the risks associated with the employee’s duties. So there are no hard and fast rules.  Instead, the focus is on reasonableness.

Generally, employers do not owe a duty to third parties for an employee’s off-duty tortious activities that occur away from the work site. However, an employer may be liable for torts committed by an off-duty employee on the employer’s premises or using its property. Employers also have a duty to prevent harm to others if an employee’s job grants them special access to a particularly vulnerable group. This certainly would seem to apply to schools and churches.

What Constitutes Sexual Abuse Under Texas Law?

Texas Statute of Limitations for Sex Abuse Lawsuits

A statute of limitations is a law that bars legal claims that are too old from being filed in court, favoring more recent cases and victims who come forward quickly about what happened to them.  For most injury cases in Texas, the statute of limitations is very short – just 2 years. Fortunately, the statute of limitations for sex abuse cases involving child victims is much longer.

Under Texas law, if the sexual abuse took place when the victim was a child (under age 18) then that victim has until their 48^th birthday (30 years after they turn 18) to file a civil lawsuit based on that abuse. Texas Civ. Prac. & Rem. Code § 16.0045(a)

For cases in which the victim of the sexual abuse or assault was an adult, the statute of limitations is usually 5 years under Texas Civ. Prac. & Rem. Code § 16.0045(b).

Calculating Texas Sex Abuse Lawsuit Settlement Amounts

The settlement amounts in sex abuse lawsuits hinge on the defendant’s financial resources and whether they have the resources or insurance coverage to pay a settlement or verdict.

The sad reality is that even strong claims can result in little to no financial recovery if the defendant lacks the means to pay a judgment or settlement. Cases involving deep-pocket defendants, such as large institutions, school districts, religious organizations, or healthcare providers, offer the best chance for settlement compensation because they have  substantial assets or insurance policies to cover liability. Without a solvent defendant or sufficient insurance coverage, the likelihood of obtaining a meaningful recovery is much lower, and plaintiffs may face the risk of receiving nothing even if they win a judgment.

Once you get past that sometimes high hurdle, the nature and extent of the victim’s harm is the critical factor in determining settlement amounts. Settlements are typically higher in cases where the abuse has led to severe physical and emotional trauma with long-term impacts on the victim’s life. Factors like medical expenses, psychological therapy costs, lost wages, and pain and suffering are weighed to determine the extent of compensatory damages.  Compensation tends to be higher for younger victims than older victims.

Finally, the strength of the evidence plays a crucial role in calculating settlement values. Strong evidence, such as documentation, credible witness testimony, prior complaints, or a pattern of abuse allegations, significantly increases the likelihood of a higher settlement payout. Also, as we talked about just above, Texas has specific limitations for some institutions, like government entities, where damages caps or immunity protections may apply. Therefore, understanding the context of the defendant and their potential defenses is essential to predict likely settlement amounts. Some institutions may settle quickly to avoid public scrutiny. Others will will hide behind immunity or statutory defenses to minimize their payout.

Example Texas Sexual Abuse Verdicts and Settlements

Sexual abuse lawsuits in Texas have resulted in numerous settlements and jury payouts across a range of institutions, highlighting the severe impact on victims and the significant financial repercussions for the responsible entities. These cases span religious organizations, educational institutions, and state agencies, each dealing with the aftermath of their organization’s connection to such awfulness.

Example settlement amounts and jury payouts are instructive to understanding compensation in these cases. But that insight into settlement value has limits. Settlement amounts can vary widely based on the specifics of each case, including the severity of abuse, the number of victims, the venue, and, sometimes most importantly, the financial capacity of the defendant.  Also, many settlements are confidential and exact amounts are not publicly disclosed. Also, smaller sex abuse settlements rarely see the light of day.

Still, our lawyers do think these help you better understand how these cases can be valued which is why we are presenting them to you:

• $325,000,000 Verdict (2023): The plaintiff filed this lawsuit against her grandfather (a wealthy businessman) alleging the he sexually abused her between the ages of 5-8 and gave her an incurable STD as a result of the sexual abuse. The grandfather was eventually criminally convicted and sent to prison. This was largest sexual assault verdict is Texas history.
• $6,750,000 Million Settlement (2022): The Texas Department of Family and Protective Services reached a $6.75 million settlement with two girls who were sexually abused while in foster care. The lawsuit highlighted systemic failures in the foster care system, leading to calls for reforms to better protect children in state care. The settlement aimed to compensate the victims for their suffering and emphasize the need for improved oversight and accountability within the system.
• $300,000 Verdict (2019): The plaintiff, a minor female, was reportedly sexually assaulted by defendant while she was in his home where his wife was babysitting her. Her family hired a Texas sex abuse lawyer who filed a lawsuit that alleged that the defendant inappropriately engaged in illicit sexual conduct with her resulting in her physical and emotional injuries.
• $550,000 Settlement (2018): A 13-year-old girl was violently sexually assaulted and threatened with physical harm by an employee of the defendant moving company. The assault occurred when the employee came to the victims house as part of a moving crew to move her family into a new residence. The lawsuit alleged that the employee had a lengthy criminal history which included previous convictions for sexual assault of a minor, indecent exposure, failure to register as a sex offender and assault family violence. They also alleged that the moving company was negligent in failing to do a background check before hiring the employee.
• $4,500,000 Verdict (2016): The plaintiff, a young boy, was sexually abuse and assaulted over a 2 year period by the principal of his elementary school. The lawsuit alleged that the school district knew or should have known that the principal was a pedophile and that they did nothing about it and failed to investigate.
• $17,500 Settlement (2014): The plaintiff, a minor, was allegedly sexually assaulted by an employee at the defendant day care center. The family hired a school sex abuse lawyer who filed a lawsuit alleging that the daycare was negligent in hiring and training of its staff who were entrusted with the care of minor children. There is no description of the nature of the abuse, but it was presumably not very severe given the low settlement amount.
• $73,000 Verdict: A 17-year-old male suffered posttraumatic stress disorder after he was sexually molested by the male codefendant Catholic priest, employed by the defendant, after he was invited to the priest’s home. The plaintiff contended that the codefendant negligently attempted inappropriate sexual advances upon him and negligently served him alcoholic beverages.
• $50,000 Settlement (2014): The plaintiff, a middle-school aged female, lived in the defendant’s apartment complex. The plaintiff was sexually assaulted by a male classmate in a vacant apartment in the complex. She sued the apartment complex for negligence for failing to secure the vacant apartment in which she was assaulted.
• $125,000 Settlement (2013): While attending a preschool academy affiliated with a church, two minor female students were sexually assaulted by the operator of the academy. The lawsuit alleged that the academy had negligently failed to provide a safe environment.

Filing a Texas Sex Abuse Claim

If you are considering filing a civil lawsuit for sex abuse, contact us at 800-553-8082 for a free consultation.

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