Connecticut Sex Abuse Lawsuit Settlements

If you were the victim of sexual abuse or assault, either as a child or an adult, you have the right to bring a civil lawsuit against both your abuser and any school, company, or organization that might be liable for the abuse.

In this post, we will take a look at sex abuse lawsuits in Connecticut. We will look at the law in Connecticut relevant to sex abuse cases, such as the statute of limitations.

We will also discuss the potential settlement amount victims see in these cases. If you have a Connecticut sex abuse lawsuit you may want to bring, contact us today for a free consultation at 800-553-8082.

Connecticut Sex Abuse Lawsuits Updates

For far too long, survivors of sexual abuse in Connecticut have faced systemic failures, legal roadblocks, and institutional cover-ups that prioritized reputation over justice. From ignored warnings at the state’s child welfare agency to powerful organizations shielding abusers, the pattern is disturbingly clear: the system is designed to protect itself, not those it was meant to serve. But survivors are no longer staying silent, and with each new lawsuit, report, and legal victory, the cracks in these institutions grow wider.

The latest updates highlight the breadth of these cases, from damning revelations about the Department of Children and Families’ negligence to high-profile lawsuits against powerful figures and institutions that enabled abuse. These cases are not just about holding individual perpetrators accountable—they’re about exposing the policies, failures, and deliberate inaction that allowed abuse to continue unchecked. The legal landscape is shifting, and the institutions that once buried these crimes under bureaucracy and delay tactics are finally being dragged into the light.

In 2025, there is no more room for whispered secrets, quiet settlements, and institutions getting away with doing the bare minimum. Survivors are fighting back, courts are taking notice, and the public is no longer willing to accept the same tired excuses. The question now is not whether change is coming—it is whether these institutions will finally take responsibility or be forced to do so through the relentless pursuit of justice.

June 19, 2025: Uber Sexual Assault Lawsuit

In a new lawsuit filed yesterday, a woman from Waterbury, Connecticut, alleges that she was sexually assaulted by a driver connected through the Uber platform during a ride in Fairfield County, Connecticut, on August 10, 2022. The case is part of the coordinated proceedings in the Uber class action lawsuit, which is centralized in California. So if you have an Uber sex abuse claim in Connecticut, it gets transferred to these consolidated proceedings.

June 17, 2025: Lawsuit Follows Arrest of Teacher with Prior DCF Investigations

In a new lawsuit filed this week, parents of several students in West Hartford and Windsor, Connecticut, allege that their children were subjected to grooming and inappropriate touching by a teacher who remained employed despite multiple complaints. The complaint asserts that the school districts and the state’s Department of Children and Families (DCF) ignored prior warnings about the teacher’s conduct, including incidents flagged in 2024, and failed to initiate protective interventions.

The plaintiffs claim that Connecticut’s narrow statutory definition of sexual abuse and DCF’s limited investigative scope enabled the teacher to avoid scrutiny. This lawsuit highlights broader systemic deficiencies in how DCF classifies and responds to grooming behavior, which advocates argue leaves children at continued risk.

April 28, 2025: Guardian Sexual Abuse Sparks $30 Million Suit Against State Agencies

In a new lawsuit filed by a young woman from Hartford alleges that she was sexually abused for years by her legal guardian, abuse that resulted in pregnancy at age 12, while under the supervision of the Department of Children and Families. The lawsuit claims the agency had at least two dozen opportunities to intervene but failed to act, despite clear signs of abuse, including school absences, avoidance of medical care, and suspicious behavior from the guardian.

The case, now pending in state court, argues that DCF and the probate court system enabled the abuse through negligence and deliberate inaction. The plaintiff is seeking $30 million in damages, claiming lasting physical and psychological trauma stemming from the agencies’ failure to uphold their protective obligations.

March 7, 2025: Ignored Warnings, Unstoppable Abuse—Connecticut’s Failure Exposed

A damning new report from Connecticut’s Office of the Child Advocate confirms what one survivor has been saying all along: the state had every chance to stop the years of sexual abuse she endured but instead did absolutely nothing. The Department of Children and Families (DCF) ignored multiple warnings, failed to take basic investigative steps, and left a vulnerable child in the hands of her abuser. And now, instead of owning up to their failures, the state is trying to weasel its way out of accountability by getting her lawsuit tossed.

The report lays it out in brutal detail: DCF had over twenty separate opportunities to intervene. There were red flags everywhere—a pregnancy at age 12, a guardian dodging a paternity test, even explicit text messages—but the agency shrugged and moved on. If that is not gross negligence, what is? The state can hem and haw all it wants about “procedure” and “jurisdiction,” but this case is not about legal technicalities—it is about a system that left a child to fend for herself against a predator.

Of course, now that the state’s incompetence has been dragged into the light, their only move is to act like it is ancient history. But this is not a dusty file from the archives; DCF was still bumbling this case as recently as late 2023, failing to notify probate court about the abuser until after he was arrested. That is not just negligence—that is a willful refusal to do the bare minimum. The kind of bureaucratic shrugging that might have flown a decade ago does not work in 2025—not when survivors are fighting back, not when the receipts are public, and not when people are finally waking up to just how badly the system fails the most vulnerable.

More Paraquat Lawsuit Updates Back to the Beginning of the Litigation

January 30, 2025: McMahon Lawsuit Continues

The lawsuit filed by Janel Grant against Vince McMahon, John Laurinaitis, and WWE has resumed after a six-month pause for a federal investigation into McMahon.

Grant, a former WWE employee, alleges sexual assault and trafficking during her time at the company, causing severe trauma. The lawsuit claims McMahon and Laurinaitis exploited their positions of power, and McMahon breached a non-disclosure agreement with Grant.

The case is also tied to broader allegations of misconduct, including McMahon’s alleged history of paying millions to settle other sexual misconduct claims. Despite McMahon denying the allegations, the lawsuit highlights systemic issues within WWE and remains a significant legal challenge for the defendants.

January 19, 2025: Dr. Kevin P. Shea

If you have had any experiences with Dr. Kevin P. Shea, we would like to hear from you.

December 9, 2024: Coast Guard Academy Sexual Assault Lawsuit

Thirteen former cadets from the U.S. Coast Guard Academy have filed Federal Tort Claims Act (FTCA) administrative complaints alleging a pervasive culture of sexual violence and misconduct at the academy in New London. The plaintiffs, 12 women and one man, claim they were sexually assaulted during their time at the academy, citing negligence and cover-ups by the institution’s leadership. The complaints follow CNN’s investigation into “Operation Fouled Anchor,” which uncovered decades of concealed sexual assault cases within the Coast Guard, prompting public outrage and a U.S. Senate inquiry.

The complainants are seeking $10 million each in damages, arguing the assaults derailed their careers and caused lasting trauma. While legal challenges persist, including the Feres doctrine and the FTCA’s two-year statute of limitations, recent judicial rulings like Spletstoser v. Hyten offer hope the courts will carve out exceptions for sexual assault lawsuits.

October 22, 2024: Boarding School Sex Abuse Lawsuits

Our lawyers have been reviewing boarding school sex abuse lawsuits. Connecticut, known for its prestigious boarding schools, has faced several serious allegations of sexual abuse at some of its top institutions. Schools like Choate Rosemary Hall in Wallingford were implicated in a 2017 report that detailed decades of abuse, including sexual misconduct by faculty members dating back to the 1960s. Investigations revealed that school officials often allowed accused staff members to quietly resign rather than face legal consequences, a troubling pattern seen in other elite New England schools.

Allegations of sexual abuse have also surfaced at Westover School in Middlebury, where a lawsuit was filed claiming that the administration failed to protect students from abuse by a teacher. These incidents have brought renewed attention to the culture of secrecy and lack of accountability in some boarding schools.

Connecticut hosts many prominent boarding institutions, each with its own rich history. These include Kent School (Kent), Loomis Chaffee (Windsor), The Taft School (Watertown), Hotchkiss School (Lakeville), Avon Old Farms School (Avon), Salisbury School (Salisbury), Miss Porter’s School (Farmington), Cheshire Academy (Cheshire), Pomfret School (Pomfret), and Marvelwood School (Kent).

October 11, 2024: Snapchat Sex Abuse Settlement

A Connecticut state court judge noted in an order that a settlement was reported but not yet withdrawn in a lawsuit against Snap Inc., the company behind Snapchat.

The case involved a minor who was sexually assaulted by two men she met through the platform. The plaintiffs alleged that Snap’s design features contributed to the harm their daughter suffered and that the platform’s features enabled the assaults.

The plaintiffs argued that Snap’s negligence and flawed design created a dangerous environment for minors, citing features like “Quick Add,” which facilitated contact between predators and minors. Snap claimed immunity under Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act, which protects platforms from liability for third-party content, and moved to strike the complaint. The plaintiffs filed a substituted complaint, emphasizing Snap’s role in creating harmful content and targeting their daughter with “predatory features,” thus arguing that the claims were not barred by Section 230.

How much did the case settle for? You can bet that information is going to stay under lock and key.

October 9, 2024: New Lawsuit

A new sex abuse lawsuit filed in federal court involves a plaintiff seeking justice for a pattern of severe and long-term abuse, which she alleges began when she was a teenager. The complaint details how the primary defendant, an older male figure in a religious community, leveraged his position of power to groom and sexually exploit and eventually rape her over several years. As she got older, the methods of abuse became more elaborate, including date rape drugs and other illegal substances.

The legal filing describes a broad and complex cover-up strategy, where additional defendants—associated with the religious group or hired for damage control—engaged in a campaign to tarnish the plaintiff’s credibility. The defendants allegedly employed tactics ranging from spreading false narratives about the plaintiff to using professional investigative services to gather information aimed at undermining her accusations.

This cruel cover-up, according to the complaint, not only sought to shield the primary defendant from accountability but also exacerbated the trauma suffered by the plaintiff, causing her ongoing emotional and psychological harm.

September 23, 2024: Norwich Bankruptcy Causing Frustration

The Roman Catholic Diocese of Norwich is facing criticism for delays in compensating victims of sexual abuse, stemming from its ongoing Chapter 11 bankruptcy case.

Filed in July 2021, the bankruptcy was initially aimed at settling numerous claims of abuse, with a proposed $32 million fund. However, recent developments, including dueling legal proposals from the victims’ lawyers and the diocese, have caused delays in reaching a settlement. Victims and their attorneys allege that the church is engaging in delay tactics, reducing compensation amounts, and potentially forcing survivors to litigate their claims, which would require them to relive their traumatic experiences.

How much money will the victim get in this settlement when it finally comes to pass? Compensation for alleged victims would depend on the specifics of their claims but the average settlement is expected to be around $300,000. For individuals whose claims are barred by the state’s statute of limitations, compensation would average around $45,000.

August 28, 2024: Norwich Priest Abuse Lawsuits

The Roman Catholic Diocese of Norwich, Connecticut, has voiced opposition to a Chapter 11 bankruptcy plan proposed by unsecured creditors, deeming it unconfirmable and warning that litigation over the plans will drain resources crucial for settlements. Advocating for renewed mediation, the diocese argues this approach is essential after the U.S. Supreme Court’s ruling in June, which affected nonconsensual third-party releases in bankruptcy settlements.

The committee’s plan proposes a $30 million trust funded by asset sales and a settlement, but the diocese contends this will lead to extended litigation and further expenses. Efforts by the diocese to initiate mediation with the committee and other stakeholders have not been fruitful. The diocese, which filed for bankruptcy over three years ago due to sexual abuse victim lawsuits from clergy abuse survivors.

July 2, 2024: Mishandling Sexual Assault Lawsuit

Connecticut state lawmaker Rep. Maryam Khan has filed a federal lawsuit against the city of Hartford, alleging that the Hartford Police Department mishandled her reports of sexual assault and subsequent injuries.

Khan claims that the police “discounted” her account of the assault, omitted crucial details from their initial report, and later attempted to downplay the severity of the incident. The lawsuit states that after being attacked outside a prayer event on June 28, 2023, the police only considered sexual assault charges against her attacker, Andrey Desmond, when Khan directly contacted the prosecutor following the police chief’s refusal to amend the report.

The lawsuit accuses the police of gross negligence, unlawful policing, and violating Khan’s constitutional rights. Additionally, it suggests a pattern of discrimination by Hartford police against women of color, particularly Muslims. Khan seeks damages, interest, and attorney fees for the alleged mishandling and discrimination in her case.

June 29, 2024: Norwich Diocese Bankruptcy Plan

The U.S. Supreme Court decided this week to stop bankruptcy judges from forcing non-debtor third parties to release claims against other non-debtors.

This could impact the Chapter 11 plan for the Connecticut Roman Catholic Diocese of Norwich. Following the ruling, the creditors committee withdrew a $32 million abuse victim trust proposal and submitted a new plan.

The revised plan seeks to establish an estimated $30 million trust funded by real estate sales, cash reserves, accounts receivable, and a $7 million settlement with another Catholic organization.

The Norwich Diocese filed for bankruptcy in July 2021 under the pressure of clergy abuse lawsuits, claiming $21.3 million in assets and $2.9 million in liabilities at the time.

June 23, 2024: Suicide from Sexual Abuse

A judge denied a motion to preclude expert testimony in a case alleging that a Catholic priest sexually abused the plaintiff’s decedent, who was a minor sent for counseling. The plaintiff’s estate claimed the abuse led to the decedent’s suicide at age 28.

The defendant argued the expert’s opinion was conjectural and lacked substantial probative value under Connecticut law. However, the court found the expert qualified, having reviewed all records and possessing relevant experience, allowing the expert’s testimony while permitting the defendant to challenge it during cross-examination.

This is the right call. An expert can testify that an event, such as sexual abuse, led to a suicide by drawing on their specialized knowledge and experience in psychology or psychiatry. How does this work? The expert reviews medical and psychological records, conducts interviews, and analyzes the individual’s history to identify patterns and symptoms consistent with trauma-induced mental health conditions. The expert’s testimony links the abuse to the decedent’s psychological state, demonstrating how the trauma could have caused severe emotional distress, depression, or other factors contributing to suicidal behavior.

June 14, 2024: New Sexual Assault

A former student from North Smithfield has filed a lawsuit against former school administrators, alleging failure to protect her from a sexual assault by an older student in 2017. The student’s lawsuit claims she was sexually assaulted by an 18-year-old male student who had a history of similar behavior. Despite this, the male student was only barred from playing on the football team but was allowed to remain on school grounds unsupervised.

That is bad. But the allegations get worse. Her suit alleges that the former high school principal, and the vice principal as defendants failed to report the assault to the state authorities as required by law. Following the assault, the vice principal allegedly shamed and threatened this young woman. Eventually, the perpetrator was arrested.

Many sexual predators in these situations otherwise come off as good kids. Adults need to understand that and not reflexively – and evilly if the allegations here are true – side with the perpetrator.

June 4, 2024: Sex Abuse Lawsuit Against Boarding School

A new sex abuse lawsuit was filed in federal court against Rumsey Hall, a private boarding school. The lawsuit claims that the former Dean of Students at Rumsey Hall, Robert McGrew, sexually abused the plaintiff when he was in 6^th grade. The Complaint asserts that the school was aware of red flags and prior incidents involving McGrew and was negligent in failing to investigate or remove him.

May 28, 2024: STAR Girls’ Shelter Lawsuit

A new lawsuit in Hartford Superior Court against the operators of the STAR girls’ shelter in Harwinton claims that a woman was sexually assaulted there as a 15-year-old in early 2020, predating the state regulators’ first reported complaints by a year. The plaintiff, now 19, alleges she suffered sexual abuse and neglect at the shelter.

Sex abuse lawsuits against STAR are piling in. This is the fourth sex abuse lawsuit against the now-closed shelter and it is unlikely to be the last. This new sex abuse lawsuit suggests that the shelter’s problems began earlier than previously acknowledged. Despite previous claims of quick investigations by the Department of Children and Families (DCF), the new suit highlights earlier issues.

April 18, 2024: Teachers Charged With Sexual Abuse

Two Connecticut teachers, Andrew Park and James Hansen, were recently arrested on charges of sexually assaulting minors. Park, a former fifth-grade teacher at Strawberry Hill Elementary in Stamford, is accused of groping multiple female students. Hansen, previously a math teacher at Middletown High School, allegedly sexually assaulted a teenager on school premises.

Connecticut legislators are angry and frustrated. They are pushing for stronger policies to enhance reporting and protect students. The focus is on increasing training, ensuring transparency, and improving education on handling such incidents. There have also been instances where school district administrators failed to address complaints adequately, leading to additional scrutiny and arrests.

The state is also addressing gaps in background checks and improving inter-state communication to prevent offenders from continuing to work in education. We have to identify as many bad seeds as possible before they are entrusted with our children. Additionally, the state is enhancing its focus on prevention and response to adult sexual misconduct in schools, recognizing the need for continuous improvement and more robust frameworks to protect students.

March 5, 2024: Call for Legislative Reform

In a compelling editorial from the Hartford Courant, there’s a pressing call for the Connecticut legislature to revisit and reform the statute of limitations about child sexual abuse cases. Highlighting the gravity of the issue, the editorial shares a heart-wrenching account: a man, for the first time, disclosed that a priest sexually abused him at age 11, a secret he kept until his mother’s death to protect her from guilt. Unfortunately, by the time he was ready to seek legal justice against the responsible church, he had surpassed Connecticut’s statute of limitations, which capped his right to file a lawsuit by his 48th birthday, a mere two days before he opened up about his ordeal.

Such stories are far too common, with many survivors confronting insurmountable obstacles like shame, fear, and complex family dynamics that delay disclosure, often until it’s legally too late. Data from Child USA, analyzing Boy Scouts of America victims, reveals the majority of survivors only disclose abuse in their 50s and beyond, well past Connecticut’s limitation age of 48. Despite a 2019 law extension to 51, this only aids those abused after 2019, leaving earlier victims stranded by the outdated cutoff.

The editorial underscores the need for legislative action to eliminate these restrictive timelines, advocating for a system that allows survivors to seek justice on their own terms, acknowledging the profound and lasting impact of trauma. It questions the fairness of a system where mere days can dictate the validity of one’s pursuit of justice, calling for a more empathetic and informed approach to supporting survivors of childhood sexual abuse in Connecticut.

February 21, 2024: – Snap Dismissed from Sex Abuse Lawsuit

A Connecticut state judge, Superior Court Judge Barbara N. Bellis, dismissed a lawsuit against Snap Inc., which accused the social media platform of linking a minor, identified as C.O., to registered sex offenders who subsequently raped and assaulted her. Despite the plaintiffs’ outrage-evoking circumstances, the dismissal on February 16 relied on Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act, which protects interactive computer service providers from liability for third-party content. C.O.’s parents had filed the suit, alleging negligence and other claims against Snap after C.O. was assaulted at ages 13 and 14 by Reginald Sharp and Eddie Rodriguez, who were both convicted for their crimes.

Snap argued for dismissal, stating that the plaintiffs’ claims were barred by Section 230 since they treated Snap as a publisher or speaker of third-party content. Judge Bellis agreed, noting that Snap’s features like user recommendation algorithms and the lack of age verification do not remove its status as a publisher protected under Section 230.

The judge expressed regret over the statute’s broad scope but affirmed that without legislative changes, the court’s role is limited. The ruling ended the lawsuit, which also involved Meta Platforms Inc. before it was dropped as a defendant. The plaintiffs had contended that their claims were based on Snap’s failures as a publisher and as a product manufacturer. Still, the court found all claims legally insufficient due to Section 230’s preemption of state laws inconsistent with its protections.

January 4, 2024 – Sex Abuse Lawsuit Against Hotchkiss School

A former student of the Hotchkiss School in Lakeville has initiated a sex abuse class action lawsuit against the boarding school. The lawsuit alleges a systemic failure on the part of the school to safeguard its students from sexual abuse, explicitly highlighting the predatory actions of Roy G. Smith, Jr., a former teacher. The allegations suggest a disturbing pattern of abuse that, according to the lawsuit, was effectively ignored or covered up by the school’s administration to protect its reputation rather than its students.

This legal action follows a 2018 report commissioned by Hotchkiss, which exposed widespread sexual abuse by faculty members and a culture of suppressing student reports.

According to the filed complaint, Smith utilized his roles as an English teacher, dorm parent, and unqualified athletic trainer to sexually abuse the plaintiff and, it is alleged, a significant number of other students over decades. The lawsuit details how Smith’s position allowed him unfettered access to vulnerable students, whom he targeted under the guise of medical treatment and academic tutoring.

The suit seeks to represent all male students who were exposed to the risk of sexual violence by Smith, either through sports teams or under the guise of tutoring in his apartment.

October 20, 2023 – Sex Abuse Victims Get $50,000 for Inadvertent Identity Disclosure

On Friday, a Connecticut federal magistrate judge approved a settlement agreement that allocates $50,000 to each of 129 individuals who alleged abuse within a Catholic diocese that has since declared bankruptcy. Additionally, their identities were inadvertently disclosed by Epiq, a legal solutions firm, during the diocese’s Chapter 11 bankruptcy proceedings. This settlement, confirmed by U.S. Magistrate Judge William I. Garfinkel, follows allegations against the company for publishing sensitive claimant information online.

The lawsuit was triggered by Epiq’s mishandling of an unredacted document, which briefly exposed claimants’ personal details. So the victims were victimized twice. This breach led to a $6.45 million settlement to compensate the affected individuals, marking a significant development in the legal aftermath of numerous sexual abuse claims linked to the now-closed Academy at Mount Saint John. Despite Epiq’s argument that the exposure resulted from human error and caused no tangible harm, it wisely agreed to settle the claims.

What Is the Connecticut Legal Definition of Sexual Abuse and Assault?

The legal definition of sexual abuse or assault in Connecticut is largely consistent with how it is defined in most other states. Under Connecticut General Statutes § 53a-65, any unwanted and deliberate sexual touching or contact qualifies as sexual abuse when the act involves intimate body parts and is committed for the purpose of sexual gratification.

In practical terms, sexual abuse in Connecticut encompasses a broad range of non-consensual sexual acts, from unwanted groping to forcible rape. For an incident to be legally recognized as sexual abuse or assault, two key elements must be present:

Sexual Touching: There must be physical contact of a sexual nature. Verbal harassment or sexually suggestive language, while potentially unlawful under other statutes, does not constitute sexual abuse or assault.
Absence of Consent: The lack of consent is the defining element across all forms of sexual assault under Connecticut law. Any sexual contact that occurs without valid consent is considered a criminal offense.

Understanding Consent Under Connecticut Law

Connecticut law makes it clear that the absence of consent is the crucial factor in determining whether an act qualifies as sexual abuse. In cases involving minors, consent is not a legally valid defense. Under Connecticut General Statutes § 53a-70, individuals under the age of 18 are considered legally incapable of providing consent to sexual activity with an adult. This means that any sexual touching by an adult involving a minor is automatically categorized as sexual abuse, regardless of whether the minor verbally agreed to the act.

Furthermore, Connecticut law recognizes that individuals may be unable to provide consent due to impairment, coercion, or authority-based influence. Situations in which consent is legally invalid include:

The victim was physically helpless, unconscious, or otherwise unable to resist.
The victim was under duress or coercion, such as threats of harm or intimidation.
The perpetrator held a position of authority over the victim (e.g., a teacher, coach, or caregiver).
The victim had a cognitive disability or mental impairment that affected their ability to give informed consent.

Criminal Penalties for Sexual Abuse and Assault in Connecticut

Sexual abuse and assault offenses in Connecticut carry serious criminal penalties, ranging from misdemeanors to felonies, depending on the severity of the offense. Under Connecticut General Statutes § 53a-72a, sexual assault in the second degree is a Class C felony, which carries a sentence of up to 10 years in prison. More severe offenses, such as first-degree sexual assault, can result in life imprisonment.

Connecticut also imposes mandatory sex offender registration requirements for individuals convicted of sexual abuse or assault. Those found guilty of certain offenses must register with the Connecticut Sex Offender Registry, which is publicly accessible.

Civil Lawsuits for Sex Abuse in Connecticut

Under Connecticut law anyone who has been the victim of sexual abuse or assault (as defined above) has the right to file a civil lawsuit and seek financial compensation. It should be noted that abuse victims can pursue a civil lawsuit regardless of whether they have filed criminal charges, and even if the abuse was never reported or disclosed at the time it occurred.

To initiate a civil lawsuit for sexual abuse, victims simply need to be willing to provide sworn testimony regarding the details of the sexual abuse or assault. This testimony can be reinforced by additional evidence, such as medical records. Testimony from other witnesses who can attest to the factual aspects of the case may also be presented.

While sexual abuse lawsuits are public record, Connecticut’s civil procedure rules permit victims involved in these types of cases to safeguard their identity by filing under an alias. For instance, if a person named Sally Jones files a sexual abuse lawsuit, she can be referred to as “S.J.” or Jane Doe in the legal pleadings.

Holding Third Parties Liable in Sex Abuse Cases

When someone is sexually abused and decides to pursue legal action, the direct abuser will undoubtedly be the first potential defendant. But in most lawsuits our sex abuse lawyers see, the abuser is deceased, incarcerated, or financially insolvent. Suing them alone will not be fruitful.

So it is usually necessary to target other parties such as schools, companies, or organizations connected to the abuser. These entities can be held legally accountable if they failed to prevent the abuse or did not take adequate measures to protect the victims.

They are often more likely to have the financial resources or insurance necessary to compensate the victims. This approach not only seeks justice for the victim but also promotes accountability and preventive measures by institutions to safeguard against future incidents of abuse.

What about where there is no responsible third party? The harsh reality of legal actions involving sexual abuse claims against family members—a profoundly distressing form of abuse—is that they often face significant obstacles in terms of compensation.

These types of cases are particularly challenging because, typically, there is no third party with the financial capacity to address and settle the claims. In instances where the abuser is a family member, they almost always lack the personal assets or insurance that would provide financial recompense to the victim. This lack of a financially capable third party means that even if a victim secures a legal victory, the practical benefits, like receiving compensation for the harm suffered, may be minimal or nonexistent.

Has our firm ever taken a sex abuse lawsuit to trial when we knew the defendant could not pay? We have. But our lawyers reject almost all these cases where the likelihood of recovery is infinitesimal.

Uber sexual assault class action lawsuit

Connecticut Juvenile Detention Center Sex Abuse Lawsuits

In Connecticut, the state’s juvenile detention facilities are operated by the Juvenile Detention Services (JDS) division of the state Judicial Branch. JDS operates a wide range of residential and outreach programs for juveniles, including secure residential programs across the state. Juveniles who are sentenced to longer terms of incarceration are housed at one of the state’s two Juvenile Residential Centers (i.e., juvenile correctional facilities):

Sexual abuse of inmates at juvenile detention facilities has recently been recognized as a major problem across the country, including Connecticut. In recent years, Connecticut’s two juvenile detention facilities have faced intense scrutiny for their apparent failures to adequately protect inmates from sexual abuse. A number of high-profile cases have highlighted a systemic culture of abuse and neglect in Connecticut’s juvenile justice system.

Back in 2018, the Connecticut Juvenile Training School facility in Middletown was shut down following reports about rampant abuse of inmates and other failures. Also in 2018, a juvenile detention center security guard was arrested and charged with sexually abusing numerous juvenile inmates. This arrest prompted a state investigation into sexual abuse of juvenile inmates. The investigation report detailed numerous shortcomings within the system and the need for major reforms to prevent juveniles from being victimized.

Victims of sexual abuse at Connecticut juvenile detention centers are now fighting back by filing juvenile detention sex abuse lawsuits against the state. These lawsuits seek financial compensation and they contend that the state neglected its basic duty to ensure the safety of juveniles in its detention facilities. Thanks to new laws in Connecticut, victims of abuse in juvenile detention centers can now file civil lawsuits even when the abuse occurred decades in the past.

Residential Treatment Center Sexual Abuse Claims

Victims’ lawyers are drilling down on abuse occurring in residential treatment facilities across Connecticut. What we have learned about some of these facilities is from findings from federal investigations, including those led by Congress. Our sex abuse lawyers have been so focused on clergy and school/detention center lawsuits, we initially missed what is happening in residential treatment centers. Now we are taking a closer look and seeing some pretty awful things, many funded by taxpayer dollars.

Recent investigations have uncovered alarming instances of abuse in various residential treatment centers across Connecticut. Notably, the Connecticut Mental Health Center in New Haven has faced allegations of sexual abuse, harassment, excessive restraint, and inadequate treatment, as detailed in a 2024 report by Disability Rights Connecticut. Additionally, the Village for Families and Children in Hartford was sued following an alleged sexual assault of an 11-year-old girl by a teenage boy,.

In particular, we are looking for residential treatment centers operated by Universal Health Services (UHS), Acadia Healthcare, and Devereux Advanced Behavioral Health. These are some of the facilities that are in focus:

Stonington Institute (Acadia Healthcare) – North Stonington: Acadia known for its treatment of substance abuse and mental health issues, has been the subject of numerous complaints.
Natchaug Hospital (UHS) – Mansfield Center: Provides psychiatric services to children and adolescents. UHS has faced abuse and neglect allegations.
Devereux Glenholme School – Washington: A boarding school for students with emotional, behavioral, and learning disabilities. Devereux itself has been embroiled in controversies related to accusations of physical, sexual, and emotional abuse.

These abuse lawsuits seek not only to hold these institutions accountable and secure settlement compensation for the victims, but also to drive systemic reforms. Vulnerable children and adolescents deserve care, safety, and dignity while under the supervision of these taxpayer-funded facilities and these lawsuits push toward that goal.

Connecticut Statute of Limitations for Sex Abuse Lawsuits

Connecticut has one of the more favorable statutes of limitations for civil lawsuits involving child sexual abuse. Under Connecticut law, victims of childhood sexual abuse, sexual assault or “trafficking” have until their 51st birthday to file a civil lawsuit against parties liable for that sexual abuse. Conn. Gen. Stat. § 52-577d. The 51-year-old birthday rule applies to cases in which the abuse occurred in 2019 or later. However, for sexual abuse that occurred in the past (i.e., before 2019) Connecticut law gives victims until they turn 48 to file a civil lawsuit.

The statute does not require the victim to have repressed memories of the abuse to take advantage of the extended statute of limitations. Therefore, even if the victim was always aware of the abuse but delayed taking legal action, they can still file a lawsuit within the extended timeframe provided by Section 52-577d.

The appellate courts in Connecticut have also clarified that the relatively new laws extending the statute of limitations for child sex abuse claims applied not just to claims against individual abusers, but also to claims against third parties based on negligence. See Doe v. Boy Scouts of Am. Corp., 147 A.3d 104, 126 (Conn. 2016) (holding that § 52-577d applies to actions against perpetrators and actions against third parties).

Settlement Value of Connecticut Sex Abuse Lawsuits

When deciding how much money you should receive to settle Connecticut sex abuse lawsuits with third parties, several things are considered. Here are the main factors that drive a sex abuse lawsuit in Connecticut or any state:

Proof: The quality of the evidence supporting the victim’s story is crucial. If there is strong evidence, such as documents or witnesses, it can lead to a larger settlement amount because the church or other defendants don’t want to risk losing in court. Keep in mind that great proof in a sex abuse lawsuit in Connecticut can be as simple as a credible victim.
How Bad the Abuse Was: The severity of the abuse makes a big difference in how much money it should take to get to a settlement.
Duration of the Abuse: The length of time over which the abuse occurred can also impact the settlement amount. Prolonged periods of abuse may lead to larger settlements due to the extended trauma and its effects on the victim. (That said, some of the bigger sex abuse settlements involve a single act of abuse.)
Damages: The costs the victim had to deal with because of the abuse, like therapy or missed work, play a big part in the settlement amount. Usually, the biggest chunk of money in a settlement amount in a sex abuse claim in Connecticut will be the victim’s pain and suffering. That is what these cases are ultimately about.
How Much the Third Party Is Responsible: There are different levels of neglect, right? Sometimes you can say the church or school should have done more. But in many of these sexual assault claims, it is nearly criminal that the church or school turned a blind eye to the way that they did. In the latter cases, settlement amounts and jury payouts will be higher. In some cases, punitive damages may be awarded in addition to compensatory damages. Punitive damages are intended to punish the perpetrator or negligent institution and deter future misconduct, and their inclusion can significantly increase a settlement amount.

Connecticut Sex Abuse Verdicts and Settlements

Sex abuse settlement compensation in Connecticut is determined by evaluating a range of factors that measure the extent of harm suffered by the survivor.

Determining the appropriate settlement value in a sex abuse lawsuit is an art, not a science. It is hard—there is not a one-size-fits-all answer. Each case is evaluated individually, resulting in a wide range of potential compensation depending on the specific circumstances of the abuse and its impact on the survivor’s life.

Key elements include the severity and duration of the abuse, the emotional and psychological impact, as well as the extent of physical injuries or trauma—and the defendant’s ability to pay. Schools, churches, insurance companies, and other defendants in settlement negotiations can also take into account the long-term effects on the survivor’s mental health, relationships, and ability to function in daily life. Additional considerations include the nature of the defendant’s actions—whether they involved a breach of trust, power, or authority—and whether there were multiple instances or offenders involved.

Beyond the immediate harm, compensation calculations also weigh the financial consequences for the survivor, such as the cost of therapy, medical treatments, and potential loss of income or future earning capacity due to the psychological aftermath of the abuse. Aggravating factors, such as gross negligence by the institution involved, knowledge of prior abuses, possible adverse publicity, and any failure to protect, can further elevate settlement amounts or jury awards.

$526,000 Verdict: Plaintiffs were minor females who suffered multiple injuries that included sexual assault by their school bus driver who was employed by the defendant. The plaintiffs contended that the defendant negligently failed to properly hire, train and supervise its employees, failed to provide reasonable supervision to ensure the safety of the minor children entrusted to its care, and failed to prevent the sexual assault of those children. The defendants denied liability, disputed the plaintiffs’ injuries, and contended that no sexual assaults occurred. The verdict was affirmed on appeal and the award included economic damages.
$2,075,000 Verdict: The plaintiff alleged that she was forced to engage in inappropriate acts, and endured sexual molestation and sexual intercourse over 8 years, from age 7 to age 15, allegedly perpetrated upon her by the defendant (a former boyfriend of her mother). The boyfriend was criminally convicted for the sexual abuse. The boyfriend was the only named defendant so it is not entirely clear where the plaintiff actually received money for this verdict.
$2,000,000 Settlement: Plaintiff, a 15-year-old male, alleged that he suffered emotional distress after he was sexually molested by a priest at a church operated by the defendant Norwich Diocese where the abuser was the deacon. The plaintiff contended that the defendants failed to properly supervise their priests and failed to obtain a legitimate background check, that they negligently had knowledge of the crimes, and that their negligence was the cause of the plaintiff’s injuries. The defendants denied liability and contended that they had no prior knowledge of the nonparty’s actions until revealed by the plaintiff. The parties agreed to settle for the benefit of the minor child.
$609,910 Verdict: The plaintiff claimed to suffer post-traumatic stress disorder after she was sexually assaulted by an employee of defendant Viso Bello Day Spa where she went for a massage. The plaintiff alleged that, during the massage, Harris placed his genitals in her hand until he became erect. The employee was arrested on December 18, 2018, pled guilty to 4th-degree sexual assault, and was sentenced to one year in jail.
$21,749,041 Verdict: The plaintiff claimed that he was sexually abused by his Rabi at the defendant’s religious school between the ages of 14 and 17. He sued the school alleging that the school knew or should have known that defendant Rabi was sexually assaulting him, but failed to safeguard the keys to its various properties, which provided defendant Rabi with multiple places to commit the assault.
$1,000,000 Verdict: The plaintiff, a 13-year-old male, suffered emotional distress due to the sexual assault and abuse by a priest who was an employee of the defendant The Hartford Roman Catholic Diocesan Corporation. The plaintiff alleged the defendant knew or should have known in the exercise of reasonable care that the priest had the proclivity to sexually abuse, exploit and assault minor children.

Contact Us About Connecticut Sex Abuse Lawsuits

If you have a sexual abuse lawsuit in Connecticut, contact our sex abuse lawyers today for a free consultation. Call us at 800-553-8082 or contact us online.