Florida is known as the Sunshine State for it’s great beaches, it’s wonderful environment, and its seemingly endless summers. Recently, it’s been known to be home to too many sexual abusers and molesters of minors. There have been a number of cases filed in Florida because of reported sexual abuse in the catholic church, catholic priest abuse, clergy sexual abuse and minister sexual abuse. Even leaders of the Boy Scouts of America have been found guilty of commiting sexual abuse.
Another new clergy sexual abuse case was filed in Florida against the Catholic Diocese of Orlando as well as the Diocese of Gary, Indiana, as the church conspired to protect a sexually abusive priest. Richard Emerson, who worked in both states, has been accused of sexually abusing a child in the eighties and nineties. Another new law suit was filed against Vernon Uhran. The suit claims that Uhran repeatedly sexually abused a 14 year old boy after getting him drunk at a spiritual retreat to a beach in the late seventies. Many sexual abuse cases, clergy abuse cases, Catholic priest abuse cases, and Rabbi abuse cases never get filed, though, because the victims don’t come forward. This allows the church sexual abuses to continue.
If you or anyone you know has been sexually abused as a minor by someone in authority in the past, even if you are an adult, you may still be able to file criminal and civil charges against the offender. Sam Rogatinsky can help. Simply call him and tell him the facts in regards to your case. Mr. Rogatinsky knows the issues that you face, and the details of any discussion will remain confidential. Call Sam on the toll free number that can be found in this site or on his personal line at (954) 995-3805. Call day or night, even on the weekends. If Mr. Rogatinsky is unnavailable when you call, he will call you back ASAP.
Mr. Rogatinsky also understand that sexual abuse and clergy abuse victims need more than justice to re-assemble their lives. Sex abuse victims need help from experienced sex abuse therapists. If you haven’t received any therapy yet, Sam Rogatinsky will help you find a therapist or will put you in touch with organizations like http://www.mksafetynet.net/ and http://www.ndaa.org/apri/programs/ncpca/ncpca_home.html. These organizations can help as well.
If you have a case and need a great sex abuse attorney, Sam Rogatinsky can help. For your assistance, the statute of limitations for Florida are listed here below:
Statute of Limitations for Civil Cases:
- There is a delayed Statute of Limitations of 7 years for sexual abuse or incest actions to be filed in Florida. You must file within 7 years after your 18th Stat. § 95.11(7).
- The Discovery Rule in Florida states that a case must be filed within 4 Years from the date a victim realized or should have realized that the injury and abuse were connected by a cause. Id. If repressed memories of the sexual abuse resurface, the memory can qualify as a “discovery” as well. Hearndon v. Graham, 767 So. 2d 1179 (Fla. 2000).
Statute of Limitations for Criminal Cases:
There is no Statute of Limitations for serious sexual crimes and for some sexual abuse felonies involving minors. There are 3 and 4 year Statute of Limitations for non-capital or life felonies, and there’s a 2 year Statute of Limitations for most misdemeanors. Fla. Statutes: §§ 775.15(1), (14). §§ 794.011(2)(a), (8)(c), § 794.011(8)
If someone you know has been a victim of sexual abuse by a member of the clergy, contact our law firm at (954) 995.3805 or send an email to sexual abuse lawyer Samuel Rogatinsky at samr@clergyabuse.org