Few experiences are more difficult to talk about than childhood sexual abuse. Many survivors carry what happened to them for years — sometimes decades — before they are ready to take any step toward accountability. Etemi Law represents survivors of child sexual abuse in Connecticut in civil claims against the individuals and institutions responsible for what they endured. Every conversation with our firm is confidential, at the survivor’s pace, and on the survivor’s terms.
Types of civil cases we handle
- Abuse by individuals in positions of trust or authority
- Abuse enabled or concealed by an institution that was trusted with a child’s safety
- Claims involving multiple survivors of the same perpetrator or institution
- Cases involving documented prior complaints that were ignored
- Cases involving failures in hiring, supervision, or reporting
Institutional settings where abuse can occur
Many of the cases we see involve settings where a child should have been safe, including:
- Schools, including public, private, and boarding schools
- Religious organizations and places of worship
- Youth sports programs, camps, and coaching environments
- Residential treatment centers and group homes
- Foster care and childcare settings
- Scouting and community youth organizations
- Medical and therapeutic settings
Impact on survivors
The impact of childhood sexual abuse is rarely limited to the abuse itself. Survivors often describe long-term effects on mental health, relationships, education, career, and physical health. Many survivors benefit from ongoing therapy and mental health support. A civil case cannot undo what happened, but it can acknowledge the harm and help cover the cost of healing.
A civil case is about the survivor
Criminal cases are brought by the state and focus on punishing the perpetrator. A civil case is different — it belongs to the survivor. It can hold both the abuser and any enabling institution accountable, and it can address the mental health treatment, lost earning capacity, and life impact that followed. Many survivors also describe civil cases as a way to reclaim a voice that was taken from them.
What a first conversation looks like
Reaching out does not commit you to filing anything. A first conversation with Etemi Law is private, unhurried, and free. We listen first. We explain, in plain language, how civil claims work in Connecticut and what evidence — including institutional records, prior complaints, and other survivors’ experiences — can support a case. You decide what happens next.
Serving Connecticut survivors
Etemi Law represents survivors of child sexual abuse throughout Connecticut.
Speak confidentially with a Connecticut child sexual abuse lawyer. All conversations are private, free, and without obligation.