Sexual Abuse & Exploitation
Ohio Lawyers for Sexual Abuse and Exploitation Claims
If you are considering your legal options after sexual abuse or exploitation, you may have questions about accountability, privacy and what a civil case would involve. You can ask about those options without deciding to file a lawsuit.
Jeckering & Associates, LLC represents survivors in civil claims arising from sexual abuse and evaluates legal options for people facing sexual or digital exploitation. From our Columbus main office, with a satellite office in Mechanicsburg, we help people throughout Ohio assess potential claims against the person who caused the harm and any institution that may be legally responsible.
Experience representing Ohio State survivors
Jeckering & Associates represented plaintiffs in litigation arising from sexual abuse by former Ohio State physician Richard Strauss. The firm was among the plaintiffs’ firms participating in Ohio State’s initial settlement, finalized in May 2020. The firm’s role is identified in the public settlement-fund filing. Read Ohio State’s settlement announcement.
That result reflects the facts and circumstances of those cases. Past results do not guarantee a similar outcome in another matter.
Understanding the civil options
A civil case addresses legal responsibility for harm. The available claims depend on what happened, when it happened, and the people or organizations involved. Our review considers the evidence, potential defendants, applicable defenses and the remedies the law may allow.
A criminal conviction is not always required to pursue a civil claim. For example, the Supreme Court of Ohio has held that a claim under Ohio’s civil-action-for-criminal-acts statute does not require an underlying criminal conviction. The civil claim still must satisfy its own legal requirements. See R.C. 2307.60 and Buddenberg v. Weisdack, 2020-Ohio-3832, paragraphs 11–14.
When an institution may be involved
Some matters require looking beyond the person who committed the abuse. Depending on the circumstances, a review may examine an employer’s or institution’s own conduct, including hiring, supervision, retention or its response to information about misconduct. Institutional responsibility must be supported by the facts and applicable law.
The Supreme Court of Ohio has recognized that a negligent hiring, retention or supervision claim can address an employer’s own wrongful conduct without a prior judgment against its employee. That does not establish liability in every case. See Evans v. Akron General Medical Center, 2020-Ohio-5535, paragraphs 10–11.
If the matter involves a government entity or public official, additional questions about civil rights, immunity and the proper court may arise. Learn about our civil rights and government-accountability practice. For concerns involving conduct at work, see our employment discrimination practice.
Sexual and digital exploitation
Digital exploitation can involve intimate images shared without consent, fabricated or manipulated sexual images, or threats to publish images to pressure or extort someone. We assess the conduct, the people involved and the laws that may provide a remedy. The existence of harmful online content does not automatically make every person or platform legally responsible.
Ohio law provides a civil cause of action for victims of conduct covered by its image-dissemination statute, including qualifying fabricated-image violations. The definitions, required facts and exceptions matter. Read R.C. 2307.66 and R.C. 2917.211.
Removal requests and civil lawsuits serve different purposes. The federal TAKE IT DOWN Act creates notice-and-removal obligations for covered platforms, with enforcement by the Federal Trade Commission. A separate legal assessment is needed to determine whether a person has a civil claim for damages or other relief. See the FTC’s explanation of the removal process.
Please do not upload or forward intimate images through this website. You can describe the concern in general terms and ask how to discuss it safely. If images may depict someone under 18, do not download, copy or send them to the firm through the website.
A first conversation about your options
You may start by asking how the consultation process works and what information is needed. You do not need to send a detailed account through the website to request a consultation. Ask how sensitive documents should be provided and what privacy considerations may apply if a case proceeds.
If you have records, messages or other materials that may relate to what happened, ask a lawyer about preserving them. A legal assessment can also begin when you have questions about what evidence exists or whether a claim is still possible.
Questions survivors often ask
Can I ask about a civil case if there was no criminal conviction?
Yes. The absence of a criminal conviction does not automatically rule out a civil claim. A lawyer must still assess the particular claim, supporting evidence, defenses and filing requirements.
What if the abuse happened years ago?
Timing needs an individual review. The applicable rules can depend on the claim, the defendant, the survivor’s age when the events occurred and other circumstances. Ohio law contains specific provisions concerning childhood sexual abuse. Do not assume that a claim is either timely or too late based only on the passage of time. See R.C. 2305.111.
Will my identity remain private if I file?
Ask about privacy before deciding how to proceed. A lawsuit may involve public filings, and any available protective measures depend on the court, the circumstances and the applicable rules. We cannot promise that a case or identity will remain private.
Is every sexual abuse case a civil rights case?
No. The appropriate legal framework depends on who was involved and the conduct at issue. A case may involve state-law civil claims, civil rights laws or more than one potential basis for relief.
Can a fabricated or AI-generated image raise legal concerns?
Yes. Ohio law expressly addresses certain fabricated sexual images. Whether a particular image, creation or distribution falls within a civil claim requires an assessment of the statutory definitions, conduct and exceptions. A removal option does not by itself establish a damages claim.
Ask about next steps
Call our Columbus main office at 614-944-5151 to request a consultation, or use our contact page to ask how to get started.
For satellite-office information, visit our Mechanicsburg office page.
This page provides general information, not legal advice about your particular matter. Contacting the firm does not establish an attorney-client relationship or extend a deadline. Please do not send confidential information through the website.