We’ll Fight for Your Child
Hach & Rose, LLP represents survivors in a case against a serial sex abuser in Florida. The alleged perpetrator is John Robert White, a 53-year-old school bus driver from Vernon, FL. He was arrested and charged with several sex crimes in early June 2022, as reported by
News 4 WTVY. An investigation by the Washington County Sheriff’s Office (WCSO) found that multiple individuals have alleged that the man sexually molested them. Victims of his abuse are entitled to child sex abuse survivor support, including financial compensation from a lawsuit. The WCSO school resource deputy initiated the investigation on May 5 after a student was overheard saying that a friend's father had sexually molested her.
Two more survivors have since stepped forward. They stated that White had been molested on multiple occasions. White has been charged with several crimes. Including one count of lewd and lascivious behavior against a person aged 12-16. One count of lewd and lascivious battery against a person aged 12-16. And one count of lewd and lascivious molestation against a person under age 12. Washington County Sheriff Kevin Crews has stated that the department suspects more survivors have yet to come forward. The sex abuse lawyers of
Hach & Rose, LLP have extensive experience representing survivors of child sex offenses. We help them pursue justice through compensation. If the alleged perpetrator harmed your child, contact our team today for a free consultation to discuss your legal options. We understand how childhood sexual abuse can upend young lives. If your child is a survivor of sexual abuse, your family deserves the chance to hold their abuser accountable in civil court. Call us today at
212-779-0057 for a free consultation about your child’s case.
Why You Should File a Lawsuit
While it can seem intimidating, the purpose of a sex abuse lawsuit is to hold an abuser financially accountable for their crimes by demanding compensation for the harm they’ve caused. The civil legal process is separate from criminal legal proceedings. The state brings criminal charges, but civil lawsuits can be brought by survivors of sex abuse or their parents if the survivors are minors. While perpetrators of child sex abuse can face fines, jail time, sex offender registry, and other penalties if convicted in criminal court, the “penalty” in a civil trial is strictly financial. The burden of proof is also lower than in criminal court, where the prosecution must prove a case “beyond a reasonable doubt.” At
Hach & Rose, LLP, we know how traumatic it can be for a child to live through sexual abuse. Many survivors of child sex abuse experience significant emotional and mental health problems later in life. They may suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Coming forward with allegations of sexual abuse takes immense courage. If your child was sexually abused, you can be certain that the attorneys at
Hach & Rose, LLP will handle their case with the utmost compassion and sensitivity. We want to empower and educate survivors of child sexual assault and help them fight for the compensation they deserve. When you hire our team, you will work with a small group of attorneys who will thoroughly familiarize themselves with your case's details. Our goal is to honor your child’s bravery in coming forward by fighting tirelessly to defend their rights and advocate for their interests in and out of court. Holding your child’s abuser accountable in civil court can be an important step toward healing.
Child Sex Abuse Survivor Support: Frequently Asked Questions
Below, you will find the answers to some of the questions that our firm is most commonly asked by survivors of sexual abuse and their loved ones.
Will My Child’s Confidentiality Be Protected?
Our legal team can often reach a settlement with the other party without filing a lawsuit or litigating a case at trial. If a settlement agreement can’t be reached and the case goes to trial, we can file a lawsuit that anonymously names your child as a John or Jane Doe. Courts understand the importance of allowing minors to maintain their anonymity. In some cases, a judge may seal the case records. While in other cases, legal proceedings are not accessible to the public. To learn more about confidentiality in the legal process, you should consult an attorney from
Hach & Rose, LLP.
How Long Do I Have to File a Lawsuit?
Children who have been sexually abused may not fully understand what has transpired. Or they may choose not to report the incident to an adult for various reasons, including shame and fear. Many survivors of child sex abuse repress memories of the abuse until something triggers the memory later in life. In Florida, where the sexual offenses described above were allegedly committed, the statute of limitations for childhood sexual assault against minors was recently eliminated. Under “
Donna’s Law,” survivors of childhood sexual abuse committed on or after July 1, 2020, can now file lawsuits against their abusers no matter how much time has passed. Before Donna’s Law, Florida House Bill 525, which was signed into law in 2010, eliminated the statute of limitations for civil claims related to child sex abuse of minors who were under 16 at the time of the offense, but not for older minors.
How Much Will It Cost to Bring a Civil Lawsuit?
At
Hach & Rose, LLP, our attorneys work on a contingency fee basis. We don’t collect our legal fees upfront. Instead, we only collect our fee if we successfully obtain compensation for our clients. If we don’t win your case, we don’t get paid.
We are currently representing clients and pursuing investigations on behalf of sex abuse survivors in the Vernon, Florida, case and others. If your child is a survivor of sexual abuse, contact
Hach & Rose, LLP today at
212-779-0057 for a free, no-risk case evaluation. You should also feel free to visit our Resources page, where you can find more
FAQs,
testimonials, and
results. We will help you understand your legal rights and the potential outcome of your civil case. Put our skilled attorneys to work for your child today.