Seeking Justice On Behalf Of Child Sex Abuse Victims

I am attorney Konrad Kircher, and for more than 30 years, I have dedicated my legal practice to helping victims find justice. Over 20 of those years have been spent specifically representing child sexual abuse survivors in civil court. In that time, I have litigated cases against family members, clergy, doctors and educational professionals, tried cases before the Supreme Court of Ohio and recovered millions of dollars in compensation for my clients. If you or your child has experienced sexual abuse, I founded Kircher Law, LLC, in Cincinnati to fight for survivors and hold those responsible accountable under Ohio civil law.

Holding Sexual Predators Accountable Through Civil Lawsuits

When a child is sexually abused by someone in a position of authority or trust, the trauma runs deep and the path to healing is long. I serve child survivors by fighting on their behalf in civil court to hold their assailants accountable under Ohio law. I help child victims of sexual abuse who have experienced:

• Child sexual abuse in religious institutions
• Child sexual abuse in schools and youth organizations and daycare centers
• Child sexual abuse by family members
• Child sexual abuse in sports programs
• Child sexual abuse or assault in group homes and foster care
• Exploitation through child sexual abuse material (CSAM)

Criminal courts hold predators accountable to society through jail time, fines and sex offender registration. Civil court holds them accountable to the children they harmed. Both can and often should happen at the same time.

Who Can Be Held Accountable In A Civil Lawsuit For Sexual Abuse

Civil liability in child sexual abuse cases extends beyond the abuser. In many situations, third parties share legal responsibility for what happened through their own negligence or deliberate concealment of abuse.

Civil claims can be brought against the person who committed the abuse directly. But they can also be brought against the organizations, employers and supervisors who made the abuse possible or kept it hidden. An institution that received complaints and buried them, a supervisor who looked the other way or an employer who placed a known offender in a position of access to children can all face civil liability for the role they played, even if they never laid a hand on the victim.

Examples of third-party liability include a diocese that transferred a known offending priest rather than reporting him, a school that ignored complaints about a teacher or a sports organization that looked the other way when warning signs were present. These parties can be sued separately from or in addition to the abuser himself, and in many cases, they carry far greater financial resources to compensate victims.

What Damages May Be Available In A Civil Sexual Abuse Case

Ohio civil law allows sexual abuse survivors to pursue two broad categories of damages depending on the facts of the case.

Compensatory damages are designed to address the real losses a victim has suffered. These can include:

• Past and future costs of medical care and psychiatric treatment
• Therapy and counseling expenses related to the abuse
• Lost income or earning capacity when the trauma affects the victim’s ability to work
• Pain and suffering, emotional distress and loss of enjoyment of life

Punitive damages may also be awarded in cases where the defendant’s conduct was particularly egregious or where a third party deliberately covered up abuse. These damages are not tied to the victim’s specific losses. They are intended to punish the responsible party and deter similar conduct in the future.

Every case is different and the damages available depend on the specific facts, the parties involved and the evidence. I evaluate each situation individually to understand what compensation may be pursued.

What To Expect When Filing A Civil Lawsuit For Sexual Abuse

Many survivors hesitate to come forward because they are unsure what the process looks like or fear having their identity exposed. Here is a straightforward overview of what filing a civil lawsuit for sexual abuse typically involves.

• Privacy protections are available. Civil lawsuits for sexual abuse can be filed under a pseudonym, commonly referred to as a John Doe or Jane Doe filing. This keeps the victim’s name out of the public court record. If a case proceeds to trial, additional protections such as closed courtrooms and sealed records may be available to protect the victim’s identity and privacy.
• The process moves in stages. The case begins with a confidential consultation and review of the facts. From there, I conduct an investigation to identify all responsible parties and gather supporting evidence. Once the claim is filed, the case enters the discovery phase, where both sides exchange information. Many civil suits resolve through settlement before trial, meaning the victim may never need to appear in a courtroom at all.
• You have more control than you may realize. A settlement can be reached at any point in the process. I work with each client to understand their goals and make sure any resolution reflects what they actually need, financially and personally.

The decision to file is deeply personal, and there is no single right path. What I can tell you is that the process is designed with protections in place so that coming forward does not have to mean sacrificing your privacy or your peace of mind. My job is to handle the legal burden so you can focus on what matters most.

Statute Of Limitations And Filing Deadlines For Civil Child Sexual Abuse Cases In Ohio

Ohio law gives child sexual abuse survivors significant time to come forward. A victim generally has until their 30th birthday to file a civil claim for damages related to childhood sexual abuse. This extended window exists because it can take years, sometimes decades, for survivors to fully understand and process what happened to them.

There are exceptions to this standard deadline that may extend the time available to file. When an abuser or a responsible third party fraudulently concealed evidence of the abuse, Ohio courts may toll, or pause, the statute of limitations for the period during which the concealment prevented the victim from knowing about the abuse or their legal rights. This exception is particularly relevant in institutional cases where organizations actively suppressed allegations.

Ohio’s legislature has also periodically considered measures to further extend the filing deadline or create a limited revival window that would allow older claims to be brought forward regardless of the standard time limit. These legislative efforts reflect an ongoing recognition that the current deadline still prevents some survivors from accessing justice. I stay current on any changes to Ohio law that affect my clients’ ability to file.

Why File A Civil Lawsuit: Addressing The “I Just Want To Move On” Concern

Many survivors reach a point where they simply want to put the experience behind them. That is completely understandable. But filing a civil lawsuit is not about reliving the past. It is about two things that matter deeply for the future.

The first is financial compensation. Healing from childhood sexual abuse often requires years of therapy, psychiatric care and other medical support. Many survivors also experience lasting effects on their ability to work and maintain relationships. A civil lawsuit can help cover those real, ongoing costs so that healing does not come at the survivor’s personal expense.

The second is the protection of other children. Abusers rarely stop with one victim. Holding them and the institutions that enabled them financially accountable creates consequences that criminal prosecution alone often does not. Civil lawsuits have forced institutions to change policies, remove dangerous individuals and acknowledge what happened in ways that protect children who might otherwise become future victims.

Coming forward is one of the hardest decisions a survivor can make. But for many, it is also one of the most meaningful.