Sexual misconduct can happen anywhere in Connecticut, including inside nursing homes and assisted living facilities. In some cases, residents may behave inappropriately toward one another. In other cases, staff members or even administrators may exploit residents, particularly those with physical or cognitive impairments, for manipulation or abuse, including sexual abuse.
If you have experienced any form of sexual mistreatment inside a nursing home or suspect that a loved one has, you should strongly consider reaching out to a nursing home sexual abuse lawyer in Bridgeport as soon as possible. You may have the right to demand substantial civil recovery for the harm you or your loved one has suffered, and working closely with a compassionate sexual abuse attorney from Berkowitz and Hanna, LLC will be key to ensuring your legal proceedings go as smoothly and successfully for you as possible.
Every victim of sexual abuse reacts to that mistreatment in unique ways, and that is particularly true for elderly nursing home residents who may be experiencing cognitive decline. With that said, some of the more common symptoms of potential sexual abuse that family members of nursing home residents should be on the lookout for include:
While nursing home residents are above the legal age of consent in Connecticut, there are no circumstances under which a facility staff member in a position of power over a resident should engage in sexual activity of any kind with that resident. A nursing home sexual abuse attorney in Bridgeport can help take legal action against anyone who abuses their authority in this way.
If a nursing home resident is cognitively able to represent their own best interests in court, they have the right to file suit themselves over any injuries and losses they sustain from being sexually abused by a nursing home staff member. However, if a nursing home resident cannot represent themselves in this way, their family members can often step in to file suit over sexual abuse on their behalf.
In both scenarios, a lawsuit or settlement demand over sexual misconduct in a Bridgeport nursing home can incorporate economic damages like medical bills and expenses related to personal property damage, as well as non-economic forms of harm like physical pain and psychological distress. However, there are also strict filing deadlines for claims like this set by Connecticut state law, so contacting a lawyer quickly after discovering sexual abuse can be crucial to case success.
Finding out that an elderly family member has been mistreated in a care facility can be devastating. It is crucial to be proactive about enforcing your loved one’s right to civil recovery in this kind of situation, both to reimburse them for the harm they have already sustained and to minimize the impacts that harm will have on them in the future.
You have support available from a nursing home sexual abuse lawyer in Bridgeport with whatever legal action you wish to pursue. Reach out to our office today to get started.
Berkowitz Hanna
1087 Broad St
Bridgeport CT
06604
