If you or someone you love was harmed by sexual abuse, the Fort Lauderdale sexual abuse lawyers at Horowitz Law are ready to stand beside you.
Our firm devotes its entire practice to representing survivors of sexual abuse and assault, and we have done so for survivors across Broward County and the country. We understand how much courage it takes to reach out, and we listen with care from the very first conversation.
You do not have to carry this alone, and you do not have to figure out your options by yourself. We answer our phones around the clock, because pain and hard questions do not keep business hours. Call us today at 954-641-2100 for a free, confidential consultation.
How Can a Fort Lauderdale Sexual Abuse Lawyer Help You?
A Fort Lauderdale sexual abuse lawyer can help you hold an abuser and any institution that enabled the harm accountable through a civil claim. Our attorneys guide you through each step, so you always know what is happening and why.
Civil cases are different from criminal cases. A criminal case is brought by the government to punish a wrongdoer, while a civil case is one that you control, seeking accountability and compensation for the harm done to you. We handle the legal side, so you can focus on your healing.
Pursuing a civil claim is not about money, and it is not about getting even. It is about justice and about securing the resources you or your loved one may need to move forward, such as therapy, counseling, and long-term support. When you need someone to talk to right away, national resources like RAINN are also there for you around the clock.
Here are a few of the ways our Fort Lauderdale sexual abuse attorneys support survivors:
- Investigating what happened and identifying everyone who may share responsibility
- Handling all communication with insurers, institutions, and opposing lawyers
- Connecting you with counseling and mental health resources when you want them
- Filing your claim in the proper Broward County court and pushing it forward
From the first call to the final resolution, we carry the legal weight, so you do not have to.
From the beginning, we move at a pace that feels right for you. Telling your story can be painful, so we listen without judgment and never push you to share more than you are ready to. Your comfort and your dignity guide how we work at every stage.
Past Case Results
Types of Sexual Abuse Cases We Handle in Broward County
Our firm handles a wide range of sexual abuse cases in Fort Lauderdale and throughout Broward County, from abuse within trusted institutions to assaults by individuals in positions of power. Many survivors were harmed by someone they were told to trust, and each case calls for a careful, trauma-informed approach.
We regularly represent survivors in cases such as:
- Church and clergy abuse within Catholic dioceses and other faith communities
- Child sexual abuse in homes, programs, and institutions
- Abuse connected to schools and universities
- Harm that happened at a daycare
- Abuse at a summer camp
- Assaults of young athletes in cheer and youth sports programs
- Sexual misconduct by a massage therapist during a session
- Abuse by a doctor or other medical provider
- Assaults aboard a cruise ship
- Abuse during a rideshare trip
If your experience is not on this list, please still reach out, because there is a good chance we can help or point you in the right direction.
What Is the Deadline to File a Sexual Abuse Lawsuit in Florida?
The deadline to file a sexual abuse lawsuit in Florida depends on your age at the time of the abuse and when you connected the harm to it. For many survivors who were abused as children, Florida law sets no deadline at all.
These time limits, known as the statute of limitations, are written into Florida Statutes Section 95.11. Adult survivors generally have a limited window to file, while survivors who were young children when the abuse occurred often may come forward with no time restriction.
Florida also recognizes what is called the delayed discovery rule, which can extend the time to file for survivors who only later understood how the abuse affected them. Trauma often works that way, and the law leaves room for it.
These rules are nuanced, and one detail can change which deadline applies to you. Because so much is at stake, we encourage you to speak with us early, so we can review the facts and explain what the law allows in your situation.
Even if you believe too much time has passed, it is worth asking. Many survivors are surprised to learn that a path to justice is still open to them.
Holding Broward County Institutions Accountable
We hold powerful Broward County institutions accountable when they enable or conceal sexual abuse, no matter how large or well-connected they are. No organization is too big for us to confront on behalf of a survivor.
Some of the most painful cases involve institutions that families trusted, including churches, schools, and youth programs. Our managing partner, Adam Horowitz, has spent much of his career litigating clergy abuse cases against Catholic dioceses around the country, work that made once-hidden church records public.
Survivors harmed within the Archdiocese of Miami, which serves Broward County and the rest of South Florida, can turn to a team that has done this work before.
Civil sexual abuse claims in Fort Lauderdale are generally filed in the 17th Judicial Circuit Court, the state trial court that serves all of Broward County from the downtown courthouse near Las Olas Boulevard and the New River. Our office sits a short walk away at 110 East Broward Blvd, Suite 1530, in the heart of the city.
When a large institution values its reputation over the safety of the people in its care, that failure deserves to be answered. We build cases carefully, gather records, and bring the full story into the light.
Knowing the local courts, the local institutions, and the community matters. We put that home-field knowledge to work for every survivor we represent here.
Why Survivors Choose Horowitz Law
Survivors choose Horowitz Law because we devote our entire practice to sexual abuse cases and treat every person who calls us with compassion and respect. This is not one of many things we do. It is the work we have committed our careers to.
Adam Horowitz has spent more than 25 years fighting for survivors, and he has represented thousands of people nationwide. In 2018, he and his colleagues obtained a jury verdict of more than $70 million for a young woman raped aboard a yacht in Fort Lauderdale, one of the largest verdicts ever recorded for an individual survivor of sexual assault.
Here is what sets our team apart:
- Decades of focused experience building and winning nuanced sexual abuse cases
- An AV Preeminent rating from Martindale-Hubbell, the highest peer rating available to attorneys
- Recognition that includes the 2024 Legacy of Justice award for advocacy on behalf of survivors
- Access to counseling, forensic specialists, and a community of other survivors for support
- Steady communication, so you are never left wondering about your case
You deserve a team that sees you and stands with you. Call 954-641-2100 to talk with us today, at no cost and in full confidence.
What Does It Cost to Work With a Fort Lauderdale Sexual Abuse Attorney?
Working with a Fort Lauderdale sexual abuse attorney at our firm costs you nothing upfront, and you pay no fee unless we recover compensation for you. Cost should never stand between a survivor and justice.
We handle cases on a contingency basis, which simply means our fee comes as a percentage of any recovery, and only if we win. If there is no recovery, you owe us no attorney’s fee. This lets any survivor seek justice, regardless of their financial situation.
We also cover the upfront costs of building your case, from gathering records to consulting specialists. You are never asked to pay out of pocket while your claim moves forward.
Your first conversation with us is always free and confidential. There is no pressure and no obligation, only a caring team ready to listen and explain your options.
Hear From Our Past Clients
The Compensation a Survivor May Recover
Compensation in a sexual abuse case is measured by the harm you have carried, and it is meant to help you rebuild, not to place a price on what happened to you. A civil recovery can provide real resources for the road ahead.
Every case is different, and no one can promise a specific outcome. Even so, survivors often seek compensation for losses such as:
- The cost of therapy, counseling, and ongoing mental health care
- Medical treatment connected to the abuse
- Lost income or missed opportunities caused by the trauma
- The lasting emotional pain and the loss of enjoyment of life
Money can never erase what was done to you. What it can do is open doors to healing, stability, and a sense that you were finally heard.
FAQs Answered by a Fort Lauderdale Sexual Abuse Lawyer
Survivors and their families often have questions before reaching out, so here are answers to a few we hear most often.
Is my consultation really confidential?
Yes. Your first conversation with us is completely confidential, and we treat everything you share with care. Reaching out does not commit you to anything, and nothing you tell us is shared without your permission. You stay in control of the process, and you decide what comes next.
Do I have to report the abuse to the police to bring a civil case?
No. A civil case is separate from the criminal system, so you can pursue a civil claim whether or not the abuse was ever reported to police. We can also talk through reporting options if that is something you are considering.
What if the person who abused me was never arrested or charged?
You may still have a civil claim even if there was never an arrest or a criminal charge. Civil cases follow a different standard than criminal cases, and they focus on the harm done to you rather than on punishing a crime. We can review the facts and explain what may be possible.
Can I hold an institution accountable if the abuser has left or died?
In many cases, yes. When a church, school, or organization enabled or hid abuse, it may share responsibility even if the individual is gone. Our team has confronted large institutions before, and we are ready to look closely at who may be accountable.
Will I have to testify in open court?
Not necessarily. Many sexual abuse claims resolve through a settlement without a trial, and we work to protect your privacy at every stage. If a case does move toward trial, we prepare you fully and stand with you the entire way. You will never face that courtroom alone.
Do you only help survivors in Fort Lauderdale?
No. While Fort Lauderdale and Broward County are home for our firm, we represent survivors across Florida and throughout the country. Wherever you are, you can call us to talk about your situation.
Ready to Talk With a Fort Lauderdale Sexual Abuse Lawyer?
Reaching out for help takes strength, and we are ready to meet you with compassion the moment you call. You do not have to decide everything today. You only have to take the first step.
At Horowitz Law, our Fort Lauderdale sexual abuse lawyers are here to listen, to believe you, and to fight for the justice you deserve. Every consultation is free and confidential, and you owe no fee unless we win.
Call us now at 954-641-2100, or reach out online to begin. When you are ready, we will be right here beside you.