If you are a survivor of sexual abuse in Florida, you deserve a legal team that believes you and treats your story with the care it deserves. At Horowitz Law, our Florida sexual abuse lawyers represent survivors of sexual abuse and assault across Florida, from the Panhandle to the Keys. Our sole focus is helping survivors hold abusers and the institutions that shielded them accountable in civil court.
We understand how much strength it takes to reach out, so we work to make that first step as gentle as possible. Every conversation with our firm is free, confidential, and handled with respect. There is no cost to speak with us, and no obligation to move forward.
For more than 25 years, our managing partner, Adam Horowitz, has stood beside survivors in some of the most challenging cases in the country.
In 2018, our team secured a jury verdict of more than $70 million for a young woman raped aboard a yacht in Fort Lauderdale, one of the largest awards ever recovered for an individual survivor of sexual assault. That result reflects how hard we fight, and how firmly we refuse to be intimidated by powerful institutions.
When you are ready, our Florida sexual abuse attorneys are here to listen at 954-641-2100.
How Can a Florida Sexual Abuse Lawyer Help You?
A Florida sexual abuse lawyer can help you file a civil claim, gather evidence, and pursue compensation from the people and institutions responsible for your harm. At Horowitz Law, we manage every part of the legal process, so you can focus on healing.
A civil case is different from a criminal case, and understanding that difference matters. In a criminal case, the state prosecutes the abuser, and the goal is punishment. In a civil case, you hold the power, and the goal is justice and the resources you need to move forward.
Our attorneys investigate what happened, identify everyone who may share responsibility, and build a case designed to hold them accountable. We also handle communication with insurance companies, defense lawyers, and institutions, so you are never forced to face them alone.
From the first call to the final resolution, we keep you informed and involved on your own terms. You will always know where your case stands, and you will always have a say in the decisions that shape it.
You do not need to have all the answers or every document before you call. Part of our job is to help you make sense of what happened and to explain the choices in front of you in plain language.
Serving Survivors Across Florida
Horowitz Law represents survivors in every corner of the state, and our attorneys travel wherever a client needs us. Our office sits on East Broward Boulevard in Fort Lauderdale, yet our work reaches communities from Jacksonville to Naples and everywhere between.
This statewide reach lets us bring the same focused, trauma-informed representation to survivors, whether they live along the coast or well inland. If you live near one of the cities below, you can connect with a resource built for your community.
No matter where you call home in Florida, our team can meet you where you are, and guide you toward justice at your own pace.
What Kinds of Sexual Abuse Cases Do We Handle in Florida?
We focus solely on sexual abuse and assault cases, including child sexual abuse, institutional abuse, and matters involving high-profile perpetrators. This concentration lets us bring deep, focused knowledge to every claim we accept.
Sexual abuse often happens in the places that are supposed to be the safest. Over the years, our attorneys have represented survivors harmed across a wide range of Florida settings, such as:
- Churches, dioceses, and other religious organizations that concealed abuse
- Private schools, universities, daycare centers, and youth programs
- Doctors' offices, hospitals, and other healthcare settings
- Massage businesses, including national spa chains
- Rideshare vehicles, cruise ships, and yachts
- Cases involving high-profile individuals and breaking news
In many of these cases, an organization knew about the danger and chose silence over safety. Part of our work is to uncover that history and to make sure it is not buried again.
We welcome both child survivors and adults who were harmed years ago, because the pain of abuse does not fade on a schedule. Whether the abuse happened last year or long in the past, your experience is valid, and your case deserves a careful, respectful review.
If your experience is not listed here, we still encourage you to call, because many survivors are surprised to learn what options remain open to them.
How Long Do You Have to File a Sexual Abuse Lawsuit in Florida?
In Florida, there is no deadline to file a civil lawsuit for the sexual abuse of a child under 16, as long as the claim was not already barred before July 1, 2010. Other cases follow different timelines, so it is always worth confirming your specific deadline with a lawyer.
These civil deadlines, called statutes of limitations, appear in Florida Statutes Section 95.11. The law recognizes that survivors often need years, and sometimes decades, before they feel safe enough to come forward.
For survivors abused at 16 or 17, Florida law generally allows a claim until age 25, or within four years of discovering that the abuse caused a lasting injury. This “delayed discovery” rule reflects how trauma can hide the connection between abuse and its effects for a long time.
For adult survivors abused at 18 or older, different and sometimes shorter deadlines apply, so early legal guidance is especially valuable. Even when a deadline appears to have passed, exceptions sometimes exist, which is why we encourage every survivor to ask.
Because these rules include important exceptions, please do not assume your time has run out. A short, confidential call can help you understand where you stand, with no pressure and no cost.
Florida Laws That Matter in Sexual Abuse Cases
Several Florida laws can strengthen a survivor's civil case, and knowing about them early can make a real difference. Three come up again and again in our work, and each can open a door that many survivors did not know existed.
Mandatory reporting under Florida law
Florida is a universal mandatory reporting state, which means every adult has a legal duty to report suspected child abuse. Under Florida Statutes Section 39.201, anyone who suspects a child is being harmed must contact the Florida Abuse Hotline.
When a school, church, or organization ignored that duty, that failure can become meaningful evidence in a civil claim. It can show that the warning signs were there, and that someone with a duty to act chose not to.
Florida's sex offender registry and Megan's Law
Florida carries out the federal Megan's Law through the Florida Sexual Predators Act and related registration statutes. The Florida Department of Law Enforcement maintains a public, searchable registry of offenders, which families can use to protect their children, and which our team can use to help support a case.
Medical Board and Department of Health discipline as civil evidence
When abuse involves a doctor, nurse, or massage therapist, that provider's disciplinary history can matter a great deal. The Florida Department of Health publishes license status and disciplinary records for health care providers, and those public records can help reveal a pattern of misconduct.
Our attorneys routinely review this information when we pursue accountability against licensed professionals and against the businesses that employed them. A documented history of complaints can strengthen the case that an employer should have acted sooner.
What to Expect When You Work With Horowitz Law
From your very first call, we handle the legal weight so you can focus on your wellbeing. Here is a simple picture of how we work together.
- We begin with a free, confidential conversation to understand what happened and answer your questions.
- Our team investigates the abuse, gathers records, and consults professionals who can support your case.
- We identify every party who may bear responsibility, including any institution that enabled the harm.
- We pursue a resolution through settlement or trial, always guided by your goals and your comfort.
Throughout the process, you set the pace, and we keep you informed and supported at every step.
Why Choose Horowitz Law?
Survivors choose Horowitz Law because we bring focused experience, national recognition, and a trauma-informed approach to every case. Sexual abuse representation is the only kind of work we do.
Our managing partner, Adam Horowitz, has represented thousands of survivors over more than 25 years, including clients harmed by clergy, schools, healthcare providers, and high-profile individuals. His work helped expose abuse within the Catholic Church, and led to landmark rulings on the statute of limitations and survivors' rights.
A few things set our firm apart:
- A concentrated focus on sexual abuse and assault cases, and nothing else
- An AV Preeminent peer rating, and a 2024 Legacy of Justice award for survivor advocacy
- Access to counseling referrals, forensic professionals, and survivor support networks
- Direct, regular communication with the attorneys handling your case
- A contingency approach, which means there is never a fee unless we recover for you
Because we handle these cases every day, we understand the courage your first call takes, and we honor it. To speak with our Florida sexual abuse lawyers, call 954-641-2100 for a free, confidential consultation.
Justice and Compensation for Florida Survivors
Pursuing a civil case is not about getting even, and it is not simply about money. For most survivors, it is about justice, accountability, and securing the resources needed to heal.
A successful claim can help cover therapy and counseling, medical care, lost income, and the lasting emotional harm caused by abuse. Just as importantly, it can bring a hidden truth into the light, and help protect others from the same harm.
Compensation can also create real stability. It can pay for the therapy that helps you rebuild, ease the financial strain that trauma often brings, and give you room to focus on your life instead of your bills.
Every survivor's goals are different. Some want financial security for years of therapy, while others are driven most by the chance to protect other families. We listen for what matters most to you, and we build the case around it.
We approach every case with a trauma-informed mindset, which means we follow your lead and protect your dignity throughout. You will never be pressured to share more than you are ready to share.
Nothing can undo what happened to you, and we will never pretend otherwise. What we can do is stand beside you, carry the legal burden, and fight for the accountability you and your family deserve.
FAQs Answered by a Florida Sexual Abuse Attorney
Below are answers to questions survivors and families often ask before they reach out to our team.
Will my case stay private if I contact a Florida sexual abuse lawyer?
Yes. Your first consultation is free and confidential, and we take your privacy seriously at every stage. Many survivors also have the option to file civil claims using their initials, or as a “Jane Doe” or “John Doe,” and we can discuss what protections may apply to your situation.
Do I have to report the abuse to the police to file a civil claim?
No. A civil claim is separate from a criminal case, and you can pursue one without the other. That said, our team can explain how a police report or a criminal case might affect your options. You are always in control of that decision, and we will respect whatever feels right for you.
Can I sue an institution and not just the abuser?
Often, yes. When a school, church, employer, or business failed to protect you, or covered up abuse, that organization may share legal responsibility. Holding institutions accountable is a central part of our work.
What does it cost to hire Horowitz Law?
Nothing upfront. We handle sexual abuse cases on a contingency basis, so you pay no fee unless we recover compensation for you. This lets survivors seek justice without added financial stress.
How long will my Florida sexual abuse case take?
Every case is different, and timelines depend on the facts, the institutions involved, and whether a case settles or goes to trial. We will give you an honest picture early, and keep you updated as things move forward. Our promise is steady communication, so you are never left wondering what comes next.
Can I still pursue a case if the abuser has died or the business has closed?
Possibly. Depending on the facts, a claim may proceed against an estate, an insurer, or a successor organization. These situations can be complex, so it is best to let us review the specific details with you.
What if the abuse happened many years ago?
You may still have options. Florida law gives many survivors of childhood sexual abuse the right to file, sometimes with no deadline at all, so it is worth asking before you assume it is too late.
Reach Out to Our Florida Sexual Abuse Lawyers Today
You do not have to carry this alone, and you do not have to decide everything today. One free, confidential call is enough to begin.
At Horowitz Law, our Florida sexual abuse lawyers are ready to listen with compassion, and to fight with everything we have. When you are ready to talk, we are here for you.
Call 954-641-2100 or reach out online to schedule your free, confidential consultation. Your voice matters, your story matters, and justice starts here.