Vermont statute of limitations for filing civil sexual abuse lawsuits have been incredibly restrictive for decades. However, Vermont legislatures passed a new bill that changed everything for past, present, and future sexual abuse survivors: Vermont completely removed their statute of limitations for filing civil claims for sexual abuse.
Statute of limitations, the time limits individuals have to file a civil claim, typically starts from the date of the alleged abuse. However, new research and testimonies from sexual abuse survivors has shown that the average statute of limitations to file claims for sexual abuse have been far too short and limited. Survivors of child sexual abuse and advocates for survivors say, on average, statute of limitations on sexual abuse fail to account for the fact that it can take decades for sexual abuse survivors to confront their abuse, let alone pursue legal action for it. State legislatures has only just started to account for this information and pass laws that help, not hinder, sexual abuse survivors.
In June 2019, Vermont became one of only a few states in the country who passed new legislation to help sexual abuse survivors hold abusers accountable in court. If you were sexually abused in Vermont, you are not alone or without options for help. To see if you are eligible to file a claim against your abuser in court, contact our sexual abuse lawyers today for your free, no-obligation case evaluation.
Governor Phil Scott passed H. 330, a bill that completely removed the time limits for sexual abuse victims to bring civil lawsuits against their abusers. Previously, Vermont statute of limitations only allowed sexual abuse victims six years from the date of abuse to file a civil claim. Because it often takes abuse survivors years to process what happened to them, Vermont’s incredibly limited time frame prevented many sexual abuse survivors from filing claims for their abuse.
Now, Vermont has eliminated their previous statute of limitations, opening up opportunities for past, present, and future Vermont abuse survivors. Completely removing Vermont’s statute of limitations for filing civil abuse claims means that past abuse survivors can bring forward old claims. Even if these claims were considered “ineligible” or “expired” under the old statute of limitations, they can be brought forward again with the passing of H.330.
If you were sexually abused as a child in Vermont, your opportunity to pursue justice as significantly increased. We understand that confronting your abuse and deciding to exercise your legal rights can be a scary and uncertain time. At AVA Law Group, we’re here to support you during this time and connect you to the sexual abuse attorneys who can best help you with your case. Our partnering attorneys have years of experience tackling even the most difficult sexual abuse cases and fight to make sure clients only receive maximal compensation. To see if you are eligible to file a claim for your sexual abuse today, contact AVA Law Group today. We’re available 24/7 to answer your case questions and concerns and offer free, no-obligation case evaluations. Call today at 1.866.4.AVALAW.
