Being the victim of any type of sexual assault or abuse can often cause feelings of shame, embarrassment, guilt, anger, and more — these difficult feelings can cause victims to shy away from the publicity of a lawsuit. Yet there are some who are able to speak out against their assailants with the help an experienced attorney.

Some sexual abuse cases receive more publicity than others, and the situation with Jerry Sandusky, the former college football coach from Penn State, is no different. As with anyone accused of a crime, someone facing sex crime charges has the opportunity to appeal the results of the initial case if they believe a mistake was made.

Jerry Sandusky was recently denied a new trial on the sex abuse allegations. Sandusky’s attorneys have a maximum of 30 days to appeal that judge’s decision to the Superior Court. The 73-year-old Sandusky has alleged that he was wrongly convicted of sex abuse allegations, a conviction that landed him in jail for several decades. He is currently in the midst of serving a 30 to 60 years sentence.

Eight of the various accusers in Sandusky’s case have testified at trial, alleging behavior such as violent sexual attacks, grooming, and fondling. He alleges that he did not receive appropriate representation at his 2012 trial and that prosecutors did not disclose enough details about changes to the victims’ stories. This has been one of the biggest scandals in college football history and also led to major procedural and structural changes at Penn State.

Institutional sexual assault and abuse lawsuits are fraught with difficulty for a number of reasons. In many cases, the institution takes steps to protect the abuser. Which is why if you or a loved one have been subjected to sexual assault or abuse at an institution like church, school, a residential treatment center, sports organization, summer camp, youth service organization, jail or prison, you should consult with experienced attorney Mark A. Smith who will file your lawsuit and righteously pursue litigation.

Call him today at (412) 567-9598 or fill out his online contact form for a free and confidential consultation.

 

The articles on this blog are for informative purposes only and are no substitute for legal advice or an attorney/client relationship. If you are seeking legal advice, please contact our law firm directly.