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Knowledge, experience, and dedication have brought the lawyers of The Epstein Law Firm to the forefront of their profession. From personal injury to civil litigation, they have built a strong record of success in achieving justice for their clients.
Our practice is diverse and well-established. Recognizing that every case is unique, we always begin by listening to you.
The Epstein Law Firm, P.A. has been successfully representing clients throughout New Jersey since 1973
Seeking help after sexual abuse involves more than deciding whether to sue. You may need to understand who can see your information, whether an organization shares responsibility, and how treatment and financial losses would be addressed. Those questions deserve attention before you make decisions about a claim.
The Epstein Law Firm represents survivors in New Jersey civil sexual abuse cases. We can discuss the legal options available to you, review the dates that affect your claim and investigate the people and organizations involved. You do not need a complete collection of records before requesting a free consultation.
A useful first step is separating three needs: immediate safety and support, preserving information, and evaluating a civil claim. They can move forward together, but they follow different processes. Getting counseling does not require committing to a lawsuit.
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The person who committed abuse may not be the only potential defendant. A case may also examine whether an organization placed that person in a position of trust, ignored complaints or failed to supervise access to children. An organization’s involvement does not automatically establish liability: the evidence must support the particular legal claim.
Situations worth evaluating include abuse involving clergy, schools, youth programs, camps and healthcare settings. Each creates different questions about supervision and responsibility. For example, a school investigation may require employment records and earlier complaints; a healthcare case may involve appointment records, patient communications and the circumstances of an examination.
New Jersey law contains specific exceptions to institutional immunity. The standards differ for public entities, nonprofit organizations and individuals. For claims involving public entities, the statute distinguishes serious misconduct from negligent hiring, supervision or retention that causes covered abuse of a minor. These are fact-specific requirements, not a rule that every organization is liable whenever abuse occurs. See N.J.S.A. 59:2-1.3.
You can begin with information already available to you. Keep original messages, letters, photographs and documents in a secure place. Avoid editing files or deleting exchanges because they seem incomplete or embarrassing. Make a separate note of what you remember, distinguishing approximate dates from dates documented in records.
Useful starting points may include:
You do not need to contact the alleged abuser or confront an institution to arrange a legal consultation. Tell your lawyer what records exist and who may hold them. Questions about obtaining private records, preserving institutional files and communicating with potential witnesses should be handled carefully through lawful channels.
The Epstein Law Firm can use that initial information to identify what needs investigation. Missing paperwork does not answer whether a case is possible; neither does possession of one document establish every element of a claim.
For covered childhood sexual abuse claims, New Jersey generally allows filing by age 55 or within seven years after reasonable discovery of the injury and its connection to the abuse, whichever date is later. Covered adult sexual assault claims generally have seven years from reasonable discovery of the injury and its causal relationship to the act. These rules come from N.J.S.A. 2A:14-2a.
Discovery is a legal issue, not simply the date someone first decides to call a lawyer. Earlier disclosures, treatment and other circumstances may matter. A lawyer needs to examine the history rather than calculating a deadline from your present age alone.
The separate temporary revival period created by the 2019 law has ended. That does not mean every claim involving old abuse is barred. The extended filing rules and any applicable tolling must still be considered. Bring information about prior lawsuits, settlements or compensation-program participation as well; those matters may affect the review.
A civil claim looks at the harm caused by the abuse and the evidence supporting it. Relevant losses can extend beyond an initial medical bill. Counseling expenses, changes in work, emotional suffering and disruption of ordinary activities may all require careful documentation.
New Jersey’s Child Sexual Abuse Act expressly recognizes psychological injury even without physical injury. Its damages provisions include counseling costs, medical expenses, emotional trauma, diminished enjoyment of life and lost wages. That recognition does not eliminate the need to prove responsibility and the connection between the conduct and the claimed losses. See N.J.S.A. 2A:61B-1.
Describe your own experience rather than trying to fit a list of symptoms. A clinician evaluates treatment needs; a lawyer evaluates how relevant evidence can support a legal claim. Future expenses require support, and no standard settlement amount applies to every survivor.
Privacy should be part of the first conversation. Ask how the firm will contact you, who may receive information if a case is filed and what protections apply to your circumstances. Tell the team if voicemail, email or mailed correspondence could create a concern.
The Child Sexual Abuse Act provides protections for identifying information in actions under that law, including use of initials or a fictitious name in public records. It also contains exceptions involving consent or a court determination. Those protections should not be described as a promise that nobody will ever learn about a claim. Your lawyer can explain the difference between keeping information from the public and information that may need to be exchanged during litigation.
For immediate danger, call 911. For other support, New Jersey’s sexual violence service directory identifies funded programs offering crisis assistance, counseling, advocacy and accompaniment. The statewide hotline is 1-800-601-7200. You can ask about local services, accessibility and a safe way to communicate.
The state describes these services as available regardless of when the violence occurred or whether it was reported to authorities, with program eligibility details on its directory. A support call can begin with your immediate needs; it is not necessary to assemble a legal evidence packet first. For a recent assault or injury, seek prompt medical assistance and ask a provider about available care and forensic options.
Support services and a civil lawsuit serve different purposes. Contacting an advocate does not file a claim or extend a court deadline. Likewise, a compensation claim should not delay getting help that is needed now.
The Epstein Law Firm’s published results include a settlement for a woman sexually assaulted by her physician. That is relevant experience with an abuse claim arising in a professional relationship of trust. The separate results section provides the reported amount and source; it is not a prediction of what another case will recover.
When contacting our team, start with what you need to understand: whether a deadline remains open, whether an institution may be responsible, or what pursuing a claim would involve. We can discuss the information needed for that review and the next steps before you decide how to proceed. Contact The Epstein Law Firm to arrange a free consultation.
You can begin by explaining what you need to understand about a possible claim. Tell our team about any communication or privacy concerns, and bring the dates and records you have so we can discuss the next steps for review.
Selected results reported by The Epstein Law Firm.
Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome. Each case depends on its own facts, evidence, and applicable law.
These excerpts describe experiences with the firm. They are not identified as cases in this practice area and do not predict another outcome.
“They took the time to explain everything clearly, making sure I understood my options and felt comfortable with each step of the process.”
— R. S. · Read the full Google review
“Michael and his team were incredibly responsive, always keeping us informed and addressing any questions or concerns promptly.”
— s. v. · Read the full Google review
These answers provide general information. The facts, applicable law and available evidence can change the analysis of a particular claim.
New Jersey generally allows covered childhood sexual abuse claims by age 55 or within seven years after reasonable discovery of the injury and its causal relationship to the abuse, whichever date is later. The statute applies to specified sexual misconduct against a person who was a minor when it occurred. It does not make every allegation timely without further analysis.
An attorney should review your age at the time, the dates of events and disclosures, and when the connection between the abuse and injury was reasonably discoverable. Prior proceedings and potential tolling also matter. Do not assume that a deadline starts only when you first consult an attorney.
Sources: N.J.S.A. 2A:14-2a — civil filing deadlines; N.J.S.A. 2A:61B-1 — accrual of childhood sexual abuse actions.
No. For covered sexual assault or other sexual crimes committed against an adult, N.J.S.A. 2A:14-2a generally sets a seven-year period from reasonable discovery of the injury and its causal relationship to the act. The childhood age-based provision is not the rule for an assault occurring after adulthood.
The relevant discovery date may require evidence and legal analysis. Give your attorney an accurate chronology, including treatment, communications and any earlier legal action. The law also permits courts to consider certain equitable tolling grounds, but those are not automatic extensions. A review of the particular facts is necessary before concluding that an adult claim is timely or expired.
Sources: N.J.S.A. 2A:14-2a — adult claims and tolling; P.L. 2019, chapter 120 — enacted civil claims reforms.
No. The temporary revival period and the extended filing deadlines are separate provisions. The revival period allowed otherwise time-barred claims to be filed during the two years following the law’s December 1, 2019 effective date. That special window has ended, but the age-based and reasonable-discovery provisions still require consideration for an older claim.
Avoid deciding eligibility solely from the year the abuse occurred. A lawyer should review the current limitations rules, any applicable tolling and the effect of prior litigation or agreements. Neither the passage of decades nor a recent realization, by itself, supplies a reliable answer about whether a court will accept the case.
Sources: P.L. 2019, chapter 120 — revival period and effective date; N.J.S.A. 2A:14-2a — extended limitations periods.
Possibly. A claim against an institution requires a legal basis and evidence connecting its conduct to the harm. New Jersey’s public-entity statute addresses covered sexual misconduct caused by willful, wanton or grossly negligent acts, and separately addresses negligent hiring, supervision or retention of a public employee resulting in covered misconduct against a minor.
Nonprofit organizations are governed by their own immunity provisions and exceptions. The inquiry may involve hiring files, supervision practices, prior complaints and the person’s assigned role. An institution’s name or reputation is not a substitute for proof, and the existence of an immunity exception does not automatically establish that the institution caused the injury.
Sources: N.J.S.A. 59:2-1.3 — public entity and employee liability; P.L. 2019, chapter 120 — charitable immunity amendments.
Yes. New Jersey’s Child Sexual Abuse Act expressly includes psychological injury or illness whether or not physical injury or illness is also present. The statute also identifies emotional trauma, counseling costs and diminished enjoyment of life among compensatory losses. The absence of a visible injury therefore does not, by itself, rule out a claim under that law.
Your experience still needs individual evaluation. Treatment records and other evidence may help explain the harm and its connection to the abuse, but a webpage cannot diagnose you or establish damages. Counseling and advocacy services can also be explored while the legal issues are being reviewed; seeking support does not require deciding to sue.
Sources: N.J.S.A. 2A:61B-1 — injury definition and damages; New Jersey DCF — sexual violence support services.
Not necessarily. For actions under New Jersey’s Child Sexual Abuse Act, the statute provides for initials or a fictitious name instead of identifying information in the complaint and other public records. It also provides confidentiality protections and recognizes circumstances in which disclosure may be allowed, including consent or a court finding after a hearing.
Those provisions should not be treated as a universal anonymity guarantee for every type of sexual assault lawsuit. Ask which rules govern your proposed claims, what information defendants may receive and what protective measures can be requested. Discuss a safe contact method before sharing sensitive records, and distinguish a confidential support conversation from the requirements of litigation.
Sources: N.J.S.A. 2A:61B-1 — identifying information and court protections; New Jersey DCF — confidential support services.
A claim under New Jersey’s Child Sexual Abuse Act can address supported losses such as medical expenses, counseling costs and lost wages, alongside emotional trauma, pain and diminished enjoyment of life. The recoverable amount depends on the applicable claims and evidence; there is no standard payment for every survivor.
Keep bills, insurance explanations, treatment information and employment records that may document the consequences. Explain anticipated needs as well as expenses already incurred, without assuming future costs will automatically be accepted. Damages and filing deadlines are separate issues: evidence of substantial harm does not eliminate the need to bring a legally timely claim against a party who can be held responsible.
Sources: N.J.S.A. 2A:61B-1 — compensatory damages; N.J.S.A. 2A:14-2a — civil filing requirements.
Yes. New Jersey’s funded sexual violence programs offer services regardless of whether the violence was reported to authorities. The state describes counseling, advocacy, crisis assistance and accompaniment among the available services, subject to program eligibility. You can contact the statewide hotline at 1-800-601-7200 or use the state directory to locate a provider.
Ask the provider about confidentiality, age-related requirements and services suited to your circumstances. A support provider can explain available options without requiring you to decide about a civil lawsuit during that first contact. If there is immediate danger, call 911. Medical needs and legal deadlines should be addressed separately rather than delayed while you decide about reporting.
Sources: New Jersey DCF — sexual violence direct services; New Jersey State Police — sexual violence information and statewide hotline.
You can still ask for a legal evaluation. Start with the information you have: approximate dates, the setting, the person’s role, earlier disclosures and any surviving communications. Explain which details are uncertain rather than filling gaps with guesses. A lawyer can then consider what additional records may exist and how they could be obtained lawfully.
Incomplete records do not establish that a case must fail, but they also do not excuse the need to prove the claim. The timing of disclosures and recognition of injury may be relevant to the reasonable-discovery analysis. Preserve available originals and discuss sensitive medical or counseling records before deciding what to share and with whom.
Sources: N.J.S.A. 2A:14-2a — reasonable discovery and timing; N.J.S.A. 2A:61B-1 — injury, accrual and privacy provisions.
Claims brought under N.J.S.A. 2A:14-2a must proceed individually rather than as a class action. The statute expressly recognizes that the circumstances, discovery of injury and damages differ among survivors. Knowing that other people have raised allegations against the same institution does not mean that someone else has filed a claim on your behalf.
Ask an attorney to evaluate your own deadline, evidence and possible defendants. Tell the attorney about any settlement, release or compensation program you previously participated in so its effect can be assessed. Information from other claims may warrant investigation, but it does not replace individual proof or guarantee the same result in your case.
Sources: N.J.S.A. 2A:14-2a — individual actions requirement; P.L. 2019, chapter 120 — individual claims and revival provisions.
New Jersey Legislature — sexual abuse civil filing deadlines
New Jersey Legislature — Child Sexual Abuse Act
New Jersey Legislature — P.L. 2019, chapter 120
New Jersey DCF — sexual violence direct services
New Jersey State Police — sexual violence information
New Jersey Legislature — P.L. 2025, chapter 29, public entity liability
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