Do you have a civil sexual abuse case in Pennsylvania?
Possibly — and it costs nothing to find out. A civil case is separate from anything the police or a district attorney do. A criminal case can punish an abuser; a civil claim is yours, and it lets you hold both the abuser and the institution that enabled the abuse financially accountable. You do not need a criminal conviction. You do not need a police report. You do not need to have told anyone at the time.
Survivors reach out at every stage — some within days, many after decades, and most after a long stretch of wondering whether what happened to them “counts.” It does not cost anything to ask, and asking commits you to nothing.
Who can be held responsible in Pennsylvania?
The person who committed the abuse is responsible for what they did. But the cases that produce real accountability — and real compensation — are usually the ones that reach the organization that made the abuse possible. Pennsylvania institutions can be held liable when they were negligent in ways such as:
- Negligent hiring — putting someone in a position of trust without meaningful screening, or despite known warning signs.
- Negligent supervision — allowing unsupervised one-adult-one-child access, ignoring their own policies, or failing to monitor what they were responsible for.
- Negligent retention — keeping a person in place after complaints, a prior incident, or a report that went nowhere.
- Failure to report — not reporting suspected abuse as Pennsylvania’s mandated-reporter law requires.
- Cover-up — quietly transferring someone, settling in silence, or protecting the institution’s reputation instead of the people in its care.
Identifying every responsible party — the organization, its parent or franchise, a staffing agency, an insurer — is a large part of what this work actually involves. See how Pennsylvania institutions are held liable →
Sexual abuse cases we handle across Pennsylvania
Survivors of Abuse PA represents survivors statewide in civil claims against the people who caused harm and the institutions that enabled it. Cases commonly involve:
- Daycare and childcare abuse · School and teacher abuse · Title IX and campus assault
- Doctor and medical abuse · Hospital abuse · Psychiatric and treatment facilities
- Clergy and church abuse · Scouting and youth organizations · Coaches and youth sports
- Foster care and group homes · Nursing homes and elder care · Juvenile detention
- Massage and spa abuse · Rideshare assault · Hotels and trafficking · Sex trafficking
If your situation is not on this list, it does not mean you do not have a claim. See how a Pennsylvania sexual abuse lawsuit works →
How long do you have to file in Pennsylvania?
Pennsylvania has specific deadlines, and they have changed in recent years — so the safest step is to confirm yours directly. The civil deadline for a sexual-abuse claim in Pennsylvania depends on your age, when the abuse happened, and other facts, and the rules have been the subject of ongoing reform in Harrisburg. Because getting this wrong could cost you your case, we do not list a single number here.
What matters is this: even abuse from years ago may still be within the deadline, and waiting can forfeit the right to file. A free, confidential call with Ashley DiLiberto gives you a clear, accurate answer about your specific deadline — at no cost and no obligation. Read more about Pennsylvania’s filing deadlines →
Where survivors can get help in Pennsylvania
Your safety and wellbeing come before any legal question. If you are in immediate danger, call 911. To report suspected child abuse in Pennsylvania, contact ChildLine, the state’s 24/7 child-abuse hotline, at 1-800-932-0313. For free, confidential support at any hour, the RAINN National Sexual Assault Hotline is 1-800-656-4673. Pennsylvania is also served by a statewide network of local rape-crisis centers coordinated by the Pennsylvania Coalition Against Rape (PCAR), and by county Children and Youth Services agencies. See the full Pennsylvania survivor resource list →
What happens when you reach out
You talk to a real Pennsylvania attorney — not a screener and not a call center. You share only what you are comfortable sharing, at your pace. Ashley explains plainly whether there appears to be a claim, who might be responsible, and what your deadline looks like. Then you decide what you want to do, if anything. There is no fee to talk, no obligation, and no pressure. Meet Ashley DiLiberto, Esq. →
Compensation in a Pennsylvania sexual abuse claim
Civil claims can seek compensation for counseling and future therapy, medical care, lost income and earning capacity, pain and suffering, and the long-term effect on your life and sense of safety. Many cases also force an institution to change how it screens, supervises, and reports — which is frequently the outcome survivors care about most. These cases are handled on contingency: there is no cost unless we win. Past results never guarantee a future outcome; every case turns on its own facts.
Serving survivors across Pennsylvania
Ashley DiLiberto represents survivors throughout the Commonwealth, including Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Allentown, Erie, Reading, Scranton, Bethlehem, Lancaster, Harrisburg, and York. See all areas we serve →
Frequently asked questions
Do I have a sexual abuse case in Pennsylvania?
You may, and a free confidential call is the only way to know. Generally there is a civil claim where someone sexually abused or assaulted you and — in the strongest cases — an institution's negligence made it possible. You do not need a criminal conviction, a police report, or to have told anyone at the time. Pennsylvania's filing deadlines depend on your age and other facts, so it is worth confirming yours even if the abuse happened long ago.
Where do I start if I was sexually abused in Pennsylvania?
Start with safety and support: call 911 if you are in danger, ChildLine at 1-800-932-0313 to report suspected child abuse, or the RAINN hotline at 1-800-656-4673 for free 24/7 support. When you are ready — and only then — a confidential conversation with a Pennsylvania civil attorney will tell you whether you have a claim, who may be responsible, and what your deadline is. Nothing obligates you to file.
What is the difference between a criminal case and a civil sexual abuse lawsuit in Pennsylvania?
A criminal case is brought by the Commonwealth to punish an offender, and the survivor is a witness rather than a party. A civil lawsuit is brought by the survivor, seeks financial compensation and accountability, and can reach institutions the criminal system never touches. The two are independent: a civil claim can succeed even where there was no charge, no conviction, or no report at all.
Can I sue an institution in Pennsylvania rather than only the abuser?
Often yes, and it is usually the more meaningful claim. Where a school, church, daycare, medical practice, employer, or care facility was negligent in hiring, supervision, retention, or reporting, it can be held financially responsible. Institutions also carry the insurance and assets that make real compensation possible, which an individual abuser frequently does not.
Does Survivors of Abuse PA handle cases across all of Pennsylvania?
Yes. Ashley B. DiLiberto, Esq. is licensed in Pennsylvania and represents survivors throughout the Commonwealth — Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Allentown, Erie, Reading, Scranton, Bethlehem, Lancaster, Harrisburg, York and the surrounding counties. Initial conversations happen by phone or video, so you do not need to travel to talk to a lawyer.
What if the abuse happened many years ago in Pennsylvania?
It is still worth asking. Pennsylvania has expanded the time available to survivors of childhood sexual abuse, and the deadline depends on your age, when the abuse occurred, and other specifics. Many survivors assume too much time has passed and are wrong. Because the rules have changed and a mistake can forfeit a claim, confirm your actual deadline in a free confidential call rather than assuming.
What does it cost to hire a Pennsylvania sexual abuse lawyer?
Nothing up front. These cases are handled on contingency, which means there is no fee unless the case is won, and the initial consultation is free and confidential regardless of whether you move forward. You will never be asked for payment to find out whether you have a claim.
Will my family or employer find out if I contact a lawyer?
Your initial conversation is confidential. What you share is protected, and you control what happens next — including whether to file anything at all. Many survivors reach out simply to understand their options and take no further step for months, or ever. Privacy concerns are normal and can be discussed directly before you decide anything.
Can I bring a claim in Pennsylvania if the abuser has died?
Sometimes, yes. Even where the individual who caused the harm has died, a claim may still be available against an institution that was negligent, or against an estate, depending on the facts and timing. This is exactly the kind of question worth asking rather than assuming — the answer turns on details specific to your situation.
Do I have to relive what happened in order to talk to a lawyer?
No. A first conversation does not require a detailed account of the abuse. Ashley's practice is trauma-informed: you set the pace, you share only what you are comfortable sharing, and you can stop at any point. Enough information to assess whether there is a claim is usually far less than survivors expect.
What kind of lawyer handles sexual abuse cases in Pennsylvania?
These are civil claims handled by a sexual-abuse and personal-injury attorney with experience holding institutions accountable — not a criminal defense or family lawyer. Ashley B. DiLiberto, Esq. is a Pennsylvania sexual abuse lawyer and a Partner at Messa & Associates, P.C., where she leads the firm's national Mass Tort Litigation Team.
How long does a Pennsylvania sexual abuse lawsuit take?
It varies widely with the facts, the defendant, and whether the case resolves through negotiation or litigation — some conclude in well under a year, others take considerably longer. What matters more than the timeline is starting before the filing deadline passes. A confidential review will give you a realistic picture for your specific circumstances.
Serving sexual abuse survivors across Pennsylvania
Ashley DiLiberto represents survivors statewide. Explore help in your area:
