Legal Question in Civil Litigation in Michigan

Sexual Abuse Victims rights

Starting when I was 7 years old, I was sexually abused by my step-father. Although the physical part of it ended roughly a year later (when my mom found out about it), he continued peeping through windows and heating vents through my teen years. He was charged with 1st degree criminal sexual conduct for sexually abusing my neice, now 25, when she was about 10. He got a plea bargain and was convicted of 2nd degree CSC and was just released after serving 12 years of his 5 - 15 year sentence (which the court says was the maximum they could hold him). He was treated as a habitual offender because they brought my abuse into the trial. Would either my neice or I have recourse against our abuser to pay restitution?


Asked on 2/24/09, 12:45 pm

1 Answer from Attorneys
Timothy Klisz Klisz Law Office, PLLC

Re: Sexual Abuse Victims rights

the simple answer is yes. But there are two main hurdles to a successful case against him. First, there is a statute of limitations on claims like this which are tolled when you are under 18, but run after that. So if you recently turned 18, you might have a shot.

Secondly, no insurance will cover this, so you would have to collect it from him personally. If he has a job and assets, it would be a decent case. Please visit www.kliszlaw.com to discuss specifics. Tim Klisz

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Answered on 2/24/09, 1:10 pm


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