Seeking Justice After Sexual Assault: Civil Attorneys’ Role

Sexual assault and harassment do not always begin with violence. Many times, they begin with silence. 

For decades, sexual assault and sexual harassment were treated as “open secrets,” misconduct that was known, tolerated, minimized, or quietly ignored. That reality shifted when survivors of abuse by Harvey Weinstein, Larry Nassar, and Bill Cosby forced a national reckoning, exposing not only individual perpetrators, but the institutions that enabled them. 

Sexual assault and sexual harassment are deeply personal violations that often leave lasting emotional, physical, and financial consequences. For many survivors, the harm extends far beyond the initial misconduct, affecting careers, education, relationships, and long-term well-being. While criminal proceedings may be one avenue for accountability, civil litigation plays a critical role in addressing these wrongs. Civil litigation confronts the unfortunate fact that sexual misconduct is frequently sustained by systems of power, not just individual acts. Employers, organizations, and institutions may ignore warning signs, suppress complaints, or prioritize reputation over safety, allowing harm to continue long after it could have been prevented. 

At Plakas Mannos, we represent survivors of sexual assault and sexual harassment in civil cases across Ohio. Our work focuses not only on holding individual wrongdoers accountable, but also on pursuing responsibility from employers, institutions, and organizations that failed to prevent misconduct or respond appropriately once it occurred.

Understanding Sexual Assault and Sexual Harassment in Civil Litigation

Sexual assault involves unwanted sexual contact or conduct imposed through force, coercion, or without consent. Sexual harassment includes unwelcome sexual advances, comments, gestures, inappropriate touching, or other conduct of a sexual nature that creates a hostile or intimidating environment, whether in the workplace, a healthcare setting, a school, or a residential facility.

Lessons from High-Profile Sexual Assault Litigation

Civil cases differ from criminal prosecutions in critical ways. Survivors may pursue compensation for emotional distress, medical and counseling expenses, lost income, and other damages even when no criminal charges are filed, when prosecutions are delayed, or when a criminal case does not result in a conviction. In many circumstances, civil litigation is the only meaningful path to accountability. 

Recent high-profile sexual assault cases illustrate the indispensable role civil lawsuits play in exposing misconduct and addressing systemic failure. The public reckoning began with now-disgraced film producer Harvey Weinstein. Although Weinstein’s criminal prosecutions drew widespread attention, it was civil litigation that revealed the breadth of the abuse and the role of corporate and institutional enablers. Lawsuits brought by survivors exposed how complaints were ignored, minimized, or affirmatively suppressed by those with the power to intervene. Those cases demonstrated that accountability does not stop with the perpetrator. It extends to employers and organizations that knew or should have known of the misconduct and failed to act. 

The case of gymnastics teams doctor Larry Nassar further underscored this principle. Nassar’s criminal conviction provided individual accountability for horrific abuse, but civil lawsuits against USA Gymnastics, Michigan State University, and the United States Olympic Committee exposed systemic failures that allowed the abuse to persist for years. Those civil cases resulted in substantial settlements and meaningful institutional reforms, highlighting the role of civil litigation in forcing transparency and change. 

Similarly, survivors of abuse by Bill Cosby pursued civil claims even as criminal proceedings were delayed, contested, and ultimately overturned. These cases reinforced a core truth of civil accountability. The absence of a criminal conviction does not negate harm, nor does it shield wrongdoers or institutions from responsibility. 

Together, these cases, and countless others involving clergy abuse, workplace harassment, healthcare misconduct, and institutional neglect, confirm that power, prestige, and reputation do not excuse a failure to protect vulnerable individuals. Civil litigation remains a vital tool for uncovering the truth, validating survivors’ experiences, and holding both individuals and institutions accountable. 

Sexual Misconduct Often Involves Abuses of Power and Trust

In our experience, sexual assault and harassment frequently arise in relationships defined by power imbalances, access, and trust. Survivors may feel pressure to remain silent out of fear of retaliation, reputational harm, or disbelief, particularly when the perpetrator is a supervisor, caregiver, professional, or authority figure. 

Our attorneys have represented clients in cases involving a wide range of contexts, including teacher and staff misconduct toward students; harassment and retaliation in the employer-employee relationship; abuse of nursing home residents; doctor-patient and healthcare-provider misconduct; grooming and abuse of adults with developmental disabilities by staff or transportation providers; daycare abuse; and misconduct by coaches, clergy, caregivers, and other trusted professionals. 

Our litigation experience includes representing a junior medical provider who was subjected to sexual harassment by a superior, resulting in a seven-figure verdict in her favor. These cases often involve complex employment issues and intense defense efforts, and underscore why civil accountability is essential when institutions fail to protect their employees.

A Trauma-Informed, Trial-Ready Approach 

At Plakas Mannos, we bring the strength of a full-service, award-winning law firm to sexual assault and sexual harassment cases, while treating each client with seriousness, discretion, and respect. Our team includes a former prosecutor who handled criminal sexual assault cases and received trauma-informed training. That background informs how we investigate claims, prepare clients, and anticipate the defenses commonly raised in these matters.

Taking the Next Step

Survivors of sexual assault and sexual harassment deserve clear information, experienced counsel, and the opportunity to make informed decisions about their legal options. Speaking with a civil litigation attorney does not obligate you to pursue a claim, but it can provide clarity and direction during an uncertain time. 

To learn more about how Plakas Mannos handles sexual assault and sexual harassment cases, or to request a confidential consultation, contact us. We serve clients throughout Akron, Canton, and across Northeast Ohio.