Civil Charges for Sexual Assault
As the details of charges against Sean Diddy Combs emerge, many are aghast at the violent and drug-induced sexual parties held by the one-time music mogul. One Florida woman is closer to the action than she likely would have preferred, a Jane Doe whose claims of rape and being given incapacitating substances later resulted in a pregnancy. Although she lost that pregnancy, future interactions left her bruised and injured with no memories of events. The case of Jane Doe is just one in a plethora of claims against Diddy, who is currently being held in a New York jail. The musician is facing both criminal and civil penalties. The difference in the two could mean decades in prison in the former case and damages to victims to address their physical and mental duress over the course of their relationship with Combs in the latter.
Statute of Limitations
Here in Florida, adult victims of sexual assault have up to four years to file charges after leaving their abuser. Children have up until their 25th birthday.
What can be Compensated?
In a personal injury lawsuit, victims are treated as anyone else who has suffered personal injury, and are entitled to damages to address any medical costs, present and future wage losses, and emotional/mental anguish. Punitive damages may be awarded in addition to compensatory damages, which are often quite large in that they serve as a warning to others who might be considering this type of abuse. In all, these kinds of cases often result in anywhere from tens of thousands of dollars to hundreds of thousands of dollars, with some going into the millions. In Diddy’s case, he settled with one woman out for court for $30 million.
Proving Liability
In a Florida civil case, you must demonstrate with a greater weight of evidence that you were sexually abused. The standard of proof is much lower in civil court than it is in criminal court, where the standard is proof beyond a reasonable doubt.
After an Assault
The first thing any victim of sexual assault should do following an attack is assess your situation, and when it is safe to do so, head to a hospital.
- Get medical attention. In addition to addressing your medical needs, including testing for STD’s, the medical staff will be able to document and preserve any evidence of the assault.
- In addition to evidence related to your body, items such as torn clothing should be saved.
- Make a list of witnesses who may be able to testify to what happened.
- Look into resources to help with the mental/emotional repercussions of the attack.
- Contact an attorney you can trust with the sensitive nature of this issue. You want someone who can protect you while unleashing a vicious legal attack on your aggressor.
A Lawyer You Can Trust
At Salazar & Kelly Law Group, our dedicated Kissimmee personal injury attorneys see you, and will fight for the best possible outcomes for you. For a confidential consultation, call our Kissimmee office today.
Source:
yahoo.com/news/diddy-sexual-assault-lawsuit-alleges-000114217.html?guccounter=1&guce_referrer=aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuZ29vZ2xlLmNvbS8&guce_referrer_sig=AQAAAEgYBmjBck-7FJwSxbxOld0qpnPNfYYmCNUaAl0vqwx0v073RRQC6luxsl1YR0vpid6VDW4uXM2MUjjln3IEVS-PdMN4lg2W_2coYOYOqXdNwpVnNXv-_U_L7NfppFMF3bkqRoPLJPfTilhLBZ_CNwsWJeJs6L1zt5XeGqtUK1AT
