Las Vegas Sexual Abuse Victims By Doctor

Two Nevada statutes speak directly to these cases: NRS 11.215, which allows an action for an injury arising from sexual abuse or sexual exploitation that occurred when the plaintiff was less than 18 to be commenced against the alleged perpetrator at any time after it occurred, and NRS 11.217, which does the same for an injury arising from a sexual assault that occurred when the plaintiff was 18 or older. Victims generally have two main avenues of recourse:

Nevada does not put a deadline on the civil claim against the person who committed the abuse. NRS 11.215(1) provides that an action for an injury arising from sexual abuse or sexual exploitation that occurred when the victim was less than 18 years of age may be commenced against the alleged perpetrator, or a person convicted of it, at any time after it occurred. NRS 11.217(1) says the same for a sexual assault that occurred when the victim was 18 or older. NRS 11.190(4)(e), the two year rule for most injury claims, expressly carves out both of those sections. Those two sections speak to the claim against the perpetrator; a claim against a hospital, clinic or employer is not covered by that language, so the timing on that part of a case is different. Given the sensitive nature of these events, talk with an experienced sexual abuse attorney about which deadlines apply to your situation before assuming anything has run out.

It’s distressing to realize that sexual misconduct can occur even in professional settings. Especially in bustling metropolitan areas like Las Vegas, with its myriad of medical institutions, it’s crucial to be vigilant. Some common scenarios and red flags include:

Cases like these can be daunting, and how a claim is classified changes the rules that govern it. Nevada's professional negligence statute, NRS 41A.015, covers a health care provider's failure, in rendering services, to use the reasonable care, skill or knowledge ordinarily used by similarly trained providers, which is a negligence standard rather than one aimed at intentional conduct. A claim filed under chapter 41A also carries requirements an abuse claim may not otherwise face: NRS 41A.071 requires the district court to dismiss an action for professional negligence, without prejudice, if it is filed without a supporting medical expert affidavit, and NRS 41A.035 limits the noneconomic damages that may be awarded. Which of these rules reaches your case is something to work through with a lawyer rather than assume: