Civil Litigation is “Tough Love” for Institutions We Trust

Civil litigation isn’t a perfect solution, but it is one of the tools available for victims of sexual abuse.  It is one way of holding organizations and individuals accountable for unreasonable or wrongful conduct.

Sometimes I think of the work we do – the lawsuits we file on behalf of sexual abuse victims — as tough love for institutions.

No organization wants to admit past mistakes or draw attention to its problems.  It takes courageous people who were part of the organization – members of the Catholic Church or former Boy Scouts – to come forward and hold these institutions accountable for their mistakes.  For example, the Catholic Church is a safer place today than it was for decades because so many victims spoke out.

When the victims of abuse take action, in great enough numbers, institutions change.