Kansas City Sexual Assault Attorneys

Trauma-Informed Sexual Abuse Attorneys Serving Kansas City Survivors

Few experiences leave a deeper mark than being sexually assaulted or abused by someone who held power over you, such as a teacher, coach, doctor, or another trusted authority figure. At Shamberg, Johnson & Bergman, we take pride in amplifying the voices of survivors throughout the Kansas City area who are ready to hold their abuser accountable by acting as their legal representatives and trusted allies. Thanks to our experience, resources, and reputation, we can bring cases against the institutions that enabled or harbored abusers, like high schools, hospitals, and religious organizations.

Contact us today at (816) 542-5999 to schedule a free, confidential consultation and learn how we can help you pursue justice.

Why Choose Shamberg, Johnson & Bergman?

Since 1949, our firm has represented injured people and survivors of abuse throughout Missouri and Kansas, recovering more than $850 million for our clients along the way. We prepare every case as though it is headed to trial, which gives our clients the strongest possible position whether their case settles or goes before a jury. We also understand how personal these cases are, and we work to make the legal process as private and manageable as possible for every survivor who trusts us with their story.

Our Experience Handling Sexual Assault Cases

We have successfully represented survivors in a range of sexual assault and abuse cases, including a sexual assault claim involving students at a high school, an employee who sexually assaulted a minor patient at an inpatient psychiatric facility, youth sports coaches who abused minor athletes under their supervision, and a hospital employee who assaulted a patient in their care. Because confidentiality is a top priority in these cases and respecting each client’s right to privacy, we do not share identifying details about our clients or the outcomes of their claims. What we can share is our commitment to pursuing justice for survivors of abuse by those who were supposed to protect them, and our willingness to take these cases as far as necessary to secure accountability.

What Counts as Sexual Assault or Sexual Abuse?

Sexual assault and sexual abuse describe a range of non-consensual sexual conduct, from physical contact to coercion carried out through a position of trust or authority. A criminal case against an abuser is separate from a civil claim, and a survivor can pursue compensation through the civil justice system whether or not criminal charges are filed or result in a conviction. Civil claims can also extend beyond the individual abuser to the school, hospital, team, or organization that placed them in a position to cause harm.

Institutions Where Sexual Assault and Abuse Often Occur

Sexual abuse by an authority figure can happen anywhere an adult is given unsupervised access to, or influence over, someone more vulnerable than themselves.

We most often see these cases arise in these settings: 

• Schools: A teacher, coach, counselor, or staff member abuses a student, often after a period of grooming designed to build trust and isolate the student from parents or other adults. We are well-versed in representing high school students who have been sexually assaulted or groomed by a teacher or staff member, and we encourage any family facing this situation to reach out to us.
• Youth sports programs: A coach or team official uses their authority over young athletes to commit abuse, frequently during travel, private practices, or one-on-one coaching sessions.
• Healthcare and psychiatric facilities: A doctor, nurse, aide, or other employee abuses a patient who depends on that facility for care and often cannot easily leave or report what happened.
• Other institutions: Churches, camps, daycare centers, group homes, and similar organizations can also become settings for abuse when an adult in a position of trust is left unsupervised with children or other vulnerable individuals.

Holding Negligent Institutions Accountable

A civil claim does not have to stop with the person who committed the abuse. In fact, many of the most historic sexual abuse cases throughout the country and years have been filed against the offender and the institution that allowed them to abuse others. Schools, healthcare systems, athletic organizations, and other institutions have a duty to screen, supervise, and remove employees or volunteers who pose a danger to the people in their care. When an institution fails in that duty, it can be held liable under legal theories such as the following.

Institutional failings that can enable or fail to stop sexual assault carried out by one of its members include:

• Negligent hiring: The organization failed to properly screen an employee or volunteer before placing them in a position of trust.
• Negligent supervision: The organization failed to monitor an employee’s conduct, allowing abuse to continue or go unreported.
• Negligent retention: The organization kept an employee on staff after receiving warning signs or complaints about their behavior.
• Failure to report: The organization became aware of abuse, or signs of abuse, and failed to report it to the proper authorities.

Compensation Available in a Sexual Assault Claim

When we take on a sexual assault or abuse case, we start by building a full picture of how the abuse has affected your life, physically, emotionally, and financially. We can work with therapists, medical providers, and, where needed, economists to calculate both the costs you have already faced and the ones still ahead, so the compensation we pursue reflects the full weight of what you have been through rather than a quick estimate.

Depending on the circumstances of your case, this process may help us pursue the following:

• Cost of therapy and other mental health treatment
• Medical expenses connected to the abuse
• Lost wages or diminished earning capacity
• Compensation for pain and suffering
• Punitive damages, in cases where an institution’s conduct was especially reckless or deliberate

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the statute of limitations for a sexual abuse claim in Missouri?

Missouri law gives survivors of childhood sexual abuse until the age of 31 to file a civil claim, or three years from the date they connect their injuries to the abuse, whichever is later. Claims against an institution that enabled the abuse generally carry a five-year filing window, and adult survivors of sexual assault generally have a shorter period to file. This is an active area of Missouri law that has seen several proposed changes in recent years, so the best way to understand your specific deadline is to contact us directly at (816) 542-5999.

Is a criminal conviction of the perpetrator needed before I can file a civil claim?

No. A civil claim for sexual assault is separate from any criminal case, and you can pursue compensation whether or not the abuser was ever arrested, charged, or convicted.

Will my case stay confidential?

We treat every sexual assault and abuse case with utmost discretion, filing under seal or using protective measures when appropriate so our clients can pursue justice without unnecessary exposure.

Can I sue the school, hospital, or organization, not only the person who abused me?

Often, yes. When an institution’s negligence allowed the abuse to happen or continue, that institution can share in the responsibility and the compensation owed to you.

Contact Our Kansas City Sexual Assault Attorneys Today

If you or someone you love has been sexually assaulted or abused by a teacher, coach, healthcare worker, or any other person in a position of authority, Shamberg, Johnson & Bergman is ready to listen and to help. We are here to walk you through your options in a way that respects your difficult journey and puts the pressure on the accountable party or institution.

Contact us today at (816) 542-5999 for a free, confidential consultation with our team.