Blog Category | Sexual abuse
Grooming is defined as a process where someone builds trust with another person to take advantage of them later. It has garnered increased public attention in recent years, particularly with the rise of social media and online communication. While it is often associated with child sexual abuse, it can happen...
Violence against women and girls is a global issue. It continues to be a serious human rights violation and often affects girls and women across generations, cultures, and circumstances. The International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women is observed annually and focuses on this serious problem, aiming to...
The decision to speak out following sexual abuse can take many survivors years or even decades. The legal process for a sexual abuse case, even a civil one, may often feel retraumatizing for survivors, making it difficult for them to see through. This is one of the many reasons why...
Sexual violence plagues the United States, especially on college campuses. While most colleges endeavor to provide a safe space for their students, this is not always the outcome, particularly for those who are in the United States to study internationally. At White Law PLLC, we have experience in handling sexual...
Summer camp is a time for children and teens to enjoy the summer weather, make friends, learn new skills, and have fun after the school year is over. A good summer camp experience can create memories that children will cherish for years to come. However, for some, going to summer...
Sexual assault at Michigan colleges is, unfortunately, a common occurrence. But, colleges have been making efforts to end sexual assault on campuses statewide. Our team of Title IX lawyers in Okemos, MI, at White Law PLLC discusses the prevalence of sexual assault on campuses and what colleges are doing to...
Michigan State University has faced intense scrutiny in recent years due to the numerous sexual assault cases that have been reported on campus. With dozens of students coming forward to report assaults, many have questioned why the university has failed to properly investigate these cases and provide justice for the...
Earlier this year, 1,050 survivors of sexual abuse breathed a long-awaited sigh of relief when the University of Michigan reached a settlement in a sex abuse case against a former campus doctor. As per the verdict, $490 million will be divided amongst claimants who suffered unforgivable abuse perpetrated by the...
If you are one of the countless individuals who have been attacked by another, you need justice. Your perpetrator may hurt someone else. You can get your freedom back by publicly accusing them in a court of law. That’s what personal injury attorneys do. Here are some reasons why you...
Eleven women have come forward with a lawsuit against Eastern Michigan University for neglecting to address sexual assault on campus. Let’s take a closer look. The Lawsuit All eleven victims claim that their attempts to report sexual assault were covered up or ignored by the administration, EMU Police Department, and...
Few things are more emotionally devastating than a sexual assault. Unfortunately, some victims aren’t aware of what constitutes sexual assault in Michigan. Some victims may not realize they’ve been assaulted at all. For that reason, we’ve put together this guide explaining the degrees of sexual assault in Michigan. Sexual Assault...
Simone Biles along with fellow teammates from the U.S. Gymnastics Team expressed disappointment and frustration with the investigation into former national team doctor Lawrence G. Nassar. Keep reading for more information. Nassar and the National Team Allegations against then team doctor Larry Nassar began in 2015 when McKayla Maroney stepped...
Sexual abuse allegations in Michigan are, unfortunately, all too familiar. In recent news, more and more men are coming forward with sexual abuse allegations against yet another University of Michigan doctor. The new allegations include four men (so far) who have filed lawsuits against the school dating back to the...
In June of 2018, Theodore McCarrick, a former American cardinal, resigned from his post in the College of Cardinals after nearly a year-long investigation into claims that he had sexually abused minors and adult seminarians over the course of decades. Throughout this blog post we will be discussing and exploring...
Survivors of sexual assault often experience lasting trauma. Each survivor has a unique response to their situation. Thankfully, they don’t have to move forward alone. When survivors call on us to pursue justice, we fight for them as best we can. But winning the case is only half the battle....
How Your Social Media May Affect Your Case In the current climate of social media and the news, it is not surprising that social media plays a role in sexual assault cases. Attorneys can build character pictures using social media posts, which can be detrimental for both victims and the...
Overcome Through Legal Action Victims of sexual assault are often wrought with shame, fear and confusion about the circumstances surrounding their assault. You are not alone in these feelings, or any other emotional, mental or physical stress that follows an attack. One thing that can help you reclaim some of...
When you go to the doctor, physical therapist, or see other medical professionals, you expect them to treat you with respect. Medical professionals are often viewed as trusted individuals who have their patient’s best interests in mind. Unfortunately, for many University of Michigan athletes, that wasn’t the case. Just months...
The ongoing Larry Nassar sexual abuse case has been rife with controversy since its first day. In just a short amount of time, dozens of women have come forth to submit their own complaints, some of them dating back to 1999. As the case develops, more eyes are turning to...
Larry Nassar, who worked at Michigan State University (MSU) for close to 20 years as a team physician, primarily for women’s gymnastics, is still being targeted by new accusations and sexual harassment lawsuits. Dozens of women have accused him of repeated incidents of sexual abuse over the course of several...
Two years ago, Judge Rosemarie Aquilina sentenced Larry Nassar to 40 to 175 years in prison for sexually assaulting more than 150 women and girls. Nassar used his position as a doctor for USA Gymnastics, Michigan State University (MSU), and other organizations to prey on young athletes. One of his...
Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer has signed a new law to expand the public’s access to the state’s child abuse registry. Keep reading for more information. The Child Abuse Registry In Michigan, those convicted of child abuse are added to a statewide registry that is accessible to law enforcement and the...
Grooming – the act of cultivating behavior to exploit a child. While the term has only recently entered the public lexicon, it has been an undercurrent of many criminal cases over the years. However, is grooming a crime? Grooming Defined Grooming or child grooming is the act of deliberately establishing...
Just years ago, Michigan State’s physician, Larry Nassar, was exposed for his unspeakable crimes. The strength shown by the victims of his heinous acts started a movement that would send shockwaves for years to come. Across the country, victims have been speaking up about their past abuse. For Tad DeLuca,...
The issue of Title IX laws and the Title IX offices in institutions across the country have been in the spotlight more than usual recently. Starting with the #MeToo and Times Up movements and now even more so since Betsy Devos, the current Secretary of Education, made alterations to the...
Surviving sexual abuse takes a great deal of courage, fortitude, and determination. It is one of the most devastating things that can happen to anyone. It is especially damaging when the perpetrator is someone you knew and trusted. The clergy are supposed to be men of honor, integrity, and moral...
Approximately 1.8 million adolescents have been victimized by sexual assault in the United States. Research has determined that before reaching the age of 18, approximately 1 out of 4 girls and 1 out of 6 boys will be sexually assaulted by a stranger, relative, teacher, clergy member, etc. Sexual offenders...
Eastern Michigan University is mounting an investigation into two on-campus fraternities accused of sexual assault. Here’s what you should know. Jane and John Does Over two dozen cases of sexual assault have been brought against Delta Tau Delta and Alpha Sigma Phi for incidents in 2016. Students of EMU have...
A false allegation of sexual abuse can be absolutely devastating. A person accused could have their personal life tarnished, career ruined and family destroyed. Worse yet, if the person is convicted, they can face extreme repercussions such as prison time, sex offender registration and hefty fines. Fortunately, prosecutors must prove...
Former Cardinal Theodore McCarrick has been charged with sexually assaulting a teenage boy during a wedding reception. Here’s what you should know. The Case Against McCarrick According to the case, McCarrick allegedly assaulted a young teenager during his brother’s wedding reception at Wellesley College in 1974. McCarrick told his father...
If you read our last blog post, you know that the Catholic Church has been in some hot water these last few months. Most notably, they’ve gained attention from the case of the former cardinal, Theodore McCarrick. The Catholic Church and Pope Francis, in particular, took major steps toward punishing...
Child sexual abuse causes long-term physical and emotional pain. However, recognizing it can be difficult. Unfortunately, children often do not directly talk about sexual abuse. Instead, they show physical, emotional, or behavioral changes caused by the trauma itself. While emotional signs can range from unexplained anger or depression to acting...
What Age Women Are Usually Sexually Assaulted in College Young adults, especially women ages 18-24, are at a high risk for sexual assault and sexual violence on college campuses. In fact, sex crimes are more pervasive on university grounds compared to other offenses. Contact our Michigan campus sexual assault lawyers...
Horrifying accounts of clergy sex abuse have been in the headlines for years now, but who are the victims, and how do they cope? Springfield, Illinois The most recent epicenter for abuse cases is Illinois. According to a report, there have been 251 cases, some dating as far back as...
Medical professionals are seen as heroes, as they are. Especially with the current state of the nation, medical professionals are being praised more than ever, as they should be. They are doing work that is, quite literally, helping our nation survive and get past this pandemic. However, there are situations...
Despite a feeling of unity with your fellow students, college campuses are not always as secure as they should be. This feeling of closeness is something the wrong person may take advantage of, recognizing most students have their guard down while at school. Unfortunately, campus sexual assault continues to pervade...
At White Law PLLC, we understand the feelings you may be experiencing after being sexually assaulted. We understand the numerous ways that your past abuse can change your life, and we want to let you know that there are steps you can take to try and move forward from your...
“Personal space” is considered an imaginary boundary which each person should respect and helps us avoid things that make us feel uncomfortable. When it comes to child sexual abuse, personal space is of utmost importance. Behaviors by adults that continuously disrespect or ignore boundaries make children susceptible to abuse and...
