New Maine law allows child sex abuse survivors to bring civil claims, no matter how old - WGME

PORTLAND (WGME) -- A new Maine law taking effect this week lifts the statute of limitations for childhood sexual abuse, allowing all survivors to now pursue a civil case against their abusers no matter how long it’s been.

Advocates say it’s an important change, especially since many survivors don’t come forward until much later in life.

“My life today is great,” Florida resident Bob Dupuis said.

Dupuis says he’s happily retired, but it was a long, tough road to get there.

“I was sexually abused by a priest when I was 12 years old, and I think 1961 was the year,” Dupuis said.

The abuse happened in Old Town over a period of six months, he says, and it was a secret he kept until his late 50s, when it came time to address his struggles with depression and alcoholism.

“I kept it to myself like most abused people did at that time, fearing a number of different things,” Dupuis said.

Dupuis says sharing his experience with family and a therapist helped him heal.

Now, he’s seeking justice through the courts.

“I never thought through all the years that I would be involved in a lawsuit, because I was way beyond the statute of limitations,” Dupuis said.

A new law that took effect on October 18 lifts that statute of limitations, allowing survivors of sexual abuse to bring a civil claim against their abuser and an organization that may have enabled the abuse.

Until now, claims could only be filed for abuse dating back to 1987.

“This statute change is huge for survivors in Maine and New England ,” Berman & Simmons attorney Mike Bigos said.

Bigos says phones have been ringing since Governor Janet Mills signed the bill.

“These are truly people who are innocent and something terrible happened to them, and so I find it so rewarding to help them find a path to justice and healing,” Berman & Simmons attorney Elizabeth Kayatta said.

The firm enlisted the help of Debra Altschiller at Haven, a violence and prevention support services agency in New Hampshire.

Haven also provides trauma-informed training to workplaces.

“Now that laws are changing, lawyers are first responders, often, sometimes the first person a survivor has talked to,” Altschiller said.

She says the way survivors are treated is important for their mental health and the case itself.

She says the new law opens a door that was closed.

And that’s the case for Dupuis, who is in the process of bringing a claim.

“I feel it’s right for me to do this, I really do. I feel it’s right and I should,” Dupuis said.

source: https://wgme.com/news/local/new-maine-law-allows-child-sex-abuse-survivors-to-bring-civil-claims-no-matter-how-old

Your content is great. However, if any of the content contained herein violates any rights of yours, including those of copyright, please contact us immediately by e-mail at media[@]kissrpr.com.