Prepare a solid case with advice from successful litigators!Ideal for use as a legal guide or a practical reference, Sexual Abuse Litigation examines how professionals can responsibly and effectively advocate on behalf of adult survivors of child sexual abuse (CSA) in the midst of the controversies surrounding recovered memories. This comprehensive book places the current recovered-memory controversy in historical context and examines how various psychological and medical conceptions of trauma have shaped public opinion and the construction of delayed discovery statutes of limitations. For lawyers, advocates, clinicians, and CSA survivors, Sexual Abuse Litigation offers practical advice in clear prose and an easy-to-use format. Summaries, charts, legal practice tips, and samples of actual testimony make this book an invaluable reference tool. It also tabulates the statutes of limitations for sexual abuse cases in all fifty states. In Sexual Abuse Litigation, experienced litigators will guide you through the phases of the legal process, offering practical suggestions on:
- case evaluation and development
- the pitfalls and opportunities of professional cooperation between therapists and lawyers
- the effective use of plaintiff expert witnesses
- strategies for countering the "false memories" defense
- the identification of insurance benefits for injuries related to CSA
- techniques for cross-examining expert witnesses for the defense
- vital networking information, including resource referrals for adult survivors, help with appellate cases, and information on abuse by clergy and other professionalsOffering strategies for sustaining the admissibility of the CSA survivor's testimony and how to maintain focus on the question of whether abuse occurred, Sexual Abuse Litigation will give you or your client the necessary information on how to successfully prepare for a CSA case and face the challenges of such cases in the courtroom.