sexual assault lawyer Rockdale County, GA

Sexual Assault Lawyer Rockdale County, GA

If you were sexually assaulted in Rockdale County because a property owner, landlord, or business failed to keep you safe, you have more options than the criminal justice system alone. A civil case targets the parties whose negligence made the assault possible. It doesn’t depend on whether the assailant was arrested or convicted. It is an entirely separate legal path.

Our Rockdale County, GA sexual assault lawyer at Deitch + Rogers LLC files civil claims on behalf of survivors against negligent property owners, apartment complexes, hotels, employers, and institutions. We’ve been representing crime victims in Georgia for more than 40 years. Consultations are free, and we work on a contingency fee basis.

Why Choose Deitch + Rogers for Sexual Assault Cases in Rockdale County, GA?

More Than 40 Years Fighting for Crime Victims in Georgia Courts

Deitch + Rogers was built on a single idea: crime victims deserve a voice in the civil justice system. Gilbert Deitch began practicing in 1970 after earning his J.D. from the University of Tennessee. He has published articles on premises liability and crime victim litigation in TRIAL Magazine, Crime Victims’ Litigation Quarterly, and the Fulton County Daily Report. Deitch has also served as a legal commentator on NBC Nightly News and ABC’s 20/20, discussing the rights of victims in civil proceedings. He is a member of the Georgia Trial Lawyers Association and is admitted to practice in Tennessee and all Georgia courts, including the Court of Appeals, the Supreme Court, and the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Georgia.

Michael D’Antignac earned his J.D. from the University of Georgia School of Law in 2001. He served on the Board of Directors for the Atlanta Bar Association and is a member of the National Crime Victim Bar Association, the American Association for Justice, and the Lawyers Club of Atlanta. D’Antignac was part of the trial team that obtained a $46 million jury verdict in a child victim wrongful death case and a $13.8 million verdict in a related institutional negligence matter.

Andrew Rogers is a charter member of the National Crime Victim Bar Association and a Super Lawyers honoree. He holds the record for the highest premises liability verdicts in the State of Georgia for 2013, 2014, 2018, and 2019. As a crime victim lawyer in Rockdale County, GA, the firm brings decades of trial preparation and courtroom experience to every case.

Significant Recoveries in Sexual Assault and Negligent Security Cases

Deitch + Rogers has recovered more than $207 million for crime victims and their families across Georgia. The firm’s sexual assault and premises liability results include a $60 million verdict involving institutional negligence, a $15 million settlement in an apartment sexual assault premises liability case, and a $9.2 million verdict against a behavioral health facility. Additional recoveries of $2.5 million and $1.275 million were obtained in cases where apartment negligent security allowed sexual assaults to occur.

You Pay Nothing Unless We Win

Our contingency fee structure means we advance all costs. Fees and expenses come out of the total recovery, through settlement or trial. If there is no recovery, you owe us nothing.

“The Deitch & Rogers LLC are fantastic! I liked everything about them. They were really helpful to my daughter and myself, and they helped with my case! The personnel was extremely helpful, pleasant, and patient! I appreciate them reaching out to us.And assisting us in achieving greater success in our life.”

  • Lakeisha Phelps

Read client testimonials on our Google Business Profile.

Types of Sexual Assault Cases We Handle in Rockdale County

Sexual assault in Rockdale County, GA often occurs in locations where negligent property owners have failed to provide basic security. Our sexual assault attorneys hold those property owners and businesses accountable in civil court. We handle cases involving:

  • Apartment sexual assault. Tenants assaulted in apartment complexes where security cameras are broken or nonexistent, entry gates are left open, and management has ignored prior complaints. Landlords have a legal duty to maintain safe premises, and a failure to do so can be the basis for a civil claim.
  • Hotel and motel assault. Guests assaulted due to inadequate room security, missing deadbolts, or unmonitored common areas. Hotels that fail to restrict unauthorized access or train staff to identify suspicious activity may face civil liability.
  • Rape victim cases. Civil claims for rape victims center on the negligence of the property owner, not the prosecution of the rapist. Whether the criminal case resulted in a conviction, a plea, or no charges at all, the civil claim stands on its own.
  • Workplace assault. Employers who hire without conducting background checks, who ignore reports of harassment, or who fail to secure the workplace create conditions for assault. A civil claim can name the employer, the property owner, or both.
  • Group home assault. Residents of group homes and behavioral health facilities face heightened risk when understaffing, poor screening, or lack of oversight allows abuse. Facilities that profit from caring for vulnerable populations owe them a high standard of protection.
  • Parking lot and commercial property assault. Businesses that operate without adequate exterior lighting, perimeter fencing, or security personnel create foreseeable risks for customers, employees, and visitors.

Georgia Legal Requirements for Sexual Assault Cases

Georgia defines sexual battery under O.C.G.A. § 16-6-22.1 as intentional physical contact with the intimate parts of another person without their consent. Rape is defined under O.C.G.A. § 16-6-1. Both are criminal statutes enforced by prosecutors. But the civil case your attorney files against a negligent property owner is a different proceeding with different rules. The burden of proof in a civil case is preponderance of the evidence, not the beyond-a-reasonable-doubt standard that applies in criminal court.

Georgia follows a modified comparative negligence framework in premises liability cases. That means the property owner’s percentage of fault is weighed against any negligence attributed to the victim. If the victim is found less than 50% at fault, they can still recover damages. In sexual assault cases, courts have consistently recognized that the criminal actions of an assailant do not relieve the property owner of liability when the owner’s negligence contributed to the conditions that allowed the crime to occur.

The civil statute of limitations is two years from the date of the assault under O.C.G.A. § 9-3-33. For minor victims, O.C.G.A. § 9-3-90 tolls that deadline until the victim reaches 18. Time matters, though. Evidence fades. Surveillance footage is overwritten. Property ownership changes. The sooner you speak with a sexual assault attorney in Rockdale County, GA, the stronger the foundation for your case.

The Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) provides federal protections for sexual assault survivors, and the Georgia Criminal Justice Coordinating Council administers victim compensation programs that may cover some out-of-pocket expenses. But these programs have caps and limitations. A civil lawsuit pursued by an experienced attorney is typically the most effective way to recover the full range of damages a survivor is owed.

What Damages Are Recoverable in Rockdale County Sexual Assault Cases?

Survivors of sexual assault in Rockdale County can seek three categories of damages in a Georgia civil case.

Economic damages reimburse the financial costs of the assault. Emergency medical treatment. Forensic examinations. Hospitalization. Ongoing therapy, which for many survivors extends for years after the assault. Prescription medication costs. Lost wages during recovery. Reduced future earning capacity if the trauma affects the survivor’s ability to maintain employment. Our attorneys document every economic loss with the help of medical professionals, therapists, and economists to present a complete picture to the jury.

Non-economic damages compensate for the injuries that don’t have a price tag. The pain of the assault itself. The emotional trauma that follows, including PTSD, anxiety, depression, sleep disturbances, and difficulty maintaining personal relationships. Loss of enjoyment of life. Damage to a survivor’s sense of safety and trust. Georgia law gives jurors broad discretion in determining what is fair and reasonable for non-economic harm, and in sexual assault cases, these damages frequently represent the largest portion of the total recovery.

Punitive damages are available under O.C.G.A. § 51-12-5.1 when a defendant acted with willful misconduct or conscious disregard for safety. A landlord who knew about prior assaults on the property and refused to improve security, or a hotel that disabled its surveillance system to save money, could face punitive damages on top of compensatory awards. Georgia caps most punitive damage awards at $250,000, but exceptions apply in cases involving certain intentional conduct.

Contact Deitch + Rogers

If you were sexually assaulted in Rockdale County, GA, and believe that a negligent property owner, landlord, or business played a role in what happened, our attorneys want to hear from you. Consultations are free and completely confidential. You pay nothing unless we win.

For more than four decades, Deitch + Rogers has pursued civil justice for crime victims throughout Georgia. We know how much courage it takes to come forward, and we are committed to handling every case with the care and seriousness it deserves. Contact us to schedule your consultation.