Ohio Sexual Assault Laws and Your Legal Options
Ohio law treats sexual assault as several separate crimes, from rape to sexual imposition. It also gives survivors two paths to accountability: a criminal case brought by the state, and a civil claim brought by the survivor. Andy Goldwasser represents survivors in civil claims across Ohio.
Best Lawyers in America, Personal Injury Plaintiff. Crain's Cleveland Business Notable Litigator (2025).
How Ohio Law Defines Sexual Assault
The Ohio Revised Code has no single crime called "sexual assault." Chapter 2907 sorts sexual offenses by what happened and by the circumstances: force, drugs, the survivor's age, or the offender's authority over them.
Two terms decide which offense applies. Sexual conduct means intercourse, oral sex, or any penetration, however slight, without privilege to do so. Sexual contact means touching another person's thigh, genitals, buttock, pubic area, or breast for sexual arousal or gratification. Offenses involving sexual conduct carry the heavier penalties.
The criminal case and the civil claim are separate. A prosecutor decides whether to file charges, and a criminal case can end in prison time. A civil claim belongs to the survivor, who decides whether to file it and whether to settle, and it ends in compensation paid by the people and organizations responsible.
Sexual Offenses Under Ohio Law
Each offense below is defined in Chapter 2907 of the Ohio Revised Code. Ohio law does not use the phrase "age of consent," but sexual conduct between an adult and anyone under 16 is a crime.
Rape (ORC 2907.02)
Sexual conduct by force or threat of force, after secretly drugging someone, or with someone unable to consent. Any sexual conduct with a child under 13 is rape. It is a first-degree felony.
Sexual Battery (ORC 2907.03)
Sexual conduct or sexual contact through coercion, with someone the offender knows is impaired, or by someone with authority over the survivor, such as a parent, teacher, or coach. Penalties are higher when the survivor is under 18.
Unlawful Sexual Conduct With a Minor (ORC 2907.04)
An adult 18 or older engaging in sexual conduct with someone who is 13, 14, or 15. Usually a fourth-degree felony, and a third-degree felony when the adult is 10 or more years older.
Gross Sexual Imposition (ORC 2907.05)
Sexual contact by force, by drugging, or with someone who is under 13 or unable to resist. It is a fourth- or third-degree felony, depending on the circumstances.
Sexual Imposition (ORC 2907.06)
Sexual contact that the offender knows is offensive to the other person, or is reckless about. A third-degree misdemeanor, and more serious with prior convictions.
Hazing and Peer-on-Peer Abuse
Soliciting a child under 13 for sexual activity, or a 13- to 15-year-old when the adult is at least four years older, in person or online. A third- or fifth-degree felony.
Who Can Be Held Responsible in a Civil Claim
A criminal case can only punish the person who committed the assault. A civil claim can reach further. The survivor can sue the offender directly for assault and battery, or under Ohio Revised Code 2307.60, which lets anyone injured by a criminal act recover damages in a civil action.
When an employer, school, church, or other organization had a duty to protect people and failed, the survivor can also bring negligence claims against it, including negligent hiring and negligent supervision. Students at schools and colleges that receive federal funding may also have a claim under Title IX.
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The Person Who Committed the Assault
Prosecutors do not have to file charges first. The Ohio Supreme Court has held that a civil claim under 2307.60 does not require a criminal conviction.
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Employers
A company can be responsible when it hired or kept someone it knew, or should have known, was dangerous, or ignored reports of sexual assault in the workplace.
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Schools, Colleges, and Universities
A school or university can be responsible for failing to supervise staff or to act on reports. Public school districts have their own immunity rules, so these cases need early legal review.
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Businesses and Property Owners
A business can be responsible when it fails to provide reasonable security and an assault happens on its property or within its program.
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Churches and Religious Organizations
A church can be responsible when its leaders hire or supervise carelessly, fail to report abuse, or cover up what happened.
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Sports and Youth Organizations
Clubs, programs, and national governing bodies can be responsible when they fail to screen staff, supervise them, or act on complaints.
What to Do After a Child Discloses Abuse
The period after a child discloses abuse is overwhelming. There are steps you can take now that will protect your child and preserve evidence that may be important for a future civil claim. Andy Goldwasser's office is available for a confidential conversation at any point in this process.
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Step 1: Prioritize Your Child's Safety
Your first priority is making sure your child is not at continued risk. If the abuse occurred in an ongoing environment such as a school, sports program, or religious organization, take whatever steps are necessary to remove your child from contact with the alleged abuser. Avoid pressuring your child to give a detailed account. That kind of disclosure is better handled by professionals trained in trauma-informed interviewing.
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Step 2: Report to the Appropriate Authorities
In Ohio, suspected child abuse must be reported to police or the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services. A report creates an official record and may trigger a protective investigation. A civil claim does not require a criminal conviction, but early reporting helps preserve evidence and witness accounts that can support a civil case later.
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Step 3: Preserve Any Evidence You Have
Save text messages, emails, photographs, social media communications, or any other material that may be relevant. Write down a timeline of what your child told you and when. Document the names of anyone who may have witnessed the abuse or to whom it was previously reported. The sooner this information is recorded, the more reliable it becomes.
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Step 4: Contact a Child Sexual Abuse Attorney
Ohio civil law imposes deadlines on when claims can be filed, and those deadlines begin running even while families are still in crisis. Contacting an attorney early gives your case the best chance to develop fully. Andy Goldwasser provides a free, confidential consultation with no obligation to proceed.
What a Civil Case Can Recover for Your Family
A successful civil claim for child sexual abuse can provide financial recovery across several categories. No dollar figure can undo what happened, but compensation addresses the real and lasting impact of abuse on a child and their family. Learn more about what Ohio law allows on the damages page.
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Medical and Therapeutic Costs
Recovery for past and ongoing costs of therapy, psychiatric treatment, medical evaluation, and other care the survivor requires as a direct result of the abuse.
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Pain and Suffering
Compensation for the physical and emotional harm caused by the abuse, including trauma, anxiety, depression, and disruption to the child's normal development and daily life.
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Loss of Future Earning Capacity
When abuse causes lasting psychological harm that affects a survivor's ability to work or pursue education as an adult, civil claims can seek recovery for that diminished capacity.
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Punitive and Exemplary Damages
In cases where an institution's conduct was particularly reckless or deliberate, courts may award punitive damages to punish that behavior and deter similar failures by other organizations.
What Happens After You Contact Our Office
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Free Confidential Consultation
You speak directly with Andy Goldwasser's team. Everything you share is confidential. Andy reviews the facts of your situation, gives you an honest assessment of whether a civil claim is viable, and answers your questions. There is no obligation to retain the firm.
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Investigation and Case Development
If you proceed, Andy's office gathers evidence, identifies all responsible parties, and works with experts as needed. For child sexual abuse cases, this often includes reviewing institutional records, employment histories, and prior complaints that organizations may have suppressed or ignored.
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Filing the Civil Claim
Once the case is built, Andy files the civil claim on your family's behalf. This is a civil proceeding, separate from any criminal case, and moves forward on its own timeline regardless of whether charges were filed or a criminal conviction was obtained
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Settlement and Resolution
Most civil cases resolve through settlement. Andy does not push for quick resolutions. If trial is necessary to reach a fair outcome, Andy's office has the trial experience and resources to see the case through to verdict.
No Upfront Cost. Completely Confidential.
Andy Goldwasser handles child sexual abuse cases on a contingency basis. You pay no fee unless Andy wins or settles your case, and you owe nothing at all if there is no recovery. Andy's office advances all costs of building and pursuing your case, so financial concerns are never a barrier to getting legal advice.
No upfront costs: the firm advances all case expenses
Contingency fee: no payment unless we recover for your family
Free, confidential consultation with no obligation to proceed
Your information is protected from the very first conversation
Ohio Statute of Limitations for Child Sex Abuse Claims
Ohio law imposes filing deadlines on civil claims, and child sexual abuse cases operate under specific rules that differ from standard personal injury timelines.
For survivors who were minors at the time of the abuse, Ohio provides extended filing windows that account for the unique challenges survivors face in coming forward. Whether and how those extensions apply depends on the facts of the case, when the abuse occurred, and who the responsible parties are.
Ohio has also enacted legislation that has allowed certain survivors to bring claims that might otherwise have been time-barred. The availability of those options depends on the specific circumstances of each case.
Waiting is rarely in a survivor's best interest. Evidence becomes harder to preserve over time. Witnesses become unavailable. Institutional records are sometimes destroyed or lost. Andy Goldwasser's office can advise you on exactly which deadlines apply to your situation during a free, confidential consultation.
Case Results from Sexual Abuse Litigation
Andy Goldwasser has secured significant results for survivors of sexual abuse. The following is an example of an outcome achieved in a case of this type.
$4,200,000
Jury Verdict
Sexual assault case against the United States Twirling Association. The jury found the organization 88% responsible for the assault of a minor. Named the 35th highest verdict in New York in 2025.
Andy Goldwasser: Background and Commitment
Andy Goldwasser has spent more than 25 years developing particularized expertise in sexual abuse and deep institutional knowledge of how these cases unfold. He serves on the Board of Directors of the Cleveland Rape Crisis Center, chairs its governance committee, co-founded a nonprofit for abused children, and leads a private charitable foundation that supports children and families.
Cleveland Rape Crisis Center Board
Andy serves on the board and chairs the governance committee, reflecting an ongoing commitment to the survivor community that goes well beyond his legal work.
National Trial Lawyers Top 100 Civil Plaintiff
An invitation-only recognition based on case results and peer standing. Andy has held this designation since 2023, placing him among Ohio's top plaintiff trial attorneys.
American Board of Trial Advocacy (ABOTA)
ABOTA membership requires demonstrated experience taking cases to jury verdict. Andy's recent induction reflects his record as a trial attorney who does not settle for less than a case is worth
Super Lawyers Top 50 Cleveland
Andy has been named a Top 50 Cleveland Super Lawyer and Top 100 Ohio Super Lawyer continuously since 2016, placing him in the top tier of trial attorneys in the state.
National Crime Victim Bar Association
Membership in the NCVBA connects Andy with attorneys across the country who focus on civil claims on behalf of crime victims, including survivors of sexual abuse.
Common Questions About Child Sexual Abuse Claims
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Not necessarily. Many civil cases resolve through settlement, which does not require court testimony. If the case does go to trial, Andy works closely with families to prepare and to minimize unnecessary stress on the child. The specifics depend on the facts of your case, which Andy can discuss during a free consultation.
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Yes. A civil claim is a separate legal proceeding from a criminal case. The standard of proof in a civil case is lower than in a criminal case, and a civil claim can move forward regardless of whether the abuser was arrested, charged, or convicted. Many survivors have no criminal case at all and still have viable civil claims.
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Institutions that enabled or failed to prevent the abuse can also be held legally responsible. This includes schools, school districts, religious organizations, sports programs, daycare facilities, and youth organizations. These institutions frequently have insurance policies and assets that can provide meaningful compensation to survivors and their families.
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Ohio provides extended filing windows for child sexual abuse survivors that go beyond the standard personal injury statute of limitations. For survivors who were minors when the abuse occurred, the deadline is typically extended to account for delayed discovery and the difficulty many survivors face in coming forward. The specific deadline that applies to your situation depends on the facts. Andy's office can advise you exactly where your case stands during a free consultation.
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Claims from years or decades ago may still be viable in Ohio. Ohio law provides extended filing windows for childhood sexual abuse, and in some cases legislation has reopened claims that might otherwise have been time-barred. Whether your situation qualifies depends on the specific facts. Contacting an attorney is the most reliable way to know your options.
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A criminal case is brought by the government against the individual who committed the crime, with the goal of punishment. A civil case is brought by the survivor and their family against the responsible parties, including institutions, with the goal of financial accountability and recovery. The two can proceed simultaneously, or a civil case can move forward on its own even when no criminal case exists.
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A contingency fee means Andy's legal fee is a percentage of the recovery, paid only if the case results in compensation for your family. There are no upfront costs and no hourly billing. Andy's office advances all costs of investigating and pursuing the claim. If there is no recovery, you owe nothing.
Related Case Types Handled by Our Office
If your child's situation doesn't fit exactly into one category, Andy's office handles a broad range of civil sexual abuse claims across many settings and circumstances.
Civil claims against schools and districts for abuse by teachers, coaches, staff, and administrators.
Claims involving abuse by daycare workers, in-home care providers, and preschool employees.
Sports Coaches and Organizations
Claims involving abuse by coaches, trainers, or other personnel within organized sports programs.
Clergy and Religious Organization Abuse
Civil claims against churches, dioceses, and religious organizations for abuse by clergy or volunteers.
Claims involving abuse within group homes, foster care, residential facilities, and other institutional settings.
Mentors, Chaperones, and Youth Leaders
Abuse by trusted adults in youth programs, camps, scouting organizations, or community groups.
Talk to Andy Goldwasser. No Cost, No Obligation.
Andy Goldwasser's office offers a free, confidential consultation to families dealing with child sexual abuse. You can share your situation without cost, without obligation, and without any pressure to retain the firm. Call or reach out online to get started.