The civil justice system gives victims in a variety of cases an opportunity to seek justice. This section breaks down some of the most common types of civil cases. Click on the link in each section for more information.
Assault and Battery
Assault and battery are serious, physical crimes that cause physical, as well as, psychological trauma. Assault occurs when someone intends to cause you physical injury, even if they were not completely successful. If the assailant was successful, the correct charge may actually be battery.
Dram Shop
Under Pennsylvania’s Dram Shop law, a business or individual who gives alcohol to a visibly intoxicated person is legally responsible for any damage that person might cause. Pennsylvania’s Dram Shop law applies not only to businesses that serve alcohol, like bars and restaurants, but also to private events. Learn more.
Negligence/Recklessness
You can become the victim of a crime when others do not take the proper action to ensure your safety. Defendants are often found guilty of negligent crimes when they failed to see or prevent a crime that would have occurred to an ordinary person.
Nursing Home Neglect
Nursing home neglect is an unfortunate crime that happens way too often in elderly care facilities. In many cases, the victims do not have the ability to share stories of the abuse with others so it goes unreported. In some cases, certain individuals may also be liable if they failed to prevent neglect. Learn more.
Priest/Clergy Abuse
The Vatican recently reported that 848 priests have been defrocked for sexual abuse since 2004. This is a horrible crime and often goes unreported for years, even lifetimes. Today, victims have until their 30th birthdays to report sexual assault that occurred while they were minors. Learn more.
Sexual Abuse
By definition, sexual abuse is a crime in which the victim is forced into a sexual act by violence or threat. However, the aftermath is not so black and white. Victims of sexual abuse are often reluctant to report the crime because of embarrassment, fear, or confusion about their legal rights. Learn more.
