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Sexual abuse survivors in North Carolina have civil legal options that many survivors do not realize exist. A civil lawsuit is completely separate from the criminal justice system — you do not need a criminal conviction or even a criminal investigation to pursue civil compensation. North Carolina has extended its statute of limitations for childhood sexual abuse civil claims, giving more survivors access to civil justice. Institutions often use delay, denial, and intimidation to protect themselves at survivors' expense. TopDog fights to get you every dollar you deserve.
Charlotte's institutions — schools, churches, youth programs, healthcare facilities, and employers across Mecklenburg County — have not been immune to documented abuse. We know how these institutions operate, how they protect themselves, and how to hold them accountable. Those failures cause real damage to survivors and their families and we fight to get survivors what they deserve.
Institutions and their insurers across Mecklenburg County often use delay, denial, and intimidation to minimize and silence survivors. We know how to leverage the justice system in North Carolina courts to fight back — for both justice and the financial recovery that helps survivors rebuild their lives.
IMPORTANT NORTH CAROLINA LEGAL INFORMATION — SEXUAL ABUSE
Child Sexual Abuse — SAFE Child Act (2019): N.C. Gen. Stat. § 1-17 was amended by the SAFE Child Act to extend the civil statute of limitations for childhood sexual abuse to age 28 — meaning survivors have until their 28th birthday to file. This replaced the prior deadline of age 21.
Revival Provision (Jan. 2020 – Dec. 2021 Lookback Window): The SAFE Child Act also created a two-year lookback window from January 2020 through December 2021, during which childhood sexual abuse survivors whose claims had previously expired could file new civil lawsuits. This window is now closed. On January 31, 2025, the NC Supreme Court upheld the constitutionality of this revival provision in McKinney v. Goins, confirming its validity.
Additional Window — Criminal Conviction: Under § 1-17(e), a survivor may file a civil action within 2 years of a criminal conviction for a related felony sexual offense against the defendant.
Adult Survivors: The general 3-year statute of limitations under § 1-52(5) applies to adult sexual assault civil claims.
Institutional Claims: Institutions — schools, churches, employers — can be held civilly liable if they knew or should have known about abuse and failed to prevent it. The SAFE Child Act also confirmed that the lookback window applies to institutional as well as individual defendants.
This is a brief summary of commonly applied laws in the jurisdiction. There are often different laws that apply to different circumstances. Once you hire TopDog, your attorney will advise you on the applicable laws.
Institutions and their insurers may make early low offers and use delay, denial, and intimidation to silence survivors. What was done to you has real financial value — therapy costs, lost wages, emotional distress, and in institutional cases, punitive damages. TopDog Law fights for the full value of your case.
Sex Abuse | $659,382 avg | $2,500,000+ highest
Recoveries by TopDog Law and its co-counsel. Past results do not guarantee similar outcomes in your case.
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Call us or fill out our form — getting started takes about 5 minutes. Tell us what happened. We'll review your information and get back to you fast to discuss your case. No pressure.
Get medical attention and document everything — your health comes first. Keep records of every doctor visit, every bill, every day you missed work or could not do what you normally do.
Do not talk to insurance without us. They may use delay, deny, and lowball tactics from the moment you pick up the phone. Anything you say can be used to reduce what you are owed. Let TopDog handle them.
Time Is Critical
North Carolina's extended deadlines for childhood abuse civil claims give more survivors options. Call TopDog now — we will evaluate your situation confidentially. This is a general summary — deadlines vary. Contact TopDog Law to confirm what may apply in your situation.
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