Civil cases are filed by individuals and must be proven by a preponderance of the evidence, or more likely to have occurred than not. Civil law is designed to make the victim “whole,” usually in the form of monetary damages. Victims who were over the age of 18 at the time of the abuse have two years to file civil cases.
Victims who were under the age of 18 when the abuse occurred have 12 years after their 18th birthday to file civil charges.