Colorado has eliminated the statute of limitations for civil sexual misconduct claims. Survivors in Littleton can pursue institutional accountability and financial recovery regardless of when the assault occurred. CGH Injury Lawyers serves Littleton from our Denver office with a confidential, trauma-informed approach. Your first conversation is free and protected by attorney-client privilege.
No fee unless we winYou are in control
There is no obligation and no public record when you reach out. We listen, explain your options, and move at a pace that works for you. Nothing happens that you have not chosen.
A civil sexual assault claim in Littleton is a separate track from any criminal case. It is brought by the survivor, not the state, and it can reach institutions as well as individuals. Schools, employers, healthcare providers, rideshare companies, and religious organizations serving the Littleton community can be held legally responsible when their failures created the conditions for harm.
CGH Injury Lawyers does not have a Littleton office. We serve Littleton survivors from our Denver office at 2701 Lawrence St., Suite 201, and we travel to you. Your first consultation is free, completely confidential, and protected by attorney-client privilege. Nothing moves forward without your decision.
Two separate tracks
A criminal case is brought by the Arapahoe County District Attorney's office and focuses on punishing an offender. A civil case is brought by you and focuses on compensating the harm you suffered and forcing institutions to answer for their failures. The two tracks run independently.
Criminal case
Prosecutors decide whether to file charges and must prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt, the highest standard in the law. The aim is punishment of the offender. You are a witness, not the party controlling the case.
Civil case
You must prove your case by a preponderance of the evidence, meaning it is more likely than not that the assault occurred and caused harm. The aim is financial compensation and institutional accountability. You decide whether and how to proceed, at every step.
Because the civil standard of proof is lower, you can win a civil case even when a criminal prosecution was never pursued, when charges were dropped, or when a criminal jury returned a not-guilty verdict. In Arapahoe County, civil proceedings in the 18th Judicial District are entirely separate from any Arapahoe County criminal docket. Many Littleton survivors find that a civil claim offers a path to validation and resources that the criminal system never delivered.
Institutional accountability
One of the most consequential parts of a civil sexual assault case is the ability to reach institutions, not just the individual who committed the harm. An organization that employed an abuser and failed in its duty to protect you often bears legal responsibility and has the resources to provide meaningful compensation.
Theory of liability
Organizations must conduct reasonable background checks before placing someone in a position of trust with vulnerable people. Failure to screen for prior complaints or documented history can create liability when harm follows.
Theory of liability
Organizations must monitor the people they place in positions of authority. When administrators at a Littleton school, healthcare facility, or employer received complaints about inappropriate behavior and failed to act, they share responsibility for what followed.
Theory of liability
When an organization learns of misconduct but keeps a person in a position to cause harm, it becomes liable for later abuse. This pattern appears where institutions moved a known problem to a different location rather than removing the person entirely.
Theory of liability
In certain circumstances an employer can be held responsible for the acts of an employee, particularly when the organizational relationship created the access and opportunity for the abuse to occur.
It is not about reliving what happened. It is about reclaiming control and forcing the institutions that failed you to answer for it.
Colorado time limits
Colorado made a landmark change effective January 1, 2022. For civil claims based on sexual misconduct, the statute of limitations was eliminated. A Littleton survivor can now file a civil claim at any time, no matter how long ago the assault occurred.
Because the legal analysis of whether your specific claim falls within the eliminated-SOL window is fact-specific, a confidential case review is the right first step. We evaluate your exact situation and tell you honestly what the law allows, before anything is filed or decided.
Compensation
A civil claim seeks to compensate the full harm you have suffered. Colorado law recognizes several categories of damages in sexual assault and abuse cases, and we work to document every dimension of harm so nothing is left out of your claim.
In cases involving egregious misconduct, such as an institutional cover-up or deliberate indifference to a known risk, Colorado courts may also award punitive damages under C.R.S. 13-21-102. Punitive damages are not meant to compensate you; they are designed to punish the wrongdoer and deter similar conduct. Under Colorado law, punitive damages cannot exceed actual damages unless the court finds that the defendant continued willful and wanton conduct after the action was filed, in which case the court may increase the award to a maximum of three times actual damages.
Littleton, Colorado
A civil sexual assault case is not abstract. It lives in specific courtrooms, specific healthcare providers, and specific institutions in the Littleton community. Here is the ground that frames every case we handle in the Littleton area.
Courthouse
A Littleton civil case that exceeds the county-court jurisdictional limit is filed in the 18th Judicial District, Arapahoe County District Court. That court operates at two locations: the Arapahoe County Courthouse at 1790 West Littleton Blvd, Littleton, CO 80120, and the Arapahoe County Justice Center at 7325 S. Potomac Street, Centennial, CO 80112. We file and try cases in the 18th Judicial District directly. Courts in this district routinely enter protective orders limiting public access to sensitive case documents, and they have procedures for pseudonymous filings in appropriate cases.
Healthcare
AdventHealth Littleton at 7700 South Broadway is a Level II Trauma Center designated by the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment in April 2004 and verified by the American College of Surgeons in October 2005. Survivors who received emergency or follow-up care at AdventHealth Littleton generate medical records that document injuries and form a core part of any civil claim. We obtain and analyze every relevant medical record from the first visit forward, including records from mental health providers and specialists who treated trauma-related conditions.
Littleton Institutions
Arapahoe Community College at 5900 S. Santa Fe Drive is the largest educational institution in Littleton, serving thousands of students along the US-85 corridor. Littleton's school districts, healthcare employers on South Broadway, the Chatfield State Park recreation complex, and employers throughout the city's commercial corridors along Wadsworth Boulevard (SH-121) and US-285 (Hampden Avenue) are all institutions that carry legal duties to protect the people they serve, hire, or supervise. When those duties are breached and abuse results, civil litigation can reach the organization, not just the individual.
Your privacy and safety
Fear of public exposure is one of the most common concerns survivors share. Colorado's legal system provides meaningful privacy protections, and protecting your control over what is disclosed is central to how we handle these cases.
Anonymity
In many sexual abuse cases, Arapahoe County courts allow survivors to file under a pseudonym so your real name does not appear in public court records. This protection recognizes that forcing public identification can deter legitimate claims and cause additional harm to people who have already been harmed once.
Protective orders
Courts in the 18th Judicial District can seal sensitive documents, limit who may attend depositions, and restrict disclosure of personal information obtained during discovery, so the litigation process does not become another violation of your privacy.
Confidential from the start
Your initial case review is completely confidential and protected by attorney-client privilege. You can explore your options and decide whether to move forward with no public record, no obligation, and no pressure. We serve Littleton from our Denver office, and we can meet in a way that works for you.
Trauma-informed
Our bilingual team understands that litigation can be retraumatizing when handled carelessly. We allow support persons, build in scheduling flexibility around difficult testimony, and move at a pace that respects your emotional capacity at every stage.
How it works
Every case is different and you control the pace. These are the steps most civil sexual assault claims move through, from a confidential first conversation to trial when an institution refuses to be fair.
Your immediate safety and health come first. If you received emergency care at AdventHealth Littleton at 7700 S. Broadway or another provider, those records document both your injuries and the timeline of your case. A SANE (Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner) examination, if performed, creates evidence that can support a civil claim. Even if time has passed, medical and mental health records from therapists and psychiatrists you have seen since the assault are part of the damages picture.
We listen, explain your options under Colorado law, and answer your questions at no cost. What you share is protected by attorney-client privilege and there is no obligation to proceed. We can meet you where it is most comfortable, including at your location in the Littleton area.
Using civil discovery, we obtain records you may not have access to, including complaint histories, personnel files, internal communications, and institutional policies at the organizations where the abuse occurred. For Littleton-area schools, employers, or healthcare providers, these records often reveal how long an institution knew about a problem before harm reached you.
We document the full scope of harm, including economic losses and non-economic harm, and pursue resolution with the responsible parties. Most civil sexual assault cases resolve through confidential settlement before trial.
If an institution refuses to be fair, we are prepared to file in the 18th Judicial District, Arapahoe County District Court, and try your case. Courts in this district allow protective measures for sensitive testimony, and we prepare you thoroughly so you are never in a courtroom unprotected or alone.
Your team
CGH Injury Lawyers is a Colorado personal injury firm, formerly Cheney Galluzzi and Howard. We are trial lawyers prepared to take a case as far as it needs to go in the 18th Judicial District and beyond. We handle sensitive cases with discretion, confidentiality, and respect for the survivor's control at every step. CGH Injury Lawyers does not have a Littleton office. We serve Littleton from our office at 2701 Lawrence St., Suite 201, Denver, CO 80205, and we file cases directly in Arapahoe County.
ABOTA Trial Advocate
Managing Partner Kevin Cheney is a member of the American Board of Trial Advocates and has tried over 25 cases to verdict. Institutions facing a trial-ready plaintiff respond differently to a demand than they do to a settlement mill. When the facts support going to trial in the 18th Judicial District, we go.
Serving Littleton from Denver
Our office is at 2701 Lawrence St., Suite 201, Denver, CO 80205. We do not pretend to have a Littleton address. We represent Littleton survivors, file cases in Arapahoe County District Court, and meet you where it works for you. The legal work is what matters.
Best Lawyers in America
Timothy G. Tarr has been recognized by Best Lawyers every year since 2023, a peer-recognition standard that reflects trial experience and professional reputation.
Bilingual
Spanish-speaking staff and attorneys serve the Littleton community. You do not need to navigate a civil claim in a second language when you already have enough to carry.
No Win, No Fee
You pay nothing for legal fees unless we recover for you. We advance the costs of investigation, expert witnesses, and litigation, and collect only from a settlement or verdict in your favor. A financial barrier should never be the reason a survivor cannot pursue a legitimate civil claim.
Frequently asked questions
No. For civil claims based on sexual misconduct, Colorado eliminated the statute of limitations effective January 1, 2022 (C.R.S. 13-80-103.7). These claims can now be filed at any time. That open window also covers older abuse if the original deadline had not yet expired by January 1, 2022. Because whether a specific older claim falls within that window is a fact-specific legal question, a confidential case review with an attorney is the best way to understand where your situation stands. Do not assume it is too late without speaking with us first.
Yes. A civil sexual assault claim is entirely independent from any criminal proceeding. Prosecutors decide whether to file criminal charges and must prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt. You control whether to bring a civil claim, and the civil standard of proof is a preponderance of the evidence, meaning it is more likely than not that the assault occurred and caused harm. You can pursue a civil claim whether criminal charges were never filed, were dropped, or ended in an acquittal. The two tracks are separate.
Often, yes. Institutions including schools, healthcare providers, employers, religious organizations, and transportation companies can be held liable under theories of negligent hiring, negligent supervision, negligent retention, and vicarious liability. Holding an institution accountable can secure meaningful compensation and force organizational change. These claims require investigating whether the organization had complaints, red flags, or policies it failed to enforce. We investigate that chain of responsibility as part of every case.
In many sexual abuse cases, courts in the 18th Judicial District allow survivors to file under a pseudonym such as Jane Doe or John Doe so your real name does not appear in public court records. Courts can also issue protective orders that seal sensitive documents and restrict who may attend depositions. Your initial consultation with us is confidential and protected by attorney-client privilege, with no public record at all. Privacy protection is a core part of how we structure these cases from the beginning.
Compensation can cover medical and therapy expenses, lost wages, reduced future earning capacity, pain and suffering, emotional distress including PTSD and anxiety, and loss of enjoyment of life. In cases involving egregious institutional conduct, such as a cover-up or deliberate indifference, Colorado courts may also award punitive damages under C.R.S. 13-21-102. Punitive damages cannot exceed actual damages unless a court finds the defendant continued willful and wanton conduct after the lawsuit was filed, at which point the court may increase the award to a maximum of three times actual damages. We document every category of harm to make sure nothing is left out of your claim.
No. CGH Injury Lawyers has one office: 2701 Lawrence St., Suite 201, Denver, CO 80205. We serve Littleton survivors from that office, file cases in the 18th Judicial District at both the Arapahoe County Courthouse at 1790 West Littleton Blvd and the Arapahoe County Justice Center at 7325 S. Potomac Street, Centennial, and we meet you where it is most comfortable for you. You can reach us at (303) 209-9395 for a free, confidential consultation.
Keep reading
Sexual assault civil cases often connect to related areas of law. These pages cover the broader legal picture for Littleton injury and abuse claims.
Statewide pillar
Related practice areas
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