Criminal case
Brought by the state
Prosecutors must prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt, an extremely high standard. The aim is punishment of the offender, such as incarceration or fines. The survivor is a witness, not the party in control.
Arvada, Colorado
Arvada Sexual Assault Civil Lawyers Who Hold Institutions Accountable
We represent survivors of sexual assault and abuse in civil claims across Arvada and Jefferson County. This is a path to compensation and institutional accountability, separate from any criminal case. You decide every step, and your first conversation with us is confidential. We serve Arvada from our Denver office, less than 15 miles east along I-70.
No fee unless we win
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(303) 209-9395
You are in control
A confidential conversation, on your terms
There is no obligation and no public record when you reach out. We listen, explain your options, and move at a pace that respects you. Nothing happens that you have not chosen.
- Protected by attorney-client privilege
- Jane Doe and John Doe filings available
- Bilingual, trauma-informed team
5-star rated on Google
ABOTA trial advocate on the team
Confidential, trauma-informed
No fee unless we win
A civil claim lets survivors of sexual assault and abuse in Arvada seek compensation and hold negligent institutions accountable, on a separate track from criminal prosecution.
- Civil cases use a lower standard of proof than criminal cases. You can pursue a civil claim whether or not criminal charges were ever filed, and whatever the outcome of a criminal case.
- Liability often reaches beyond the individual to the school, employer, religious organization, healthcare facility, or transportation company whose negligence created the opportunity for harm.
- Colorado has expanded the civil filing windows for sexual misconduct and childhood sexual abuse. Because these deadlines are specific and high-stakes, we evaluate your exact timeline before anything is filed.
CGH Injury Lawyers represents Arvada survivors with a confidential, trauma-informed approach. We serve Arvada from our Denver office, less than 15 miles east along I-70, and handle Jefferson Combined Court cases directly. We take on the institutions, the investigation, and the litigation, while you keep control of every decision. Your first consultation is free and protected by attorney-client privilege.
Justice beyond the criminal courts
Why a civil claim matters for Arvada survivors
The criminal system and the civil system serve different purposes. Criminal courts focus on punishing an offender. Civil courts focus on making a survivor whole, providing the resources to heal and forcing institutions to answer for their failures.
For many survivors, the criminal process does not deliver accountability. Prosecutors may decline to file charges, deadlines may have passed, or a high burden of proof can lead to an acquittal despite compelling evidence. A civil claim offers a separate path that you, not the state, control.
- Financial recovery for real, documented harm, including therapy, medical care, and lost opportunity.
- Institutional change, because organizations that pay for their failures tighten hiring, supervision, and reporting.
- Validation, because a civil result states formally that what happened was wrong and that those responsible must answer.
Two separate tracks
Civil versus criminal cases: the differences that matter
These two systems run on parallel tracks with different goals, different standards of proof, and different outcomes. Understanding the difference is the starting point for understanding your options in Arvada.
Civil case
Brought by the survivor
You must prove your case by a preponderance of the evidence, meaning it is more likely than not that the abuse occurred and caused harm. The aim is financial compensation and accountability. You decide whether and how to proceed.
Because the civil standard is lower, you can win a civil case even when no criminal charges were filed, when charges were dropped, or when a criminal jury returned a not-guilty verdict. The two outcomes are independent. A civil claim is also yours to pursue regardless of what a Jefferson County prosecutor decides.
Institutional accountability
Who can be held liable beyond the individual?
One of the most important parts of a civil case is the ability to hold institutions accountable, not just an individual. An organization that employed an abuser and failed to protect you often bears legal responsibility, and often has the resources to provide meaningful compensation.
Theory of liability
Negligent hiring
Organizations must conduct reasonable background checks before placing someone in a position of trust with vulnerable people. Hiring without checking prior complaints or history can create liability when harm follows.
Theory of liability
Negligent supervision
Even with adequate hiring, organizations must properly supervise. When administrators receive complaints about inappropriate behavior and fail to investigate or act, they share responsibility for what follows.
Theory of liability
Negligent retention
When an organization learns of misconduct or red flags but keeps a person in a position to cause harm, it becomes liable for later abuse. This is common where institutions quietly transferred a known problem rather than removing it.
Theory of liability
Vicarious liability
In certain circumstances an employer can be held responsible for the acts of an employee within the scope of employment, particularly when the relationship created the opportunity for abuse.
Arvada entities commonly held accountable
- Schools, colleges, and universities serving Arvada
- Religious organizations and youth ministries
- Youth-serving programs, camps, and sports leagues
- Rideshare and transit operators, including RTD G Line service through Olde Town Arvada
- Hospitals, clinics, and psychiatric facilities
- Group homes and foster care agencies
- Assisted living and residential facilities
- Employers whose premises or supervision failed
The work is identifying not only who caused the harm, but which Arvada institutions created the conditions that allowed it and failed in their duty to protect you. We investigate that chain of responsibility while supporting you through what can be a difficult process of confronting an organization you once trusted.
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
How much time do you have to file in Colorado?
Colorado has expanded the civil filing windows for sexual misconduct and childhood sexual abuse over recent years. Because these deadlines are specific and the stakes are high, the safest step is a confidential review of your exact timeline before you assume a claim is too late.
What Colorado law recognizes
- For civil claims based on sexual misconduct, Colorado eliminated the statute of limitations effective January 1, 2022. These claims can now be filed at any time (C.R.S. 13-80-103.7). That open window also covers older abuse if the old deadline had not yet expired by January 1, 2022, which is a fact-specific analysis worth a confidential review of your exact timeline.
- Under C.R.S. 13-80-103.7, Colorado imposes no statute of limitations for sexual-misconduct civil claims accruing on or after January 1, 2022, or for claims that were not yet time-barred as of January 1, 2022.
- Under C.R.S. 13-80-103.7, Colorado imposes no statute of limitations for sexual-misconduct civil claims accruing on or after January 1, 2022, or for claims that were not yet time-barred as of January 1, 2022.
If you have thought that it happened too long ago, you may still have options. These laws were written precisely because survivors often need years, sometimes decades, before they are ready to come forward. We will evaluate your specific Arvada situation and tell you honestly where it stands.
Local knowledge
Arvada reporting. Jefferson Combined Court. St. Anthony trauma care.
An Arvada civil case is grounded in Arvada: the agency you may report to, the hospital that treated you, and the courthouse where a lawsuit would be filed. None of it requires a criminal report first, and all of it stays as private as you choose. Here is the ground we work on.
Reporting
Arvada Police Department
Within Arvada city limits, sexual assault is investigated by the Arvada Police Department. A police report can support a later civil claim, but a civil case does not depend on one. Many survivors never file a criminal report, and you can still pursue compensation and institutional accountability. Whether to report to police is entirely your decision, and we explain how each path works before you choose.
Trauma and forensic care
St. Anthony Hospital (Level I Trauma Center)
Arvada's closest Level I Trauma Center is St. Anthony Hospital, designated by the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment, with St. Anthony North Hospital, a Level III Trauma Center, also serving the northern Arvada area. Medical and forensic records from a hospital visit document the harm you suffered and become part of the backbone of a civil damages claim. We work from those records while protecting their confidentiality.
Courthouse
Jefferson Combined Court (District Court)
The large majority of Arvada lies in Jefferson County. A civil lawsuit from that portion of Arvada would be filed in Jefferson Combined Court (District Court), 100 Jefferson County Parkway, Golden, CO 80401, in the 1st Judicial District of Colorado (Jefferson and Gilpin Counties). A small eastern portion of Arvada falls within Adams County, which would change the venue. We confirm the correct court in the first consultation and handle Jefferson Combined Court cases directly.
Compensation
What compensation can an Arvada civil claim recover?
A civil claim seeks to make you whole by compensating the harm you have suffered. Colorado law recognizes several categories of damages in sexual abuse and assault cases.
Economic damages
- Therapy, psychiatric care, and medication
- Medical and hospitalization costs
- Lost wages and missed work
- Reduced future earning capacity
- Other out-of-pocket costs tied to the abuse
Non-economic damages
- Pain and suffering
- Emotional distress, including PTSD, anxiety, and depression
- Loss of enjoyment of life
- Loss of consortium for a spouse or family
In cases involving egregious conduct, such as an institutional cover-up or deliberate indifference to a known risk, Colorado courts may also award punitive damages. These are not meant to compensate you, but to punish the wrongdoer and deter similar conduct by others. We work to identify and document every dimension of harm so nothing is left out of your claim.
Your privacy and safety
How we protect your privacy and your control
A common fear survivors share is public exposure. Colorado's legal system provides meaningful privacy protections, and your safety is central to how these cases should be handled, not an afterthought.
Anonymity
Jane Doe and John Doe filings
In many cases 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 further harm.
Protective orders
Sealed and restricted records
Courts can seal sensitive documents, limit who may attend depositions, and restrict disclosure of personal information uncovered during a case, so the process does not become another violation of your privacy.
Confidential from the start
A private first consultation
Your initial case evaluation is completely confidential and protected by attorney-client privilege. You can explore your options and decide whether to move forward with no public record and no obligation.
Trauma-informed
A pace that respects you
Our team understands that litigation can be retraumatizing if handled carelessly. We allow support persons, build in scheduling flexibility for difficult testimony, and move at a pace that respects your emotional capacity.
How it works
How we handle your Arvada civil sexual abuse case
Every case is different, and you set the pace. These are the stages most civil claims move through, from a confidential first conversation to trial in Jefferson Combined Court when an institution refuses to be fair.
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Confidential consultation
We listen, explain your options, and answer your questions at no cost. What you share is protected by attorney-client privilege, and there is no obligation to proceed.
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Timeline and options review
We evaluate your exact timeline under Colorado law, including the elimination of the statute of limitations for sexual misconduct claims effective January 1, 2022, so you understand whether and how a claim can move forward.
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Investigation
Using civil discovery, we obtain records you may not have, such as complaint histories, personnel files, and institutional policies, to establish how an Arvada organization failed in its duty to protect you.
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Demand and negotiation
We document the full harm and pursue resolution with the responsible parties. Most civil cases resolve before trial, often through confidential settlement.
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Litigation and trial
If an institution will not be fair, we are prepared to try your case in Jefferson Combined Court. Courts often allow protective measures for sensitive testimony, and we prepare you thoroughly so you are never in a courtroom unprotected.
There is no right timeline for being ready. Some survivors come forward soon after; others need years. Both paths are valid. What matters is that when you are ready, you understand your options and the protections available to you.
Your team
A team that handles institutions, and treats you with care
CGH Injury Lawyers is a Colorado personal injury firm, formerly Cheney Galluzzi & Howard. We are trial lawyers willing to take a case as far as it needs to go, and we handle sensitive cases with discretion, confidentiality, and respect for the survivor's control. We serve Arvada from our Denver office.
ABOTA trial advocate on the team
Institutional liability experience
Trauma-informed approach
Serving Arvada and Jefferson County
Bilingual EN / ES
Confidential consultation
No fee unless we win
Frequently asked questions
Arvada civil sexual assault claims, frequently asked questions
Can I file a civil sexual assault claim in Arvada if no criminal charges were filed?
Yes. A civil claim is separate from criminal prosecution and is yours to pursue, not the district attorney's. Civil cases use the lower preponderance-of-the-evidence standard, meaning it is more likely than not that the abuse occurred and caused harm, while criminal cases require proof beyond a reasonable doubt. You can pursue a civil claim whether or not Arvada Police or the Jefferson County District Attorney ever filed charges, and whatever the outcome of any criminal case. The two outcomes are independent.
Can I hold a school, employer, or organization in Arvada liable, not just the individual?
Often, yes. Schools, employers, healthcare facilities, religious organizations, youth programs, and transportation companies may be held liable if they failed to provide adequate safeguards, ignored prior complaints, or otherwise contributed to conditions that enabled the assault. These claims rest on theories like negligent hiring, supervision, and retention. Institutional defendants in Jefferson County often have the resources to provide meaningful compensation, and holding them accountable can force organizational change that helps prevent future harm.
Where would my Arvada sexual assault civil case be filed?
The large majority of Arvada lies in Jefferson County, so most civil cases that proceed to litigation would be filed in Jefferson Combined Court (District Court) at 100 Jefferson County Parkway, Golden, CO 80401, in the 1st Judicial District of Colorado (Jefferson and Gilpin Counties). A small eastern portion of Arvada falls within Adams County, which would change the venue. Most civil claims resolve before trial, often through confidential settlement, but where a case would be filed affects the local rules and the protections available. We sort out the correct venue at the start.
Is it too late to file if the abuse happened years ago?
Not necessarily. For civil claims based on sexual misconduct, Colorado eliminated the statute of limitations effective January 1, 2022. These claims can now be filed at any time (C.R.S. 13-80-103.7). That open window also covers older abuse if the old deadline had not yet expired by January 1, 2022. Because that analysis is fact-specific, a confidential review of your exact timeline is the way to determine where your situation stands.
Will my name become public if I file a civil claim?
In many sexual abuse cases, courts allow survivors to file under a pseudonym such as Jane Doe or John Doe, so your real name does not appear in public court documents. Courts can also issue protective orders that seal sensitive records and limit who may attend depositions. Your first consultation with us is confidential and protected by attorney-client privilege, with no public record.
What compensation can a civil sexual assault claim recover in Colorado?
Compensation can cover medical and therapy expenses, lost wages, reduced earning capacity, pain and suffering, emotional distress, and in some cases punitive damages. Economic damages include emergency care, follow-up treatment, medication, and psychological care, including treatment that may have begun at St. Anthony Hospital. Each case is unique, and we evaluate both the immediate impact and the long-term consequences on your life, health, relationships, and ability to work or study.
Does CGH Injury Lawyers have an office in Arvada?
No. CGH Injury Lawyers has one office, at 2701 Lawrence St., Suite 201, Denver, CO 80205, less than 15 miles east of Arvada along I-70. We represent Arvada and Jefferson County survivors from that office, handle Jefferson Combined Court cases directly, and meet you wherever is private and convenient. Call (303) 209-9395 or submit the form on this page. Your first consultation is free, confidential, and protected by attorney-client privilege.
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CGH Injury Lawyers · 2701 Lawrence St., Suite 201, Denver, CO 80205 · Serving Arvada, Jefferson County, and all of Colorado