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.
IT'S MORE THAN MONEY.
Boulder Sexual Assault Civil Lawyer
We represent survivors of sexual assault and abuse in civil claims in Boulder and across Colorado. This is a path to compensation and to holding negligent institutions accountable, separate from any criminal case. You decide every step, and your first conversation with us is confidential.
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
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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 Boulder seek compensation and hold negligent institutions accountable, on a separate track from any 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 any criminal case.
- Liability often reaches beyond the individual to the school, university, 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 Boulder survivors with a confidential, trauma-informed approach. We handle the institutions, the investigation, and the litigation while you keep control of every decision. We serve Boulder from our Denver office, a short drive down U.S. 36, the Denver-Boulder Turnpike. Your first consultation is free and protected by attorney-client privilege.
Justice beyond the criminal courts
Why a civil claim matters for Boulder 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 Boulder.
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 prosecutor decides.
Institutional accountability
Who can be held liable in Boulder 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.
Boulder entities commonly held accountable
- Schools, colleges, and universities
- Religious organizations and youth ministries
- Youth-serving programs, camps, and sports leagues
- Rideshare and transportation companies
- 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 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.
Boulder courts and care
Where Boulder civil claims land: the courthouse and the care records
A civil claim arising in Boulder is rooted in Boulder: the courthouse where a case may be filed and the hospital that may hold records central to your harm. CGH serves Boulder from our Denver office and knows this city's legal and medical infrastructure.
Courthouse
Boulder County Combined Court
Most civil lawsuits arising in Boulder County are filed in the Boulder County Combined Court, the District Court for the 20th Judicial District of Colorado, at 1777 6th St. in Boulder, with an alternate court location in Longmont at 1035 Kimbark St. Where the abuse occurred can affect venue. We handle Boulder County District Court cases directly and know the local civil procedure, the judges, and the defense firms that insure Boulder institutions.
Trauma and Care Records
Foothills Hospital, Boulder
Foothills Hospital at 4747 Arapahoe Avenue is the American College of Surgeons verified Level II Trauma Center operated by Boulder Community Health and the first designated Level II Trauma Center in Boulder County. Where a survivor sought medical or psychological care after an assault, those records can document the harm that supports a civil claim. We obtain them with your consent and handle them with privacy in mind.
Serving Boulder
Full representation from Denver
CGH Injury Lawyers has one office: 2701 Lawrence St., Suite 201, Denver, CO 80205. Boulder survivors receive full, confidential representation from our Denver team, a short drive down U.S. 36, the Denver-Boulder Turnpike. We accommodate your schedule and comfort, including remote meetings, when meeting in person is difficult. Nothing about your case requires you to travel unnecessarily.
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 situation and tell you honestly where it stands.
Compensation
What compensation can a Boulder 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 a Boulder 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 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 (C.R.S. 13-80-103.7), 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 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 in Boulder County
If an institution will not be fair, we are prepared to try your case in the Boulder County Combined Court, the District Court for the 20th Judicial District. 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 Boulder cases with discretion, confidentiality, and respect for the survivor's control.
ABOTA trial advocate on the team
Institutional liability experience
Trauma-informed approach
Serves Boulder and all of Colorado
Bilingual EN / ES
Confidential consultation
No fee unless we win
Frequently asked questions
Boulder sexual assault civil claims: frequently asked questions
Can I file a civil sexual assault claim in Boulder if no criminal charges were filed?
Yes. A civil claim is independent of any criminal case. Criminal cases require proof beyond a reasonable doubt, while a civil case requires only a preponderance of the evidence, meaning it is more likely than not that the abuse occurred and caused harm. You can pursue a civil claim whether or not a prosecutor filed charges, and whatever the outcome of any criminal proceeding. Many survivors find that the civil path is the one that actually delivers accountability.
Where would my Boulder sexual assault civil case be filed?
Most civil cases arising in Boulder County are filed in the Boulder County Combined Court, the District Court for the 20th Judicial District, at 1777 6th St. in Boulder, with an alternate court location in Longmont at 1035 Kimbark St. Where the abuse occurred can affect venue in cases involving an institution located elsewhere. Many civil claims resolve through confidential settlement before any trial, but where a case would be filed shapes the local procedure and the defense firms you face. We handle Boulder County District Court cases directly.
Is it too late to file if my assault 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 case evaluation is the right way to determine where your situation stands. If you have assumed it is too late, you may be wrong.
Can I hold a Boulder institution, not just the individual, liable for my assault?
Often, yes. Schools, universities, employers, healthcare facilities, religious organizations, 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. Institutional claims involve theories such as negligent hiring, negligent supervision, and negligent retention, and we evaluate whether the organization where your assault occurred bears legal responsibility. Holding an institution accountable can secure meaningful compensation and drive organizational change.
Will my name become public if I file a civil claim in Boulder?
In many sexual abuse cases, the Boulder County Combined Court and other Colorado 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 is confidential and protected by attorney-client privilege, with no public record created by reaching out.
What compensation can a Boulder civil sexual assault claim recover?
Compensation can cover therapy and psychiatric care, medical costs, lost wages, reduced future earning capacity, pain and suffering, emotional distress, and in cases of egregious institutional conduct, punitive damages. Every case is different, and we evaluate both the immediate impact and the long-term consequences on your health, relationships, and ability to work or study. We structure the claim so no category of documented harm is left out.
Do I need a lawyer with a Boulder office?
No. What matters is whether your attorney handles Boulder County cases directly, knows the Boulder County Combined Court, and is prepared to take the case to trial there if needed. CGH Injury Lawyers serves Boulder from our Denver office at 2701 Lawrence St., a short drive down U.S. 36, the Denver-Boulder Turnpike. We accommodate your schedule and comfort, including remote meetings, and much of a sensitive case can be handled by phone, secure email, and signed documents. Call (303) 209-9395.
Related pages
Related Boulder and statewide pages
Boulder pages
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