Theory of liability
Negligent hiring
Organizations must conduct reasonable background checks before placing someone in a position of trust. Hiring without checking prior complaints or history creates liability when harm follows.
Broomfield, Colorado
Broomfield Sexual Assault Civil Lawyers Who Fight for Survivors
We represent survivors of sexual assault and abuse in civil claims in Broomfield and Colorado. This path provides compensation and holds negligent institutions accountable, separate from any criminal case. Your first conversation is confidential.
No fee unless we win
Or speak with us privately now
(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.
- 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 Broomfield survivors 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, regardless of how a criminal matter ended.
- Liability often reaches beyond the individual to the school, employer, healthcare facility, or organization in Broomfield whose negligence created the opportunity for harm.
- Colorado has expanded civil filing windows for sexual misconduct. We evaluate your exact timeline before anything is filed.
CGH Injury Lawyers represents Broomfield survivors with a confidential, trauma-informed approach. We handle the institutions, investigation, and litigation while you control every decision. First consultation is free and protected by attorney-client privilege.
The law that governs your case
Colorado's civil sexual assault law decoded for Broomfield
Two key frameworks govern Broomfield civil sexual assault claims: the civil standard of proof and Colorado's expanded filing windows.
Civil vs. criminal standard
- Civil cases use the preponderance-of-the-evidence standard: more likely than not. Criminal cases require proof beyond a reasonable doubt, a far higher bar.
- A civil claim can succeed even when no criminal charges were filed, charges were dropped, or a criminal jury acquitted.
- You control a civil case. The decision to proceed, settle, or go to trial is yours, not the prosecutor's.
Colorado's expanded filing windows
- Colorado eliminated the statute of limitations for sexual misconduct civil claims effective January 1, 2022. These claims can now be filed at any time (C.R.S. 13-80-103.7).
- That open window covers older abuse if the original deadline had not yet expired by January 1, 2022, a fact-specific analysis we perform in your initial review.
- 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 assumed a claim is too late, a confidential review is the way to know for certain. There is no cost to find out.
Institutional accountability
Who can be held liable beyond the individual?
Organizations that failed to protect you bear legal responsibility and often have resources for meaningful compensation.
Theory of liability
Negligent supervision
Even with adequate hiring, organizations must properly supervise. When administrators receive complaints about inappropriate behavior and fail to act, they share responsibility for what follows.
Theory of liability
Negligent retention
When an organization learns of misconduct but keeps a person in a position to cause harm, it becomes liable for later abuse. This pattern is common where institutions transferred a known problem rather than removed it.
Theory of liability
Vicarious liability
An employer can be held responsible for the acts of an employee within the scope of employment, particularly when the employment relationship created the opportunity for abuse.
Common defendants: schools, religious organizations, youth programs, rideshare companies, hospitals, group homes, employers, and assisted living facilities.
We investigate the chain of responsibility, identifying which Broomfield institutions created the conditions that allowed the harm. We handle the legal work while you focus on your recovery.
Local knowledge
Broomfield courts. Broomfield trauma care. Broomfield police.
Courthouse
Broomfield Combined Courts, 17th Judicial District
Civil cases arising in Broomfield are filed in the Broomfield Combined Courts at 17 Descombes Drive, Broomfield, CO 80020, in the 17th Judicial District. Broomfield is Colorado's sole consolidated city-county, and the Combined Courts handle district, county, and municipal matters in one building. CGH handles Broomfield Combined Court cases directly from our Denver office, minutes away via US 36.
Trauma Care
Intermountain Health Good Samaritan and Intermountain Health Lutheran
Broomfield is served by two CDPHE-designated Level II Trauma Centers: Intermountain Health Good Samaritan Hospital (ACS recertified) and Intermountain Health Lutheran Hospital (Level II designation from CDPHE, June 2021, upgraded from Level III). Medical records from these facilities document physical harm that is essential to establishing damages in a civil claim. Colorado SANE (Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner) forensic examinations create independent records regardless of whether a criminal report was filed.
Law Enforcement
Broomfield Police Department
The Broomfield Police Department handles incidents within city limits; the Colorado State Patrol covers US 36, I-25, and the Northwest Parkway. A criminal report is not required to pursue a civil claim. If one exists, we obtain it as part of building your file.
Your privacy and safety
How we protect your privacy and your control
Public exposure is a common concern. Colorado's legal system provides meaningful privacy protections.
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 records at Broomfield Combined Courts.
Protective orders
Sealed and restricted records
Courts can seal sensitive documents, limit deposition attendance, and restrict disclosure of personal information uncovered during a case.
Confidential from the start
A private first consultation
Your initial case evaluation is confidential and protected by attorney-client privilege, with no public record and no obligation to proceed.
Trauma-informed
A pace that respects you
We allow support persons, build in scheduling flexibility for difficult testimony, and move at a pace that respects your capacity and your life in Broomfield.
How it works
How we handle a civil sexual assault case in Broomfield
You set the pace. Here 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.
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Timeline and options review
We evaluate your exact timeline under Colorado law, including whether C.R.S. 13-80-103.7's elimination of the statute of limitations for sexual misconduct claims applies to your situation, so you understand whether a claim can move forward.
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Investigation
Using civil discovery, we obtain complaint histories, personnel files, and institutional policies to establish how a Broomfield organization failed in its duty to protect you, along with any Broomfield Police or Colorado State Patrol records.
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Demand and negotiation
We document the full harm and pursue resolution. Most civil sexual assault cases in Broomfield resolve before trial through a confidential settlement.
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Litigation and trial in Broomfield Combined Courts
If an institution will not be fair, we try your case in Broomfield Combined Courts. Managing Partner Kevin Cheney is an ABOTA member who has tried over 25 cases to verdict.
Compensation
What compensation can a civil claim recover for Broomfield survivors?
Colorado law recognizes several categories of damages in sexual abuse 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 or institutional cover-up, Colorado courts may also award punitive damages to punish the wrongdoer and deter future harm. We identify and document every dimension of harm so nothing is left out of your claim.
Defense tactics
Arguments defendants use, and how we answer them
Defendants in civil sexual assault cases reach for a predictable set of arguments. Knowing how we respond protects your claim from first contact through trial.
- 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.
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"The institution did not know and could not have known."
These claims turn on what the organization knew or should have known. Civil discovery produces personnel files, complaint records, and internal communications that reveal awareness institutions rarely admit voluntarily.
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"There is no physical evidence."
Many successful civil cases have no physical evidence. Your testimony is evidence. Civil discovery allows your attorney to obtain SANE examination reports, medical records, prior complaint patterns, and witness accounts that together support a civil claim even without physical evidence.
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"The assault was committed by a rogue employee, not the organization."
Negligent hiring, supervision, and retention theories exist precisely for this argument. If the organization failed to properly screen, supervise, or act on warning signs, it shares legal responsibility even if it did not directly participate in the assault.
If the facts of your situation create a genuine legal barrier to recovery, we say so in the free review. When the law is on your side, we pursue the claim. You deserve an honest answer early, at no cost.
It is not about reliving what happened. It is about reclaiming control and forcing the institutions that failed you to answer for it.
Frequently asked questions
Broomfield sexual assault civil claims, frequently asked questions
Do I need to file a police report in Broomfield before I can bring a civil sexual assault claim?
No. A criminal report with the Broomfield Police Department or Colorado State Patrol is not required. You retain the right to a civil case whether or not a criminal investigation was opened. If a report exists, we obtain it as part of building your file. The decision to report is entirely yours.
Can I still file a civil sexual assault case if the assault happened years ago in Broomfield?
Possibly yes. Colorado eliminated the statute of limitations for sexual misconduct civil claims effective January 1, 2022 (C.R.S. 13-80-103.7). Older abuse may also qualify if the original deadline had not yet expired on that date. A confidential review is the way to know for certain.
Where would a Broomfield sexual assault civil case be filed?
Civil cases arising in Broomfield are filed in Broomfield Combined Courts at 17 Descombes Drive, Broomfield, CO 80020, in the 17th Judicial District. Courts have procedures to protect survivor privacy, including filings under a pseudonym such as Jane Doe or John Doe. Most cases settle before trial, but venue affects the local rules and protections available.
Can I sue a Broomfield school, employer, or organization, not just the individual who assaulted me?
Often yes. Schools, youth programs, employers, healthcare facilities, religious organizations, and transportation companies can be held liable if they failed to screen, supervise, or act on warning signs. Negligent hiring, negligent supervision, and negligent retention are the primary theories.
Will my name become public if I file a civil sexual assault case in Broomfield?
In many cases, courts allow filings under a pseudonym such as Jane Doe or John Doe, so your name does not appear in public records at Broomfield Combined Courts. Courts can also seal sensitive records and limit deposition attendance. Your first consultation is confidential and protected by attorney-client privilege.
What is the difference between a civil and a criminal sexual assault case in Colorado?
A criminal case is brought by the state to punish the offender. A civil claim is brought by you, the survivor, to recover financial compensation for medical bills, therapy, lost wages, and pain and suffering. Criminal cases require proof beyond a reasonable doubt. Civil cases use the lower preponderance-of-the-evidence standard. You can pursue a civil claim regardless of how any criminal case ended.
CGH Injury Lawyers is based in Denver. Can you handle a Broomfield sexual assault civil case?
Yes. CGH Injury Lawyers serves all of Broomfield from our Denver office, minutes away via US 36. We handle Broomfield Combined Court cases in the 17th Judicial District directly. All cases are handled by licensed Colorado attorneys, not paralegals. Call (303) 209-9395 for a confidential, free review.
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Free, confidential consultation. No fee unless we win. Serving Broomfield and Colorado, in English and Spanish.
Prefer to read first? See how Colorado civil sexual assault law works.