Criminal case
Brought by the state
Prosecutors must prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt. The aim is punishment of the offender. The survivor is a witness and is not in control of how the case proceeds or whether charges are even filed.
IT'S MORE THAN MONEY.
Castle Rock Sexual Assault Civil Lawyer
Survivors of sexual assault and abuse in Castle Rock and Douglas County have the right to pursue civil claims for compensation and institutional accountability, separate from any criminal prosecution. CGH Injury Lawyers serves Castle Rock from our Denver office with a confidential, trauma-informed approach. You control every decision. Your first conversation costs nothing.
No fee unless we win
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(303) 209-9395
You are in control
A confidential conversation, on your terms
Nothing you share in a first consultation creates any public record or obligation to proceed. We listen, explain your options, and move at a pace that respects you. You decide what happens next.
- 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 sexual assault claim in Castle Rock is a separate legal path from criminal prosecution. It lets survivors seek financial compensation and hold negligent institutions accountable in Douglas County Combined Courts.
- Colorado eliminated the statute of limitations for civil claims based on sexual misconduct effective January 1, 2022 (C.R.S. 13-80-103.7). These claims can now be filed at any time, regardless of how long ago the abuse occurred.
- Civil cases use a lower standard of proof than criminal cases. You can bring a civil claim whether or not criminal charges were ever filed, and whatever the outcome of any criminal proceeding.
- Liability in Castle Rock cases often reaches beyond the individual perpetrator to institutions such as schools, employers, youth programs, healthcare facilities, and organizations operating in Douglas County that failed in their duty to protect you.
CGH Injury Lawyers does not have a Castle Rock office. We serve Castle Rock and Douglas County from our Denver office at 2701 Lawrence St., Suite 201. We file in Douglas County Combined Courts within the 23rd Judicial District and handle these cases with the discretion, confidentiality, and survivor-centered approach that sensitive matters demand. Your first consultation is free and protected by attorney-client privilege.
Justice beyond the criminal courts
Why a civil claim matters for Castle Rock survivors
Criminal prosecutions focus on punishing an offender. Civil claims focus on making a survivor whole and forcing the organizations whose failures made the harm possible to answer for those failures in Douglas County Combined Courts.
For many survivors, the criminal process does not deliver the accountability they need. A Douglas County prosecutor may decline to file charges, the burden of proof may result in an acquittal despite compelling evidence, or a survivor may simply not want to participate in a criminal proceeding. A civil claim is separate, and you control it.
- Financial recovery for documented harm, including therapy, medical care, lost wages, and long-term emotional consequences.
- Institutional change, because organizations that pay for their negligence are forced to tighten hiring, supervision, and reporting standards.
- A civil outcome that formally states what happened was wrong and that every responsible party must answer for it.
Civil case
Brought by you
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, and you remain in control throughout.
Colorado filing deadlines
How long do you have to file a sexual assault civil claim in Colorado?
Colorado law has changed significantly for survivors of sexual misconduct and childhood abuse. Understanding where your situation falls requires a fact-specific review, which is exactly what a confidential consultation provides.
No statute of limitations for sexual misconduct claims
- For civil claims based on sexual misconduct, Colorado eliminated the statute of limitations effective January 1, 2022 (C.R.S. 13-80-103.7). A Castle Rock survivor can now file a civil sexual assault claim at any time, no matter how long ago the assault occurred.
- For older claims, the open window under C.R.S. 13-80-103.7 also applies when the original filing deadline had not yet expired as of January 1, 2022. Because that determination is fact-specific, a confidential case review is the way to find out where your particular situation stands.
- 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 the abuse happened too long ago to matter legally, you may still have a claim. These laws were written precisely because survivors often need years, or decades, before they are ready to come forward. We evaluate your exact timeline and tell you honestly where it stands.
Institutional accountability in Douglas County
Who can be held liable beyond the individual in Castle Rock?
Castle Rock and Douglas County are home to schools, youth sports leagues, faith organizations, medical facilities, retail employment environments, and recreation programs. Any organization that places people in a position of trust over others carries a legal duty to screen, supervise, and protect. When that duty fails, the institution shares responsibility for the harm that follows.
Theory of liability
Negligent hiring
A Douglas County school, sports program, or employer that fails to conduct reasonable background checks before placing someone in a position of trust with vulnerable people can be held liable when harm follows. Prior complaints or records that a diligent search would have uncovered become central evidence in these cases.
Theory of liability
Negligent supervision
An organization that receives complaints of inappropriate behavior and fails to investigate or act, or that creates environments where abuse can occur without detection, becomes responsible for what follows. Douglas County youth programs, residential facilities, and large retail employers along the Meadows Parkway corridor are the kinds of settings where supervision failures occur.
Theory of liability
Negligent retention
When an institution learns of misconduct or warning signs and keeps the person in a position to cause further harm rather than removing them, it becomes liable for subsequent abuse. Quiet internal transfers of a known problem rather than termination are a classic pattern in these cases.
Theory of liability
Vicarious liability
In certain circumstances an employer can be held responsible for the acts of an employee that occurred within the scope of the employment relationship, particularly where the employer's position of authority created the opportunity for abuse.
Entities commonly held accountable in Douglas County cases
- Douglas County school districts and private schools
- Faith organizations and religious youth programs
- Youth sports leagues and recreational programs
- Rideshare and transportation companies
- Medical and mental health facilities including AdventHealth Castle Rock
- Group homes and foster care agencies in Douglas County
- Retail and hospitality employers in the Outlets at Castle Rock corridor
- Recreation programs at Philip S. Miller Park and similar venues
The investigation in an institutional liability case is not just about identifying who caused the harm. It is about tracing which organizations created the conditions that made the harm possible and then failed in their duty to protect you. We pursue that chain of responsibility while supporting you through what is often a difficult process of confronting an institution 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.
Local knowledge
Castle Rock courts. Castle Rock trauma care. Castle Rock context.
A civil sexual assault case filed in Castle Rock lives in specific institutions and settings. Understanding the courthouse, the medical facilities, and the community context is part of building a serious claim.
Courthouse
Douglas County Combined Courts, 23rd Judicial District
A Castle Rock civil personal-injury lawsuit that exceeds the county-court jurisdictional limit is filed in Douglas County Combined Courts at 4000 Justice Way, Suite 2009, Castle Rock, CO 80109. The court sits within the 23rd Judicial District, which became its own independent judicial district on January 14, 2025 under HB20-1026, covering Douglas, Elbert, and Lincoln counties after separating from the former 18th Judicial District. Sexual assault civil cases in Douglas County are filed and tried in that courthouse. The local jury pool, the judges, and the defense firms active in the 23rd Judicial District all differ from the Denver metro. We handle 23rd Judicial District cases directly from our Denver office and do not need a local Castle Rock address to try your case.
Medical Care
AdventHealth Castle Rock, Level III Trauma Center
AdventHealth Castle Rock at 2350 Meadows Boulevard, Castle Rock, CO 80104 is the primary medical facility in Douglas County and a designated Level III Trauma Center. Survivors of sexual assault who seek medical care in Castle Rock are often seen here. Medical records from AdventHealth Castle Rock, including sexual assault nurse examiner records and forensic documentation, form a core part of the damages evidence in a civil claim. Patients requiring specialized psychiatric or trauma-focused inpatient care may be referred to Denver-area facilities, generating additional records at multiple institutions that must all be gathered as part of a complete damages case.
Community Context
A fast-growing community with schools, employers, and programs across Douglas County
Castle Rock is a rapidly growing Douglas County community of 73,158 people with major employers, large retail operations along the Meadows Parkway and Founders Parkway corridors, a substantial recreation sector centered on Philip S. Miller Park, and a variety of youth-serving programs. The Outlets at Castle Rock, Colorado's largest open-air outlet center with more than 100 stores, is a concentrated employment environment that draws visitors from across the I-25 corridor. Douglas County School District RE-1 and a number of private and charter schools serve a fast-growing student population. Growth brings institutional density. More schools, youth programs, and employers means more settings where inadequate screening, supervision, and reporting policies can enable harm. When they do, we investigate the organization, not just the individual.
Compensation
What compensation can a Castle Rock civil sexual assault claim recover?
Colorado law recognizes several categories of damages in civil sexual assault and abuse cases. We work to identify and document every dimension of harm so nothing is left out of your claim.
Economic damages
- Therapy and psychiatric care, including long-term PTSD treatment
- Medical expenses, including forensic examination costs and follow-up care
- Lost wages and missed work during recovery
- Reduced future earning capacity if the harm affected your career or education
- Other out-of-pocket costs tied directly to the abuse
Non-economic damages
- Pain and suffering
- Emotional distress, including PTSD, anxiety, depression, and trauma responses
- Loss of enjoyment of life
- Loss of consortium for a spouse or family member
In cases involving egregious conduct, such as a deliberate institutional cover-up or willful indifference to a known threat, Colorado courts may also award punitive damages under C.R.S. 13-21-102. Punitive damages are separate from compensatory damages; their purpose is to punish the wrongdoer and deter others. Economic damages are never capped in Colorado. Non-economic damages are subject to a cap of $1.5 million for claims accruing on or after January 1, 2025 under C.R.S. 13-21-102.5. Physical impairment and disfigurement damages are not subject to that cap. In sexual assault cases with serious and lasting psychological harm, the economic categories alone, including years of ongoing therapy and lost earning capacity, often account for a significant share of a claim's total value.
Your privacy
How we protect your privacy in a Castle Rock civil claim
The fear of public exposure stops many survivors from exploring their rights. Colorado's legal process provides meaningful privacy protections, and your safety is not an afterthought here. It is a primary concern from the first call.
Anonymity
Jane Doe and John Doe filings in Douglas County
In many sexual abuse cases, courts allow survivors to file under a pseudonym so your real name does not appear in public court records at Douglas County Combined Courts. This protection exists specifically because forcing public identification can deter legitimate claims and cause additional harm to survivors.
Protective orders
Sealed records and restricted access
Courts can seal sensitive documents, restrict who may attend depositions, and limit disclosure of personal information uncovered during discovery. The process at Douglas County Combined Courts, handled properly, does not have to become another violation of your privacy.
Privileged from the start
A confidential first call
Everything you share in your first consultation with us is protected by attorney-client privilege. There is no public record of that conversation and no obligation to proceed. You explore your options with full legal protection before deciding on a single next step.
Trauma-informed
A pace that respects where you are
Our bilingual, trauma-informed team allows support persons, builds scheduling flexibility around difficult testimony, and moves at a pace that respects your emotional capacity. Castle Rock clients are served from our Denver office, which means you do not need to travel to begin the process. Phone and video consultations are available.
How it works
How we handle a Castle Rock civil sexual assault case
Every survivor's situation is different, and you set the pace. These are the stages most civil sexual assault claims move through, from a confidential first conversation to trial in Douglas County Combined Courts when an institution refuses to be fair.
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Confidential consultation
We listen to your situation, explain your civil options under Colorado law, and answer your questions at no cost. The conversation is protected by attorney-client privilege and creates no public record. You decide whether and how to move forward. Castle Rock clients are welcome to speak with us by phone or video from wherever is most comfortable.
- 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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Investigation into institutions
Using civil discovery, we obtain records you may not be able to access on your own, including complaint histories, personnel files, background check policies, and institutional supervision records from Douglas County organizations. Our goal is to establish how an institution failed in its duty to protect you and who within that organization knew what and when.
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Full documentation of harm
We gather medical records from AdventHealth Castle Rock and any other facilities where you received care, document the psychological impact through expert assessment, and build a complete picture of the economic and non-economic harm across every category Colorado law recognizes. Nothing is left out.
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Demand, negotiation, and resolution
Most civil sexual assault cases resolve before trial, often through confidential settlement. We pursue the responsible parties with a fully documented demand and negotiate from a position of complete preparation. You decide what terms are acceptable.
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Litigation in Douglas County Combined Courts
When an institution will not be fair, we file in Douglas County Combined Courts at 4000 Justice Way within the 23rd Judicial District and take your case to trial. Courts often allow closed proceedings, testimony by video, and other protective measures for sensitive matters. We prepare you thoroughly so you are never in a Douglas County courtroom unprotected or without full context for what is happening.
Your team
A Castle Rock sexual assault civil lawyer team that handles institutions and treats you with care
CGH Injury Lawyers is a Colorado personal injury firm, formerly Cheney Galluzzi and Howard. We are trial lawyers willing to take a case in Douglas County Combined Courts as far as it needs to go. Managing Partner Kevin Cheney is a member of the American Board of Trial Advocates and has tried more than 25 cases to verdict. We handle sensitive institutional liability cases with discretion, confidentiality, and respect for the survivor's control over every decision.
ABOTA trial advocate on the team
Institutional liability experience
Trauma-informed approach
Statewide Colorado coverage
Bilingual EN / ES
23rd Judicial District experience
No fee unless we win
CGH Injury Lawyers does not maintain a Castle Rock office. We serve Douglas County from our Denver office at 2701 Lawrence St., Suite 201, Denver, CO 80205. Castle Rock and Douglas County clients are served directly from Denver. We come to you, file in Douglas County Combined Courts, and try cases in the 23rd Judicial District. There is no Castle Rock storefront, and we do not pretend otherwise.
Frequently asked questions
Frequently asked questions about civil sexual assault claims in Castle Rock
Does CGH Injury Lawyers have an office in Castle Rock?
No. CGH Injury Lawyers has one office, at 2701 Lawrence St., Suite 201, Denver, CO 80205. We serve Castle Rock and all of Douglas County from that Denver office. We file sexual assault civil claims in Douglas County Combined Courts at 4000 Justice Way within the 23rd Judicial District, and we meet Castle Rock clients wherever is most comfortable, including by phone or video. Reach us at (303) 209-9395.
Is it too late to file a sexual assault civil claim if my abuse happened years ago in Castle Rock?
It may not be too late. Colorado eliminated the statute of limitations for civil claims based on sexual misconduct effective January 1, 2022 (C.R.S. 13-80-103.7). A survivor can now file a civil sexual assault claim at any time. For older claims, the open window also applies when the original deadline had not yet expired as of January 1, 2022, which is a fact-specific question. A confidential case review is the way to determine where your situation stands. Many Castle Rock survivors who believed time had run out still have valid claims.
Can I file a civil claim even if no criminal charges were filed against my abuser?
Yes. A civil claim and a criminal case run on entirely separate tracks. A Douglas County prosecutor may decline to file charges for any number of reasons, including insufficient evidence to meet the much higher criminal standard of proof beyond a reasonable doubt. A civil claim 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 criminal charges were filed, and regardless of how any criminal case ended.
Can I hold a Castle Rock school, employer, or youth program liable for my assault?
Often yes. Organizations that employ people in positions of trust over vulnerable individuals have legal duties around hiring, supervision, and retention. A Douglas County school, sports program, religious organization, or employer that fails those duties and enables an assault can be held liable through theories including negligent hiring, negligent supervision, negligent retention, and in some circumstances vicarious liability. Holding an institution accountable can also force organizational change that protects others in the future.
Will my name become public if I file a civil sexual assault claim in Douglas County?
In many sexual abuse cases, courts allow survivors to file under a pseudonym such as Jane Doe or John Doe, meaning your real name does not appear in public filings at Douglas County Combined Courts. Courts can also issue protective orders sealing sensitive records and limiting who may attend depositions. Your first consultation with us is completely confidential and protected by attorney-client privilege. Nothing about that conversation becomes a public record, and there is no obligation to proceed.
What compensation is available in a Castle Rock civil sexual assault case?
A civil claim can recover economic damages such as therapy costs, medical expenses, lost wages, and reduced earning capacity. Non-economic damages including pain and suffering, emotional distress, and loss of enjoyment of life are also recoverable. Economic damages are never capped in Colorado. Non-economic damages are capped at $1.5 million for claims accruing on or after January 1, 2025 under C.R.S. 13-21-102.5, but physical impairment and disfigurement damages are not subject to that cap. In sexual assault cases, the economic categories, particularly years of ongoing therapy and lost earning capacity, often account for a significant share of the total claim value. Punitive damages may also be available in cases involving egregious institutional conduct.
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Free, confidential consultation. No fee unless we win. Serving Castle Rock and Douglas County from Denver. Available in English and Spanish.
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CGH Injury Lawyers · Serving Castle Rock from 2701 Lawrence St., Suite 201, Denver, CO 80205