Fort Collins Sexual Assault Lawyer

If you or a loved one has been sexually assaulted in Fort Collins, you’re facing more than physical injuries. The trauma, fear, and violation can disrupt every part of your life—your sense of safety, your relationships, your ability to work or attend classes at Colorado State University. You deserve more than just sympathy. You deserve justice, accountability, and the resources to rebuild.

As part of our comprehensive legal services in Fort Collins, CO, the sexual assault attorneys at Cheney Galluzzi & Howard fight relentlessly for survivors. Whether the assault occurred in Old Town’s nightlife district, near the CSU campus on College Avenue, or in a workplace along the Harmony Road corridor, we navigate the complex intersection of criminal investigations, Title IX proceedings, and civil litigation to secure the compensation and closure you need.

It’s more than money—it’s about helping you put your life back together.

Civil Justice for Sexual Assault Survivors in Fort Collins

Colorado eliminated the statute of limitations for sexual assault civil claims in 2022. That means you can pursue accountability and compensation no matter how long ago the assault occurred. If you were told “it’s too late,” you were told wrong.

We handle civil sexual assault cases involving:

Campus Sexual Assault & Title IX Violations

Colorado State University enrolls over 33,000 students, and the campus community extends into the heart of Fort Collins. When sexual assault occurs in campus housing, at fraternity or sorority events, or in CSU-affiliated settings, survivors can pursue justice through multiple avenues. We coordinate civil lawsuits with Title IX proceedings at CSU’s Office of Title IX Programs and Gender Equity (located at 123 Student Services Building on University Avenue). While Title IX administrative processes can provide campus accountability, a civil lawsuit filed at the Larimer County Justice Center on LaPorte Avenue secures financial compensation for therapy, lost educational opportunities, and emotional trauma.

Workplace Sexual Assault & Employer Liability

Sexual harassment and assault in Fort Collins workplaces—from restaurants in Old Town Square to retail establishments near Harmony and Lemay—can give rise to employer liability under Colorado and federal law. We hold negligent employers accountable when they fail to prevent, investigate, or respond appropriately to workplace sexual violence. If your employer ignored complaints, failed to conduct background checks, or retaliated against you for reporting, we fight to prove their negligence enabled the assault.

Premises Liability & Negligent Security

Property owners have a duty to provide reasonable security. When sexual assaults occur due to broken locks, inadequate lighting, lack of security cameras, or failure to respond to prior incidents, we pursue premises liability claims. We’ve seen cases involving apartment complexes with non-functioning gates, bars in Old Town that overserve patrons without adequate security presence, and parking structures near UCHealth Poudre Valley Hospital on South Lemay Avenue with dangerously poor lighting. If inadequate security contributed to your assault, the property owner can be held financially responsible.

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Why Fort Collins Survivors Choose Cheney Galluzzi & Howard

Trial-Tested Experience in Complex Trauma Cases

Sexual assault cases demand attorneys who understand trauma, know how to counter victim-blaming defense tactics, and have the courtroom experience to take cases to verdict when insurance companies refuse fair settlements. Kevin Cheney has taken more than 25 cases to verdict, recovering tens of millions for injured Coloradans. We prepare every sexual assault case as if it’s going to trial—because that preparation gives us leverage to negotiate the best possible settlement.

Coordinated Advocacy Across Multiple Systems

Sexual assault survivors often navigate three parallel systems: the criminal justice system (Fort Collins Police and the Larimer County District Attorney), Title IX or workplace HR processes, and civil litigation. We coordinate with local resources including The SAVA Center (Sexual Assault Victim Advocate Center), which provides 24-hour crisis support at (970) 472-4200, and work strategically across all three systems. Evidence gathered in a criminal investigation can support your civil case. Findings from a Title IX investigation can establish liability. We manage these intersections so you can focus on healing.

Deep Fort Collins Roots & Local Legal Knowledge

We file civil sexual assault claims at the Larimer County Justice Center, the same courthouse where we’ve litigated premises liability, catastrophic injury, and wrongful death cases for Fort Collins families. We know the local filing procedures, work with medical experts at UCHealth Poudre Valley Hospital (where many survivors receive SANE exams in the emergency department), and understand the Fort Collins community. When your case involves CSU, Old Town businesses, or major employers along the I-25 corridor, our local knowledge makes a difference.

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Proving Your Case: How We Establish Liability in Fort Collins

Sexual assault civil cases require proving that a defendant—whether the perpetrator, an employer, a university, or a property owner—is legally responsible for your injuries. We conduct independent investigations that don’t rely on police reports or Title IX findings alone.

Recently, we represented a client in a sexual assault case involving negligent security near the intersection of College Avenue and Prospect Road. The property owner had received prior complaints about inadequate lighting in the parking area but failed to install cameras or improve access control. By obtaining maintenance records, prior incident reports, and testimony from security experts, we demonstrated the property owner knew of the risk and consciously disregarded it. That’s the level of detail we bring to every case.

Gathering Evidence Specific to Fort Collins Locations

• Title IX records from CSU’s Office of Title IX Programs (123 Student Services Building)
• Medical evidence from UCHealth Poudre Valley Hospital emergency department and SANE exams
• Security footage from businesses along College Avenue, Harmony Road, and Old Town Square
• Incident reports from Fort Collins Police and CSU Police
• Witness statements from bystanders, co-workers, or other students
• Expert testimony on security standards, trauma, and institutional policies

Navigating Colorado’s Comparative Negligence Law

Colorado law allows defendants to argue that a plaintiff shares fault for their injuries. In sexual assault cases, this often takes the form of victim-blaming: suggesting that the survivor’s clothing, alcohol consumption, or presence in a certain location contributed to the assault. We aggressively counter these arguments. Under Colorado’s modified comparative negligence rule, you can still recover damages even if you’re assigned partial fault—as long as you’re less than 50% responsible. We fight to eliminate any comparative fault assignment and maximize your recovery.

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What to Expect When You Work with Us

Step 1: Confidential Consultation

You’ll meet with an experienced sexual assault attorney at our office or in a location where you feel safe. We listen without judgment, explain your legal options (including how civil cases differ from criminal prosecutions and Title IX processes), and outline a strategic plan. This consultation is free, and you’re under no obligation to hire us.

Step 2: Investigation & Case Building

We immediately begin preserving evidence before it disappears. Security footage is often deleted after 30-90 days. Witnesses’ memories fade. We file preservation letters, coordinate with The SAVA Center for counseling records (with your consent), obtain medical documentation from UCHealth Poudre Valley Hospital, and retain experts in security, trauma psychology, and institutional negligence. If your case involves CSU, we request Title IX investigation files. If it involves a workplace, we subpoena HR records and prior complaints.

Step 3: Demand & Negotiation

Once we’ve built a comprehensive damages case—documenting your medical expenses, therapy costs, lost wages or educational opportunities, and the profound emotional impact—we present a detailed demand to the defendant’s insurance company. We don’t accept lowball offers. Insurance companies know we prepare every case for trial, and that preparation gives us negotiating power. Many cases settle at this stage, but only when the offer reflects the true value of your suffering.

Step 4: Trial at the Larimer County Justice Center

If the insurance company refuses a fair settlement, we take your case to trial at 201 LaPorte Avenue in downtown Fort Collins. We present your story to a Larimer County jury—your neighbors, CSU faculty and staff, Fort Collins business owners—and let them decide what justice looks like. Our trial-tested experience means we’re never afraid to go to court when that’s what it takes to secure accountability.

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Types of Compensation Available to Fort Collins Survivors

Colorado law allows sexual assault survivors to recover both economic and non-economic damages without caps in most cases. Because Colorado eliminated the statute of limitations in 2022, you can pursue compensation regardless of when the assault occurred.

Economic Damages:

• Emergency medical treatment (SANE exams, ER visits at UCHealth Poudre Valley Hospital)
• Ongoing therapy and psychiatric care
• Prescription medications
• Lost wages and lost earning capacity
• Educational costs if you had to leave CSU or reduce your course load

Non-Economic Damages:

• Pain and suffering
• Emotional distress, anxiety, depression, PTSD
• Loss of enjoyment of life
• Loss of consortium (for married survivors)

Punitive Damages: In cases involving willful and wanton conduct—such as employers who ignored repeated complaints or property owners who consciously disregarded known dangers—Colorado law allows juries to award punitive damages designed to punish and deter future misconduct.

Frequently Asked Questions