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, not the party in control of the case.
Fort Collins, Colorado
Fort Collins Sexual Assault Civil Lawyers Who Hold the Responsible Parties Accountable
We represent survivors of sexual assault and abuse in civil claims in Fort Collins and across Larimer County. A civil case is a separate path from criminal prosecution, one that you control, and that can reach the institutions whose failures made the assault possible. Your first conversation with us is confidential and free.
No fee unless we win
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(303) 209-9395
It's More Than Money.
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 Fort Collins seek financial compensation and hold negligent institutions accountable, on a track that is completely separate from any criminal case.
- Civil cases use a lower standard of proof than criminal cases. You can pursue a civil claim whether or not criminal charges were filed, and whatever the outcome of any criminal proceeding.
- Liability often reaches beyond the individual to the school, employer, religious organization, healthcare facility, or housing provider whose negligence created the opportunity for harm, and Fort Collins's Colorado State University community, healthcare institutions, and residential housing stock create specific institutional exposure here.
- Colorado eliminated the statute of limitations for civil sexual misconduct claims effective January 1, 2022. Because deadline analysis is fact-specific, we evaluate your exact timeline before anything is filed.
CGH Injury Lawyers represents survivors in Fort Collins and Larimer County with a confidential, trauma-informed approach. We handle the institutions, the investigation, and the litigation, while you keep control of every decision. Your first consultation is free, confidential, and protected by attorney-client privilege. We do not keep a Fort Collins office; we serve Larimer County from our Denver location and come to you.
Justice beyond the criminal courts
Why a civil claim matters for Fort Collins 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 in Fort Collins and Larimer County, the criminal process does not deliver the accountability they need. Prosecutors may decline to file charges, the high burden of proof may lead to acquittal despite compelling evidence, or the process may move in ways you cannot control. A civil claim offers a separate path that you, not the state, direct.
- Financial recovery for documented harm, including therapy, medical care, and lost opportunity.
- Institutional change, because organizations that pay for their failures in civil litigation are forced to tighten hiring, supervision, and reporting.
- Validation, because a civil result states formally that what happened was wrong and that those responsible must answer for it.
Two separate tracks
Civil versus criminal cases: the differences that matter in Larimer County
These two systems run on parallel tracks with different goals, different standards of proof, and different outcomes. Understanding the difference is where your options become clear.
Civil case
Brought by the survivor
You 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 pursue and 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 outcomes are legally independent. A civil claim is yours to pursue regardless of what the 8th Judicial District DA decides.
Colorado time limits
How much time do you have to file a civil sexual assault claim in Colorado?
Colorado has substantially expanded the civil filing windows for sexual misconduct and childhood sexual abuse. Because these deadlines are fact-specific and high-stakes, the right first step is a confidential review of your exact timeline before you assume a claim is too late.
What Colorado law currently 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 deadline had not yet expired by January 1, 2022, which is a fact-specific analysis that warrants a confidential review of your 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.
- Survivors assaulted as adults are covered by civil claims under C.R.S. 13-80-103.7, which imposes no statute of limitations for sexual-misconduct claims accruing on or after January 1, 2022.
If you have thought that what happened to you was too long ago to matter legally, you may still have options in Colorado. These laws were written specifically because survivors often need years, sometimes decades, before they are ready to come forward. We will evaluate your specific situation confidentially and give you an honest answer about where it stands.
Institutional accountability
Who can be held liable beyond the individual?
One of the most consequential parts of a civil sexual assault case is the ability to hold institutions accountable, not just the individual who caused harm. In Fort Collins, that can mean Colorado State University, a healthcare facility, a housing provider, an employer, a religious organization, or a youth-serving organization. An institution that employed or supervised an abuser and failed to protect you often bears legal responsibility, and typically 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. Placing a person in such a role without checking prior complaints or history can create liability when harm follows.
Theory of liability
Negligent supervision
Even with adequate hiring, organizations must actively supervise. When administrators receive complaints and fail to investigate or act, they share responsibility for the harm that follows.
Theory of liability
Negligent retention
When an organization learns of misconduct or warning signs but keeps a person in a position to cause further harm, it becomes liable for what follows. This is common where institutions quietly transfer a known problem rather than remove it.
Theory of liability
Vicarious liability
In certain circumstances an employer can be held responsible for an employee's acts, particularly where the employment relationship created the access and opportunity for abuse.
Entities commonly held accountable
- Schools, colleges, and universities including Colorado State University
- 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 of a civil sexual assault case 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 a process that involves confronting organizations you may once have trusted.
Local knowledge
Fort Collins courts, trauma care, and the community context of these cases
A civil sexual assault case in Fort Collins is litigated in Fort Collins. The courthouse, the trauma hospitals, and the institutional landscape here all shape how these cases are built and where they are resolved.
Courthouse
District Court, Larimer County
Civil cases arising in Fort Collins and Larimer County are filed in the District Court, Larimer County, in the 8th Judicial District. Civil matters are heard at the Larimer County Justice Center, 201 LaPorte Avenue, Suite 100, Fort Collins, CO 80521. Local rules, the jury pool drawn from Larimer County residents, and the defense firms active in northern Colorado all differ from the Denver metro. We handle 8th Judicial District cases directly.
Trauma Care
UCHealth Poudre Valley Hospital and Banner Fort Collins Medical Center
UCHealth Poudre Valley Hospital is a Level III Trauma Center, verified by the American College of Surgeons and designated by the State of Colorado, located in Fort Collins. Banner Fort Collins Medical Center holds a Level 4 Trauma Center designation from the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment. Medical and psychiatric records from these facilities, along with records from counseling and mental health providers in Larimer County, document the full scope of a survivor's injuries and form a central part of the damages claim.
Community Context
Colorado State University, College Avenue, and the Old Town housing and nightlife corridor
Fort Collins has a population of approximately 170,927, with Colorado State University enrolling roughly 34,000 students and generating a dense concentration of off-campus housing, university programs, athletic facilities, and nightlife along College Avenue and Old Town. This mix of institutions, housing providers, and employment settings creates specific institutional liability exposure in sexual assault civil cases. Whether the relevant institution is a university, a CSU-adjacent employer, a Greek organization, a healthcare facility, or a residential housing provider, we investigate the chain of supervision and care that should have protected you.
Your privacy and safety
How we protect your privacy and your control
A common concern 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 discussions, and move at a pace that respects your capacity throughout the process.
Compensation
What compensation can a civil sexual assault claim recover in Colorado?
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 member
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. We work to identify and document every dimension of harm so nothing is omitted from your claim.
How it works
How we handle a civil sexual assault case in Fort Collins
Every case is different, and you set the pace. These are the stages most civil claims move through, from a confidential first conversation in Larimer County to trial in the 8th Judicial District 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. There is no obligation to proceed, and no public record of your reaching out.
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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 civil sexual misconduct claims effective January 1, 2022, so you understand whether and how a claim can move forward in Larimer County.
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Investigation
Using civil discovery, we obtain records you may not have access to on your own, such as complaint histories, personnel files, housing incident records, and institutional policies, to establish how an organization in Fort Collins 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 sexual assault cases resolve before trial, often through confidential settlement.
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Litigation and trial
When an institution will not be fair, we file in the District Court, Larimer County, 8th Judicial District, and are prepared to try your case. Managing Partner Kevin Cheney is a member of the American Board of Trial Advocates and has tried over 25 cases to verdict. 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 an assault; others need years. Both paths are valid. What matters is that when you are ready, you understand your options and the protections Colorado law makes available to you.
It is not about reliving what happened. It is about reclaiming control and forcing the institutions that failed you to answer for it.
Questions
Fort Collins sexual assault civil claim: frequently asked questions
Does a criminal case need to have been filed before I can pursue a civil sexual assault claim in Fort Collins?
No. A civil claim is independent of the criminal system. You can pursue a civil case whether or not the Larimer County District Attorney filed charges, whether charges were dropped, or whatever the outcome of any criminal trial. The civil standard of proof, more likely than not, is lower than the criminal standard of beyond a reasonable doubt. The two tracks are separate, and you control the civil one.
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, so those claims can now be filed at any time (C.R.S. 13-80-103.7). That open window also covers older abuse if the filing deadline had not yet expired by January 1, 2022. Because that analysis is fact-specific, a confidential case evaluation is the way to determine where your situation stands.
Can I hold Colorado State University or another Fort Collins institution liable, not just the individual?
Often, yes. Schools, employers, healthcare facilities, religious organizations, and housing providers in Fort Collins may be held liable under theories of negligent hiring, supervision, or retention if they failed to provide adequate safeguards, ignored prior complaints, or otherwise contributed to conditions that enabled the assault. Holding an institution accountable can secure meaningful compensation and help prevent future harm by forcing organizational change. These claims involve specific legal theories, and we evaluate whether the organization where your assault occurred bears legal responsibility.
Will my name become public if I file a civil case in Larimer County?
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 filed in the District Court, Larimer County. Courts can also issue protective orders sealing sensitive records and limiting who may attend depositions. Your first consultation with us is confidential and protected by attorney-client privilege, with no public record of any kind.
What compensation can I recover from a civil sexual assault claim in Colorado?
Compensation can include therapy and psychiatric care costs, other medical expenses, lost wages, reduced future earning capacity, pain and suffering, emotional distress including PTSD and depression, loss of enjoyment of life, and in cases of egregious institutional misconduct, punitive damages. Each 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.
Do I need physical evidence to pursue a civil claim?
Many successful civil cases proceed without physical evidence. Your testimony is evidence. Civil discovery also lets your attorney obtain records you may not currently have, such as employment files, complaint records, housing incident logs, and institutional policies. Patterns of behavior, similar prior complaints against the same person or organization, and expert testimony about trauma responses can all support your case in the District Court, Larimer County.
Where would a Fort Collins sexual assault civil lawsuit be filed?
Civil cases arising in Fort Collins or Larimer County are filed in the District Court, Larimer County, 8th Judicial District, at the Larimer County Justice Center, 201 LaPorte Avenue, Suite 100, Fort Collins, CO 80521. Most civil sexual assault cases settle before a lawsuit is filed, but the local rules, the jury pool drawn from Larimer County residents, and the defense firms active in northern Colorado all affect how the case is built and how institutions respond to a demand. We handle 8th Judicial District cases directly.
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