A civil claim for sexual assault is separate from any criminal case. You decide every step. CGH Injury Lawyers serves Greeley survivors from our Denver office, handles the institutions and the litigation, and charges nothing unless we win. Your first conversation is confidential and protected by attorney-client privilege.
No fee unless we winIt's More Than Money.
CGH Injury Lawyers does not have a Greeley office. We serve Weld County survivors from our office at 2701 Lawrence St., Suite 201, Denver, CO 80205, and we appear in the 19th Judicial District at Weld County District Court when the case demands it. Your first conversation is free, confidential, and protected by attorney-client privilege. Nothing happens unless you choose it.
The criminal system and the civil system serve different goals. Understanding the difference is the starting point for understanding your options in Weld County.
Criminal case
The Weld County District Attorney decides whether to file charges and must prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt, an extremely high standard. The goal is punishment. The survivor is a witness, not the party in control. A prosecutor may decline to file charges even when the evidence is compelling, and an acquittal does not mean a civil claim is barred.
Civil case
You decide whether to file and you remain in control throughout. The standard of proof is preponderance of the evidence, meaning it is more likely than not that the assault occurred and caused harm. The goal is financial compensation and institutional accountability, not incarceration. You pursue it on your own terms and your own timeline.
Because the civil standard is lower, you can pursue a civil claim even when no criminal charges were ever filed, when charges were dropped, or when a criminal jury returned a not-guilty verdict. The two outcomes are legally independent. A civil claim is yours to pursue regardless of what the District Attorney in Greeley decides, and it runs on your timeline, not the state's.
The statute of limitations question is the first thing most Greeley survivors ask, and the answer changed significantly in 2022. Do not assume it is too late until you have had a confidential review of your specific situation.
Because the deadline analysis depends on your specific facts, including when the abuse occurred and what deadlines existed at that time, we evaluate every timeline individually in a confidential intake. We will tell you honestly where your situation stands.
One of the most consequential parts of a civil claim is the ability to reach institutions and organizations, not just the person who caused direct harm. An organization that put a person in a position of trust, failed to screen adequately, or kept someone despite known complaints often bears legal responsibility and carries the resources to provide meaningful compensation.
Theory of liability
Organizations that place someone in a position of trust over students, patients, employees, or other vulnerable people have a duty to screen them reasonably before hiring. When a background check or reference inquiry would have surfaced prior complaints and the organization skipped it, negligent hiring exposes the institution to liability for what follows.
Theory of liability
Even after adequate hiring, institutions must maintain reasonable oversight. When administrators or supervisors received complaints, noticed warning signs, or had reason to know about misconduct and failed to investigate or act, they share responsibility for the harm that followed. This is one of the most common theories in school and workplace cases.
Theory of liability
When an organization learns of misconduct or red flags and keeps the person in a position where further harm is possible, it becomes liable for what happens next. This pattern is common in cases where an institution quietly transferred a known problem rather than removing the person from access to vulnerable people.
Theory of liability
In certain circumstances, an employer may be held responsible for the acts of an employee that occurred within the scope of employment, particularly where the employment relationship created the access that made the assault possible. The analysis is fact-specific and we evaluate it in every case.
Greeley's large agricultural and food-processing workforce, the University of Northern Colorado campus, and Weld County's network of youth-serving organizations all create environments where institutional liability can arise. The work of a civil case is identifying not only the individual responsible but the institution whose failures created the conditions for harm. We investigate that chain of responsibility while supporting you through what can be a difficult process of confronting an organization you once trusted.
It is not about reliving what happened. It is about reclaiming control and making the institutions that failed you answer for it, in Weld County District Court if that is what it takes.
A civil sexual assault claim in Greeley has a specific local geography. The courthouse where litigation may proceed, the medical facility that documents injuries, and the institutions present in Weld County all shape how a claim is built. Here is the ground we work on.
Courthouse
A Greeley civil claim that proceeds to litigation is filed in Weld County District Court, part of the 19th Judicial District. The court operates from the Weld County Courthouse at 901 9th Ave, Greeley, CO 80631, with a clerk's office and filing location at the Centennial Center at 915 10th Street, Greeley, CO 80631. In sexual assault civil cases, Colorado courts often allow survivors to file under a pseudonym such as Jane Doe or John Doe, and courts can issue protective orders sealing sensitive records or limiting who may attend depositions. We handle 19th Judicial District cases directly and know the local procedural landscape.
Medical Documentation
Banner North Colorado Medical Center in Greeley is a designated Level II Trauma Center. In sexual assault cases, medical records from Banner North Colorado, including emergency department records, Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner (SANE) documentation, psychiatric care records, and any follow-up mental health treatment, form the backbone of the damages case. These records document the physical and psychological harm and become essential to valuing both economic and non-economic loss. We gather every relevant record in building your file.
University Context
The University of Northern Colorado, with approximately 9,800 students, is a significant institutional presence in Greeley. Campus environments generate a disproportionate share of sexual assault claims nationally, and institutional accountability at universities, including obligations under Title IX and duties of supervision and investigation, is a distinct area of civil liability. UNC students, staff, and community members who experience assault connected to campus settings have civil options independent of any university conduct process or criminal investigation. We evaluate the institutional duties that apply to these settings.
Workforce and Industry Context
Greeley's large agricultural and meatpacking workforce, including workers at major food processing operations on the east side of the city, creates employment environments where workplace sexual assault claims arise. Workers in these sectors, including Spanish-speaking employees who may face language barriers to reporting, face the same civil legal rights as any other survivor in Colorado. Employer liability for workplace assault, including claims for failure to prevent or respond to known harassment and assault, is a recognized legal theory. CGH has bilingual staff and attorneys who can communicate in Spanish and serve this community directly.
A civil claim seeks to compensate the full scope of harm you have suffered. Colorado law recognizes several categories of damages in sexual abuse and assault cases, and understanding the caps and which categories fall outside them is essential before any settlement conversation.
For claims accruing on or after January 1, 2025, Colorado caps non-economic damages such as pain and suffering at $1,500,000 under C.R.S. 13-21-102.5. Economic damages such as medical bills, therapy costs, and lost wages are never capped. Compensation for physical impairment or disfigurement is also not subject to the cap under C.R.S. 13-21-102.5(5). Lower figures applied to claims accruing before January 1, 2025.
In cases involving deliberate or egregious institutional conduct, such as a cover-up or deliberate indifference to a known risk, Colorado courts may also award punitive damages under C.R.S. 13-21-102(1)(a). Punitive damages are capped at a 1-to-1 ratio with actual damages, though a court may raise that to 3 times actual damages when the defendant engaged in continued willful and wanton conduct. These are not meant to compensate you, but to punish and deter. We evaluate whether punitive damages apply in every institutional liability case.
Defendants in civil sexual assault cases sometimes raise comparative fault arguments, attempting to shift responsibility onto the survivor. Understanding how Colorado's rule works is important before any claim is settled or litigated.
The comparative fault rule applies to every civil tort case in Colorado, including sexual assault claims. We work from the investigation forward to document the institutional failures that enabled the harm and to establish where the responsibility truly lies.
Public exposure is one of the most common fears survivors share. Colorado's legal system provides meaningful privacy protections, and your safety and control are central to how we handle these cases, not an afterthought.
Anonymity in court filings
In many sexual assault civil cases, courts allow survivors to file under a pseudonym so their real name does not appear in the public court record at Weld County District Court. This protection is available precisely because forcing public identification can deter legitimate claims and cause additional harm. We evaluate anonymity options in every case at the outset.
Sealed records
Courts can seal sensitive documents, restrict who may attend depositions, and limit disclosure of personal information obtained during discovery. The litigation process does not have to become a further violation of your privacy. We pursue these protections in every case where they are warranted.
Your first call is confidential
Everything you share in your first conversation with us is protected by attorney-client privilege. There is no public record of the consultation and no obligation to proceed. You can explore your options and decide whether to move forward entirely on your own terms.
Trauma-informed pace
We allow support persons in meetings, build scheduling flexibility for difficult stages, and move the case at a pace that respects your emotional capacity. Litigation does not have to be retraumatizing if it is handled with care from the first conversation forward.
Every case is different and you set the pace. These are the stages most civil claims move through, from a private first conversation to trial in Weld County District Court when an institution refuses to be fair.
You contact us at (303) 209-9395 or through the form on this page. We listen, ask no more than necessary, and explain your options. What you share is protected by attorney-client privilege and there is no obligation to proceed. You can use a pseudonym in the intake process if that is more comfortable.
We evaluate your specific timeline under Colorado law, including how C.R.S. 13-80-103.7's elimination of the filing deadline applies to your situation. We tell you honestly what we find, including when a claim faces real obstacles.
Using civil discovery, we obtain records you may not have direct access to, including personnel files, complaint histories, hiring records, and institutional policies. For Greeley institutions such as UNC, area school districts, local employers, or healthcare facilities, we look at what the organization knew, when it knew it, and what it did or failed to do. This paper trail is often the key to establishing institutional liability.
We document the full scope of harm across every damages category the law allows, economic and non-economic, and pursue resolution with the responsible parties. Most civil cases settle before trial, often through a confidential agreement. We make sure the settlement reflects the full value of the claim, not a discounted number accepted because of pressure or uncertainty.
If an institution refuses to be fair, we file in the 19th Judicial District at Weld County District Court and try the case. Courts at this level often allow closed proceedings or video testimony for sensitive matters, and we prepare you thoroughly before any courtroom appearance so you are never in that environment unprotected. Managing Partner Kevin Cheney is an ABOTA member who has tried more than 25 cases to verdict.
There is no right timeline for being ready to come forward. Some survivors pursue a civil claim soon after the event; others take years, or even decades. Both paths are valid. Colorado's elimination of the filing deadline for sexual misconduct claims under C.R.S. 13-80-103.7 exists precisely because the law recognized this reality. When you are ready, we are here.
We serve Greeley from our Denver office at 2701 Lawrence St., Suite 201. CGH Injury Lawyers does not have a Greeley office. What we have is trial readiness, institutional litigation experience, a bilingual team, and a trauma-informed approach.
Trial-Ready
Managing Partner Kevin Cheney is a member of the American Board of Trial Advocates and has tried more than 25 cases to verdict. When institutions face attorneys who are genuinely prepared to try a case in Weld County District Court, the negotiation dynamic changes.
Honest About Location
Our office is at 2701 Lawrence St., Suite 201 in Denver. We do not claim a Greeley address. We represent Weld County clients, file in Weld County District Court in the 19th Judicial District, and meet you where it works for you. Distance has never been a barrier to handling these cases with full commitment.
Institutional Focus
Individual assailants often lack resources for meaningful recovery. Institutions, whether a university, employer, or facility, carry the insurance and the resources. We build the institutional liability case that makes a civil claim matter financially.
Bilingual
Spanish-speaking staff and attorneys serve Greeley and Weld County's large Spanish-speaking community, including workers in the agricultural and food-processing sectors who face language barriers to reporting and legal access.
Recognized
Timothy G. Tarr has been recognized by Best Lawyers every year since 2023. CGH is a eight-attorney Colorado firm, founded in 2016, formerly Cheney Galluzzi and Howard. Every case is handled by a licensed Colorado attorney, not a paralegal or a case manager.
No Win, No Fee
You pay nothing out of pocket for legal fees. We advance costs and collect only from a settlement or verdict. A financial barrier to seeking legal help is one fewer obstacle you should face.
For civil claims based on sexual misconduct, Colorado eliminated the statute of limitations effective January 1, 2022. Under C.R.S. 13-80-103.7, these claims can now be filed at any time. That open window also applies to older abuse where the previous filing deadline had not yet expired by January 1, 2022. Because that analysis is fact-specific and depends on when the abuse occurred and what deadlines existed at that time, we evaluate every timeline individually in a confidential intake. Do not assume it is too late before speaking with us.
Yes. A civil claim and a criminal prosecution are legally independent. The Weld County District Attorney decides whether to file criminal charges based on the criminal standard of proof, which requires proof beyond a reasonable doubt. A civil claim uses the lower preponderance-of-the-evidence standard, meaning it is more likely than not that the assault occurred and caused harm. You can pursue a civil claim whether or not the DA filed charges, whether or not a criminal case is still pending, and regardless of how any criminal case ended, including a not-guilty verdict.
Often, yes. Schools, employers, healthcare facilities, and other organizations may be held civilly liable if they failed to conduct adequate background checks before placing someone in a position of trust, ignored prior complaints, failed to supervise, or kept a person in a position to cause harm despite known warning signs. University environments in particular carry distinct duties. These institutional liability theories are complex and fact-specific, and we evaluate whether the organization connected to your situation bears legal responsibility during the confidential intake.
In many sexual assault civil cases, courts allow survivors to file under a pseudonym such as Jane Doe or John Doe so the real name does not appear in public court records. Courts can also issue protective orders sealing sensitive documents and restricting who may attend depositions. We evaluate anonymity options in every case at the start. Your initial consultation is confidential and protected by attorney-client privilege with no public record of any kind.
Economic damages such as medical expenses, therapy costs, lost wages, and reduced future earning capacity are never capped. Non-economic damages such as pain and suffering and emotional distress are subject to a cap of $1,500,000 for claims accruing on or after January 1, 2025 under C.R.S. 13-21-102.5. Compensation for physical impairment or disfigurement is not capped. In cases involving egregious institutional conduct such as a cover-up or deliberate indifference, courts may also award punitive damages under C.R.S. 13-21-102(1)(a), capped at 1 to 1 against actual damages and potentially 3 to 1 for continued willful and wanton conduct.
No. CGH Injury Lawyers has one office, at 2701 Lawrence St., Suite 201, Denver, CO 80205. We serve Weld County survivors from that office, file cases in Weld County District Court in the 19th Judicial District when litigation is required, and meet you wherever works best for your situation. You can reach us at (303) 209-9395. The consultation is confidential and there is no obligation to proceed.
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Free confidential consultation. No fee unless we win. Serving Greeley and all of Weld County from our Denver office. Bilingual EN / ES.
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Learn more: How Colorado sexual assault civil law works statewide.
CGH Injury Lawyers · 2701 Lawrence St., Suite 201, Denver, CO 80205 · Serving Greeley and Weld County from Denver
