Many survivors in Aurora hold off on calling a lawyer because they fear it will start something they cannot stop. It will not. You can call, ask what is possible, and decide afterward. Nothing is set in motion by a question.
It is also very often not too late, and you do not need a police report or a conviction. A sexual abuse claim turns on your age when the abuse happened, who was responsible, and the facts, not on whether anyone believed you then. Attorney Ervin Nevitt, a partner at Coplan + Crane (Illinois bar registration 6319808, admitted 2014), reviews these cases.
You speak to a person
When you call, a person answers. There is no form to fill out first and no intake script. You do not have to describe what happened in order to have the conversation.
We look into who had a duty
Next, we look at which institution was responsible, what it knew, what records exist, and whether a claim can still be brought. That work costs you nothing.
In Aurora, this step has some local wrinkles. The city spans Kane, DuPage, Will, and Kendall counties, and most claims are filed in the circuit court of the county where the abuse happened. Claims against the State go to the Illinois Court of Claims. Aurora also sits in two dioceses. The Diocese of Rockford covers the Kane County side, and the Illinois Attorney General's 2023 report named 24 clerics there with substantiated child sexual abuse claims. The Diocese of Joliet covers the rest, and the report named 69.
Schools add another layer. Six districts serve Aurora, including East Aurora District 131, West Aurora District 129, and Indian Prairie District 204. The district a school sits in decides who the defendant is. For public bodies, the Illinois Tort Immunity Act and special notice requirements apply, and that is the first thing to check.
You decide
We tell you plainly what is possible. If you decide not to go ahead, that is the end of it, and what you told us stays confidential.
If you go ahead, we carry it
We handle the filings, deadlines, records, and the institution's insurers. Steps can be taken to protect your identity in the court record.
Common Questions Around the First Call
Does it matter that it happened a long time ago? It matters, but your age at the time, who was responsible, and the facts are what govern it. People often assume they are out of time and are not.
The person who did it has died. A claim can still proceed. These cases are usually brought against the institution that placed that person in a position of trust.
Do I have to decide anything now? No. You can ask and stop there.
Support in Aurora
You do not need to speak to a lawyer to get help. Mutual Ground in Aurora runs a 24-hour sexual violence hotline at 630-897-8383. RAINN is free and confidential at 1-800-656-4673, 24 hours a day.
Call (708) 671-6858 for a free, confidential case review.
