Q: I was sexually abused by my employer. I work at a church. Are there any free resources or representation for this?

A: Representation isn't free, but contingency fee lawyers work for a percentage of the recovery and get paid at the end of the case, so no money is required up front - if the lawyer believes that you have a strong chance at recovery. Consultations are free.

If you were a minor, or the other girl was a minor, this is also a criminal matter that should be reported to the police.

A: I am very sorry to hear about this. You should have no problem getting a highly qualified attorney to work with you on a case like this where the attorney does not ask you to pay any money unless and until there is a recovery in the case. This kind of a case is usually handled by attorneys willing to work on a contingency fee basis, meaning they advance all the work and all the costs of prosecuting the case and only look to receiving part of the recovery as their fee and to reimburse them for the costs incurred.

It is important that you quickly locate and consult with one or more attorneys to discuss your rights and the deadlines and required actions associated with these claims. There can be relatively short deadlines so do not wait too long. To find good lawyers I would suggest you look either on this site or go to www.cela.org, the home page for the California Employment Lawyers Association, an organization whose members are dedicated to the representation of employees against their employers. You will want to speak to an attorney that is very familiar with claims against religious organizations.

Good luck to you.

A: We are sorry that you have gone through that unfortunate and evil experience. A personal injury lawyer that they deals with these crimes can file a personal Injury Claim against the insurance company’s minister and church. In addition, the police need to be contacted immediately so that there’s an investigation as well. There is so much involved in this type of claim. You would need to be sent to medical experts & counselors. These cases are extremely delicate and have high value if proven in court. You will not have to pay any upfront fees or costs. However, many lawyers will negotiate their fees between 25-33% before litigation.