“Silence is golden” is a classic American adage conveying the point that holding back from speaking is sometimes preferable to coming forth with a statement that might breed unhappy consequences.
The expression unquestionably commands merit in many cases. Legions of people routinely wish they had refrained from making statements that ultimately led to more costs than benefits.
It must be said – emphatically stressed, in fact – that the saying can also be woefully out of sync with certain circumstances, though.
Child sexual abuse is Exhibit A.
In fact, predators heavily rely on young victims’ reluctance to publicly divulge criminal acts committed against them. Indeed, their expectation of continued silence is a core catalyst propelling their heinous behaviors.
A recent article on so-called statutes of limitation (SOLs) relevant to sexual abuse centrally notes the compelling need to remove obstacles that stand in the way of victim empowerment. Speaking up empowers an abuse survivor like nothing else, and the time bars on coming forward imposed by SOLs often ensure continued silence later in life, when some victims are finally ready to speak.
Increasingly, lawmakers in states across the country are beginning to take purposeful steps to liberalize SOLs that have long stood as barriers for child abuse victims. The aforementioned article notes the trend, which is driven by a greater public understanding these days of the reasons why many victims only belatedly – and sometimes never – come forward to confront their abusers.
Even with some laws changing, though, time bars against legal claims still pose distinct challenges in many cases. We note that reality on our website at the proven Albuquerque pro-victims’ law firm of Kennedy Law Firm. We stress therein that SOLs are “complicated.”
We also underscore that experienced advocates routinely deal with them and help diverse and valued clients secure meaningful remedies against wrongdoers who harmed them in the past.
We are honored to do that work. We welcome contacts to our firm to discuss our impassioned advocacy and demonstrated record of client results.
