Mass Tort · Rhode Island Institutional Abuse

Free case review for Rhode Island childhood sexual abuse survivors.

Rhode Island has opened a two-year window for survivors of childhood sexual abuse to bring civil claims — even when the abuse happened decades ago. If you were abused as a child by someone at a church, school, hospital, youth program, sports league, camp, or other institution in Rhode Island, you may now be able to hold that institution accountable.

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Confidential Case Review

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Background

A generation of Rhode Island children was failed by the institutions trusted to protect them.

Survivors across Rhode Island are coming forward with accounts of sexual abuse by adults in positions of trust — at churches and dioceses, parochial and private schools, hospitals, youth-serving organizations, scouting programs, summer camps, and residential facilities. The accounts span decades and institution types, and describe a recurring pattern: adults using their authority over children to abuse them, supervisors who failed to intervene, and institutions that concealed complaints and quietly moved offenders rather than report them.

In 2026, Rhode Island enacted a law opening a two-year revival window — taking effect July 1, 2026 — that allows survivors to file civil claims for childhood sexual abuse that were previously barred by the statute of limitations, no matter how long ago the abuse occurred. State investigations have already documented decades of abuse and institutional cover-up, and survivors are now coming forward against the organizations that failed them. The window is open for a limited time, and attorneys are reviewing new claims from survivors abused at institutions across the state.

If you were sexually abused as a child at an institution in Rhode Island, the state's new two-year window gives you a limited time to seek accountability — and recognition of what was taken from you.

Privacy & Confidentiality

Your information is handled with the same discretion as a privileged client conversation.

Every detail you share through this case review — your story, the institution where the abuse occurred, any records or treatment history you have, and how the abuse affected you — stays between you and our intake team. We do not sell, rent, or share your information with third parties, and your participation is never made public.

No-cost review

Always free

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In transit & at rest

Attorney-handled

Never sold or shared

Recoverable Damages

What compensation may be available.

Damages vary by case, and every survivor's situation is different. Common categories of damages in childhood institutional sexual abuse matters include:

Mental-health treatment costs

Therapy, trauma-focused counseling, psychiatric care, inpatient stays, medication, and follow-up treatment for PTSD, depression, anxiety, substance-use disorders, and related conditions tied to childhood sexual abuse suffered at the institution responsible for your care.

Future mental-health care

Long-term therapy, ongoing psychiatric treatment, residential or intensive outpatient programs, and the cost of recovery that often continues for years — and sometimes decades — after the abuse.

Lost income & earning capacity

Wages lost to time off work, interrupted education, and the lasting reduction in earning capacity that can follow trauma sustained during the years a young person should have been finishing school and starting adult life.

Pain & suffering

Emotional distress, humiliation, loss of trust, and the diminished quality of life caused by sexual abuse suffered at an institution that was supposed to keep you safe.

Harm to family relationships

Damages available to spouses and family members for the strain that the lasting effects of childhood institutional abuse place on close relationships.

Wrongful death

For families who lost a loved one to suicide or substance-use death connected to the trauma: funeral and burial expenses, loss of future support, and loss of society and companionship.

In certain cases, the institutions responsible — churches and dioceses, schools, hospitals, youth organizations, camps, and other entities entrusted with children's care — may be held accountable for negligent hiring and supervision, failure to protect children in their care, failure to report known abuse, concealment of prior complaints, and enabling abusers to remain in contact with children. Where the conduct is especially egregious, punitive damages may also be available.

See if You Qualify

Representation

Why Sweeney Merrigan Personal Injury Lawyers?

At Sweeney Merrigan Personal Injury Lawyers, we represent survivors of childhood sexual abuse at Rhode Island institutions — churches, schools, hospitals, youth organizations, camps, and other entities entrusted with children's care. Our attorneys work closely with each client, with the discretion and care these cases demand, to pursue accountability from the institutions that failed to protect the children in their care.

Experience with institutional abuse litigation

Our attorneys handle complex civil cases involving childhood sexual abuse in institutional settings — religious organizations, schools, hospitals, youth programs, camps, and residential facilities. The team reviewing your case has worked in this category before.

Prepared to litigate

We come ready to take cases through to trial when defendants resist a fair resolution. The credible threat of trial is what drives settlements — and it's a posture not every firm can credibly hold.

Contingency representation

You pay nothing up front and nothing during the case. Fees only apply if we recover compensation on your behalf.