Were you raped in Queens and unsure what to do next?
At Bloom Fudali, we help survivors understand their rights after a rape in Queens.
If you were raped in Queens and are deciding whether to report, waiting on a criminal case, or living with an outcome you did not expect, you may still bring a civil claim for damages. Our Queens, NY rape victim lawyer can pursue compensation from the assailant, coordinate the civil claim with any criminal prosecution, and identify others whose negligence contributed to the assault.
Bloom Fudali’s attorneys have tried sexual assault cases before juries and resolved many more through confidential settlements. A free consultation can help you understand your choices before you commit to any of them.
Rape Victim Lawyer Queens, NY
A rape victim lawyer brings a civil lawsuit on behalf of a survivor against the person who committed the assault and, when the facts support it, against others who made the assault possible. A civil case is decided under a lower standard of proof than a criminal trial. It can succeed even when prosecutors declined to bring charges or a jury found the defendant not guilty. The lower standard still requires evidence that a judge or jury finds more likely true than not. A judgment also has practical value only if the assailant has assets or a responsible third party can be held liable.
Queens recorded 328 of the 1,341 rapes reported to the NYPD citywide in 2024, a rate of 14.2 per 100,000 residents. Our Queens rape victim attorneys handle civil claims while a criminal case is pending, after one has ended, and when no police report was ever made.
Types of Rape Cases We Handle in Queens
Rape cases differ in the evidence available and in which other people or organizations played a role. Our Queens rape victim lawyers handle cases involving the following circumstances.
- Rape by a spouse or partner. A marriage or dating relationship does not prevent a civil claim. These cases often involve a history of controlling behavior, and protective orders or family court records can become part of the evidence.
- Drug- and alcohol-facilitated rape. The claim often depends on how impaired the survivor was and whether the assailant supplied the drinks or drugs. Bartenders, friends, and rideshare drivers can describe the survivor’s condition that night.
- Rape after meeting through a dating app. Profiles, in-app messages, and location data can identify an assailant who used a false name. We act quickly to preserve account records before they are deleted.
- Rape by a landlord, superintendent, or building worker. A person with keys or access to a survivor’s home may have been hired or kept on staff despite earlier complaints. The owner or management company may share responsibility.
- Rape by a coach, teacher, or religious leader. Survivors are often targeted by someone with authority over them. Schools, leagues, and religious organizations that ignored warnings can be named in the claim.
- Doctor sexual assault. A physician who rapes a patient can be sued along with a practice or hospital that ignored prior complaints about that doctor.
- Workplace sexual assault. An assault by someone the survivor knows through work, including at an off-site event or on a business trip, can lead to claims against the employer as well as the assailant.
- Campus sexual assault. A college that failed to provide interim protections after a report, such as a change in housing or classes, may be responsible for harm that followed.
- Fraternity sexual assault. Rapes during pledge events and chapter parties often involve alcohol supplied by members. We look for earlier incident reports involving the same chapter.
Why Choose Bloom Fudali as My Rape Victim Lawyer in Queens, NY?
Experience With Criminal and Civil Cases
Arick Fudali began his career as a prosecutor, so he is familiar with how district attorneys evaluate sexual assault cases. He has since settled hundreds of civil cases. Earlier in his civil practice, he represented survivors of childhood sexual abuse in cases against clergy and youth organizations. Our founder, Lisa Bloom, won a reported appeal on behalf of a child sexual abuse victim early in her career and later won a trial involving repressed memories of child abuse. She also provided trial analysis for NBC and MSNBC during a nationally televised criminal trial. Lisa is a graduate of Yale Law School.
Verdicts and Settlements for Survivors
The firm’s case results reflect millions of dollars recovered for survivors of sexual violence, including:
- An $8.4 million jury verdict for a client who was sexually harassed and sexually assaulted
- Nearly $20 million across two jury trials involving sexual harassment, sexual assault, and retaliation
- Court orders blocking the distribution of a sexual recording of actress Mischa Barton
Rape victim cases are accepted on a contingency basis.
What Is Important to Understand About a Rape Victim Case?
What Are Important Aspects of a Rape Victim Case?
Many survivors pursue a civil claim while a criminal case is underway or after it has ended. A Queens, NY rape victim attorney coordinates the two so that one does not undermine the other.
- The civil case and the criminal case can proceed at the same time. A court may pause the civil case until the criminal case concludes.
- Elmhurst Hospital and Queens Hospital Center operate SAFE programs, where specially trained staff perform forensic exams and provide medical care.
- The Queens District Attorney’s Crime Victims Advocate Program in Kew Gardens offers counseling and court escort to crime victims at no cost.
- Some drugs used in these assaults can be detected for only a short time, so testing soon after an assault preserves evidence that may not exist later.
- The state’s victim compensation program may cover counseling and medical costs that insurance does not.
- Survivors who struggle with identifying rape as rape, especially when they knew the assailant, can still bring a claim within the deadline.
What Is The Rape Victim Case Timeline?
The filing deadline for a civil rape claim depends on the offense, the survivor’s age, and whether a criminal case was filed. Our Queens rape victim lawyers calculate each deadline that may apply.
- Rape and other serious sexual offenses: A civil claim may be filed within two decades, and the same period applies to negligent third parties.
- Claims after a criminal case: When a criminal action is filed, a survivor has at least one year after it ends to sue, and at least five years when the charge is first-degree rape or certain other listed offenses.
- Other intentional touching: Assault and battery claims outside those provisions generally must be filed within one year.
- Survivors raped as minors: Claims may be filed until age 55.
- Older incidents in New York City: A 2026 amendment created a limited lookback window for claims against assailants and those who enabled them.
After we accept a case, we request the police file, the hospital records, and any court records from a criminal prosecution. Testimony and evidence from the criminal case can often be used in the civil case. The civil case then moves through document exchange and depositions before it settles or proceeds to trial.
Damages, Liability, and Compensation for Rape Victim Cases
A judgment against the assailant is usually the foundation of a rape case, but collecting it depends on the assailant’s assets. A property owner, employer, or organization whose negligence made the assault possible can also be named, and those defendants often carry insurance. Our Queens rape victim attorneys look for those parties before a complaint is filed. Restitution ordered in a criminal case is generally limited to out-of-pocket losses.
A civil claim can seek:
- Counseling and psychiatric care, now and in the future
- Medical expenses connected to the assault
- Lost earnings and reduced ability to work
- Compensation for pain, fear, and emotional distress
- Punitive damages for intentional or malicious conduct
What Should You Bring to Your Rape Victim Consultation?
The records that matter depend on how long ago the assault happened. Records you do not have can often be requested after the consultation.
If the assault was recent:
- Hospital or forensic exam paperwork
- The police complaint number or the detective’s name
- Messages or call logs with the person who assaulted you
- Photographs of injuries or damaged property
If the assault happened years ago:
- Names of people you told and approximately when
- Journal entries, emails, or messages written around that time
- Any later contact from the assailant, including apologies
- Court papers from any criminal case
Our Queens rape victim attorneys treat everything you share in the consultation as confidential.
Reach Out to Bloom Fudali to Schedule a Consultation
Contact us when you are ready to discuss what happened and what a civil case could involve. Our Queens rape victim lawyer can confirm how a pending or completed criminal case affects your filing deadline and who else may be responsible. Bloom Fudali does not ask you to make any decision during the first conversation, and you may share as much or as little as you are comfortable with.