As a survivor of incest and child sexual abuse at the hands of family member who were supposed to love and protect me, I understand your pain, sense of betrayal and desire to hold those accountable as part of your healing journey.

I think about all the children that you will be protecting when you bring your incest aggressor, family member, child sexual abuser to justice. I think of your bravery, courage, strength in bringing this darkness to light.

I understand that we, as survivors are the ones banned, shunned, shamed, by our families while our perpetrator enjoys a full and happy family. We suffer, our predators don’t. Our families take sides when we speak the truth, and generally, they don’t take our side. They take the predators’ side. And whether your abuser was your wealthy businessman father, step-father, uncle, grandfather or even sibling, it’s time for justice. Whether you were sexually abused by a wealthy mother, grandmother, step-mother, neighbor, close family friend, it’s time for justice.

Shari Karney, of Karney Law, is a pioneer in helping victims of incest and family child sexual abuse hold their perpetrators accountable for the past 35 years.

In the mid 1980’s, when child molestation and incest was still a societal “secret”, Karney and her assocaite began representing adult survivors who were brave enough to come forward to tell their stories of incest, child sexual assault and the devastating impact it had on their lives.

Shari Karney, as a survivor herself, got so frustrated at the denial of victim’s rights to take legal action against their perpetrators, especially if that perpetrator was a family member, that she and her associate fought tirelessly to change the laws in California so that survivors got rights so long denied. She relentlessly worked on the first major change in the law for victims of child sexual abuse in California, and designed the landmark principle of “delayed discovery” expanding right to victims of sexual abuse to sue their perpetrators past the existing statute of limitations.

The new law just passed in California effective January 1, 2020 extending the statute of limitations for child sexual abuse was based on the landmark law and pioneering language that Shari Karney, Esq. and her associates drafted, wrote and got passed in California in 1991.

Since 1991, Shari Karney worked relentlessly with 40 other states to give survivors of child sexual abuse the justice they so deserve from incest. Karney believes that there should be no statute of limitations for child sexual abuse just like there is no statute of limitations in California for murder, kidnapping, torture, and even embezzlement. What is more torturous, and entrapping, than being sexually abused by the very people who are supposed to love and take care of you. Karney says, “No more. Not on my watch. Not ever again!”

There is hope, but you have to be ready to break silence, speak your truth, provide proof, and take the risk of being orphaned by your family. It’s not an easy process. But then again, you already have survived the worst.

Going after your family members is not for the faint of heart. Your perpetrator must have significant reachable assets (be wealthy, own real property, wealth/management/investment accounts, and have significant accessible assets) as the law can only provide justice in the form of financial compensation (money damages) to you. These can be difficult cases to prove, painful for survivors. However, it may be a necessary step in your healing process, to have a second chance at life. Recover what was stolen from you.

Shari Karney has been helping victims of incest and child sexual abuse for 35 years. Karney Law is here to help you fight this fight towards justice or provide referral resources depending on your needs and case.

We are here for you. We believe in you and applaud your courage.