Can an Adult Sue a Parent and Stepparent for Abuse, Child Endangerment and Neglet
My question involves child abuse or neglect in the State of: West Virginia
I am now 35 and I am starting to realize a few things were not right about my childhood. When i was about 5 years old my mother married a man who became our first step-father. He had a previous acquisition against him of molestation and mom knew this going into the marriage. We stayed under his and her care for about 13 years of my life. During this time, my step-father would touch my sister and I inappropriately and even expose himself to us naked while we walked down the hall to our bedroom. We would report the instances to our mother, but she would always side with him.
Mom was very abusive to us as well always threatening to physically hit us if we didn't mind etc. I recall one time that my sister and I was playing around with the towel in the kitchen and she asked us to stop. We of course didn't and she started whaling on us. I tried to run away but my step father was outside and pushed me back into the house where my mom was standing inside the door and beat on me to the point that i bent the door trying to unsuccessfully get away.
In 1995, I became ill with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia (ALL). I went through my chemo therapy and was relieved to be out of the house. I came home one day and my mom stated she was divorcing our step-dad because he confessed to walking out in front of my sister in just his underwear. We moved and he still would come visit from time to time and I would leave the house. I have done some independent research about the causes of my leukemia and one thing stands out. Chemical exposure to Benzene.
Growing up we had a wood burning stove that would smoke out the inside of the house frequently due to improper ventalation. I have read many articles stating that a wood stove and cigarette smoke can produce very high levels of Benzene, which could of caused my leukemia in the first place. We also had to use rain water as a source of bathing and flushing the toilet, we had well water for cooking and brushing our teeth.
All the above factors I would like to seek compensation for therapy that I need but cant afford and would like to sue my mother and my first stepdad for the cost.
Re: Can I Sue My Step-Father and Mother for Child Neglect, Endangerment, and Abuse
Not going to happen. You can sue, but you won't win. It is beyond the SOL for a civil case. And walking around in underwear is NOT a big deal.
Re: Can I Sue My Step-Father and Mother for Child Neglect, Endangerment, and Abuse
Many councilors work on a sliding schedule based on income. You might want to look into that as an option to be able to receive therapy.
Re: Can I Sue My Step-Father and Mother for Child Neglect, Endangerment, and Abuse
I’m sorry to hear about your issues with your childhood but much of what you stated is not something for which you could sue and the things that did occur for which you could sue happened so long ago that you are well beyond the statute of limitations (SOL) to sue.