Skip to Content
Ryan E. Gatti, Attorney At Law Ryan E. Gatti, Attorney At Law
Serving Northwest Louisiana for 25 Years 318-633-0186
Top

FAQ

  • Lookback

    • Can I sue if my abuser is dead?

      Yes. The death of your abuser does not eliminate your right to pursue a civil claim under Louisiana's lookback law. A lawsuit can be filed against the estate of a deceased abuser. Depending on the circumstances of your case, claims may also be brought against third parties, such as institutions or organizations that enabled, harbored, concealed, or failed to stop the abuser. If your abuser has passed away, we encourage you to contact us before the June 14, 2027, deadline to discuss your options.

    • Can I sue a church, school, camp, coach, teacher, foster parent, or youth organization?

      In many cases, yes. Louisiana's lookback law allows survivors to pursue civil claims not only against their direct abuser, but also against organizations and individuals in positions of authority who knew about the abuse, failed to act, or actively covered it up. Churches, schools, youth organizations, foster care systems, and employers have all been named as defendants in these types of cases. Whether a third party may be held liable depends on the specific facts of your situation, which is why speaking with an attorney is an important first step.

    • Can I file a claim if there was never a criminal conviction?

      Yes. A criminal conviction is not required to pursue a civil lawsuit. Civil and criminal cases operate under different legal standards. For example, a criminal case requires proof "beyond a reasonable doubt," while a civil case applies a lower standard known as "preponderance of the evidence," meaning it is only necessary to prove that it is more likely than not that the abuse occurred. Your abuser does not need to have been prosecuted, convicted, or even charged with a crime for your civil claim to move forward. Many survivors pursue civil claims entirely independently of any criminal proceedings.

    • What if my previous lawsuit was dismissed?

      If a previous lawsuit was dismissed because of an expired statute of limitations, Louisiana's lookback law may allow you to refile. The law was specifically designed to revive claims that were time-barred under prior rules, including cases dismissed on those very grounds. In fact, this is precisely the situation that led to the historic $1.1 billion verdict we secured for our client: her 2012 civil lawsuit had been dismissed because filing deadlines had lapsed under the law at the time. The lookback law gave her a second chance to seek justice, and it may provide the same opportunity for you. We encourage you to reach out as soon as possible so we can assess whether your case can be revived before the June 14, 2027, deadline.

    • What happens when the lookback window closes on June 14, 2027?

      Once the lookback window closes on June 14, 2027, survivors whose claims were previously time-barred under old statutes of limitations will generally lose the ability to file new civil lawsuits under the lookback law. There are currently no plans to extend the window again. It is important to know, however, that abuse that occurred on or after June 14, 2021, is not affected by this deadline, and those claims carry no statute of limitations under current Louisiana law and can be filed at any time going forward. If your abuse occurred before June 14, 2021, and your claim was previously time-barred, the June 14, 2027, cutoff is critical.

Back to Top