Hue and Cry: The Fresh Complaint Rule in Sexual Assault Cases
Sexual assault accusations are sometimes made months or years after the event. This can lead jurors to doubt the accusation. If it were true, why didn’t the complainant speak at the time? The law... Read More
Appeals and Other Relief for Persons Convicted of Sex Crimes, Child Abuse, and Domestic Violence in Washington State
A conviction for a sex crime, child abuse, or domestic violence can feel like a devastating blow, especially after you’ve given your all in a difficult legal battle. It’s important for people who have... Read More
Four Things You Need to Know about Civil Claims for Sex Abuse and Sexual Assault
While most imagine sexual abuse and sexual assault cases to be tried in criminal court, a person can also file a civil claim for sex abuse or sexual assault. With the harm to reputation... Read More
The One Question Your Attorney Must Answer to Defend You against a Sex Crime Charge
Sex crime charges are different. The disgust they provoke in jurors is one of the things that makes them different from most other criminal charges. So is the absence, frequently, of any physical evidence;... Read More
What’s the Difference Between a Protection Order and a Restraining Order?
Washington law provides certain legal mechanisms to individuals concerned that they may become the target of violent, intimidating, or controlling behavior by someone else, often a family member or a significant other. If you’ve... Read More
What You Need to Know About Washington State Sexual Assault Laws
In the modern world, where both increased sexual freedom and campaigns like the #metoo movement compete for cultural bandwidth, it can be surprisingly difficult to know what sorts of behaviors constitute sexual assault and... Read More
When Is Someone Too Drunk to Legally Consent to Sex?
Consent is a complex and controversial topic that has been in the public eye in recent years due, in part, to several high-profile sexual assault cases. Perhaps you’ve even seen the widely-circulated video released... Read More
What to Know When Your Child is Being Accused of a Sex Crime
If your child is the subject of a sex crime investigation or prosecution, you’re probably feeling a lot of things: disbelief, anger, hurt, embarrassment, concern for your child’s future. All these feelings are normal... Read More
What Is a “He Said, She Said” Case?
Accusations of rape and other sex crimes are notoriously difficult to investigate and resolve due to their nature. Most of these cases arise from events which happen in private when only the accused and... Read More
Can a Mentally Incapacitated Person Consent to Sex?
Consent is a hot topic right now in discussions everywhere about sexual mores and politics. It’s nearly impossible these days to listen in on any conversation about sex—whether it be in an educational institution,... Read More