Utah Sexual Assault Lawyers
- $ Millions Won For Our Clients
- No Fees Unless We Win
- 4 Utah Offices
- 300+ 5-Star Reviews
Utah Sexual Assault Lawyers Who Make Sure Those Responsible Face Real Consequences
First, we believe you. And we are sorry you have a reason to read this page.
What we do here is different from the criminal justice system. Creekside Legal represents survivors only, and the cases we handle are civil claims, lawsuits brought by survivors on their own terms, for compensation and accountability from the people and institutions responsible for what happened. A criminal case is pursued by the state. A civil case is yours. You decide whether to move forward, when to move forward, and how much you want to share and when.
Everything you tell us is confidential from the very first conversation, whether or not you ever decide to pursue a claim. There is no commitment in asking questions. We handle the legal fight completely so you can focus on yourself and your healing, and we move at whatever pace feels right for you. You have been through enough. The last thing you should have to do is navigate a complicated legal process alone.
There is nothing to pay unless we win your case. And when we do, we take a smaller percentage than most Utah firms charge.
If you need immediate support before you are ready to talk to us, the National Sexual Assault Hotline through RAINN is available twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week at 1-800-656-4673. Utah’s rape crisis centers also offer free, confidential advocacy whenever you need it.
“Communicated clearly and consistently throughout the entire process. “
“Truly good caring individuals who were extremely professional and were capable of bringing the case to completion.”
– John D.
What Our Clients Are Saying
“Matt worked hard and fought for me to get the money I deserved back.”
“He also kept me updated on the case every step of the way!”
– Emily T.
“Having Matt on my legal team was the best decision I’ve made during this process.”
“He is truly a warm and caring person. I am grateful to know him and feel like he is now a friend. He has been by my side and fought vigorously for my best interest!!! I highly recommend this great man to help anyone!! Thanks Matt for all you have done. I am so grateful for you and appreciate the support given to me!! “
– Stacy H.
Our Utah Sexual Assault Legal Team
Matt Schmoldt
Lawyer
Jenny Hoppie
Lawyer
Tyler Tapp
VP of Legal
Annie Edwards
Senior Paralegal
Sandra Westwood
Paralegal
Why Work With Us?
Experienced & Dependable
With over three hundred five-star reviews, you can be confident that we will take care of you and your case.
Pay Nothing... Until We Win
We won’t let you pay us… until we win. We also take less of your settlement than other personal injury law firms.
Medical Bills & Treatment
We will help you with your medical bills. We also make sure that you get the right medical treatment.
Get A Larger Settlement
Studies show that injury settlements are larger when a personal injury lawyer is representing you.
A Sexual Assault Civil Case Is Yours — Not the State’s
Many survivors don’t know this: the criminal system is not the only path, and it’s not your path to control.
In a criminal case, the government decides whether to prosecute, and you are a witness. In a civil case, you are the one bringing the claim, and the decisions belong to you — whether to file, whether to settle, whether to go to trial.
Three more things survivors deserve to know:
- You don’t need a criminal conviction. A civil claim can succeed even if charges were never filed, were dropped, or ended in acquittal — because civil cases are decided on a lower standard of proof (more likely than not, rather than beyond a reasonable doubt).
- You can often protect your identity. Utah courts can allow survivors to file under a pseudonym (such as “Jane Doe”) and enter protective orders limiting disclosure in appropriate cases.
- Compensation is real and meaningful. Therapy — past and future — medical care, lost income and career impact, and the profound personal harm itself are all compensable.
Who Can Be Held Accountable
The person who hurt you can be sued directly. But in many cases, the more important defendant is an institution that made the harm possible:
- Employers who ignored complaints or failed to screen and supervise
- Schools and universities that failed to protect students
- Churches and religious organizations that concealed known abusers or moved them rather than removing them
- Healthcare facilities whose providers abused patients
- Youth organizations, camps, and programs
- Foster care, group homes, and detention facilities
- Property owners whose negligent security (broken locks, no lighting, ignored warnings) enabled an assault
Institutional cases matter for two reasons. Institutions can actually pay — individual perpetrators usually can’t — and institutional accountability is often what protects the next person. Negligent hiring, negligent supervision, negligent retention, and concealment are well-established legal theories in Utah.
Statute of Limitations: Utah’s Time Limits To File
The deadlines depend on when the abuse happened and who the claim is against — and they are genuinely complicated, so please treat this as orientation, not an answer for your specific case:
- Survivors of childhood sexual abuse can sue their abuser at any time. Utah abolished the statute of limitations for civil claims against the *perpetrator* of child sexual abuse. It is never “too late” to ask about a claim against the person who abused you as a child.
- Claims against institutions (non-perpetrators) for childhood abuse are subject to time limits that depend on your age and when you connected the abuse to your injuries. Some older claims were affected by a 2020 Utah Supreme Court decision, so this analysis is genuinely case-by-case.
- Adults assaulted at 18 or older generally have four years for civil claims, though the details can shift with the facts and the defendants.
If a deadline question is what’s kept you from calling anyone — call. The analysis is free, confidential, and carries zero obligation. The worst outcome is wondering.
What a Civil Claim Can Recover
- Therapy and psychiatric care — everything so far, and everything you’ll need
- Medical expenses
- Lost wages, lost career trajectory, and diminished earning capacity
- The harm itself: pain, suffering, trauma, and its effect on relationships and daily life
- Punitive damages — particularly where an institution knew and covered it up
No outcome undoes what happened. But survivors consistently tell us two things mattered: being heard and believed by people fighting for them, and the resources to rebuild on their own terms.
What Working With Us Looks Like
- A private, free consultation — phone, video, or in person; whatever feels safest. You can bring a support person.
- You’ll never be pushed. We answer your questions, explain your options, and the decisions stay yours — including the decision to do nothing right now.
- Trauma-informed practice. You won’t be asked to retell everything repeatedly. We gather records and evidence so the burden sits on us, not you.
- Privacy by default. Pseudonym filings and protective orders where available; discreet communication on your terms (text or email if a phone call isn’t safe or comfortable).
- No cost unless you recover. No upfront fees, no hourly bills. We’re paid a percentage only if we win — a lower percentage than most firms charge.
“Matt and his team did an excellent job, Matt was always in contact to inform me of any news about my case. “
“Matt was great to work with, I am more than happy with everything he did for me. HIGHLY RECOMMEND”
– Irma R.
Utah Civil Sexual Assault FAQs
Can I sue if the police never charged anyone — or if he was found not guilty?
Yes. Civil and criminal cases are independent, with different decision-makers and different standards of proof. Many successful civil claims involve perpetrators who were never criminally convicted.
Will my name become public if I file?
In appropriate cases, Utah courts allow survivors to proceed under a pseudonym, and protective orders can restrict the use of sensitive information. Many cases also resolve confidentially, without public proceedings. We’ll explain realistically what privacy protections fit your situation before anything is filed.
The abuse happened when I was a child, decades ago. Is it too late?
Against the perpetrator — no. Utah law allows survivors of childhood sexual abuse to sue their abuser at any time. Claims against institutions involve more complicated time rules that depend on your
circumstances. It costs nothing to find out where you stand.
Can I sue if the abuser has died, or has no money?
Possibly. Claims can sometimes proceed against an estate, and institutional defendants — employers,
schools, churches, insurers — are frequently the real source of recovery. Don’t assume there’s no path before someone has actually looked.
What if I don't remember everything clearly?
That’s normal — trauma affects memory, and the law and courts increasingly understand that. Civil cases are built from many sources: records, patterns, other witnesses, prior complaints, expert testimony. Gaps in memory do not mean you have no case.
Will I have to testify in court?
Most civil cases resolve without trial. If yours does go to court, you’ll be thoroughly prepared and supported — but you’ll make every major decision along the way, including whether a settlement is right for you, knowing exactly what each path involves.
What if I signed an NDA or accepted money before?
Bring it to us. Some agreements are narrower or less enforceable than survivors fear, and the law around silencing agreements has been shifting. Don’t conclude you’re bound without an attorney actually reading it.
What does it cost to talk to you?
Nothing — the consultation is free and completely confidential, and you’ll never pay us anything unless we recover for you. Call or text (801) 406-4273, or use our secure contact form if that’s safer or easier.