Challenging Coverage Denials in Sexual Abuse Cases

When a survivor of sexual abuse brings a claim against an alleged perpetrator as well as a claim of negligence against the alleged perpetrator’s employer, the employer’s liability insurance is often one of the primary sources of monetary relief, enabling the survivor to obtain a meaningful recovery. However, insurance companies will sometimes try to avoid paying claims by saying the employer “expected or intended” the alleged abuse to occur—a coverage defense that should not apply in most situations.