Sexual Assault Attorneys in Kansas: Your Complete Legal Guide
Understanding Your Legal Rights in Kansas
Sexual assault survivors in Kansas have two separate legal pathways available to them: criminal prosecution through the state, and civil litigation in which the survivor directly seeks compensation. These systems operate independently, and the outcome of one does not determine the outcome of the other. A criminal acquittal, a dismissed case, or a case that was never prosecuted does not prevent you from filing a civil lawsuit against your abuser or any institution that enabled or failed to prevent the abuse.
Kansas has made meaningful progress in recent years in reforming its civil statute of limitations for childhood sexual abuse survivors, and has eliminated the criminal statute of limitations for rape and other serious felony sex crimes. Understanding where the law currently stands is essential before making decisions about pursuing legal action.
Kansas courts allow survivors to file civil lawsuits anonymously in appropriate cases, protecting their privacy throughout the legal process. Your attorney can request and typically obtain an order allowing you to proceed as “Jane Doe” or “John Doe.”
Kansas Criminal Statute of Limitations
Kansas’s criminal statute of limitations governs how long prosecutors have to file criminal charges after an offense. Kansas has made significant reforms in this area.
Rape (K.S.A. § 21-5503) and aggravated criminal sodomy: No statute of limitations. Criminal charges for rape and aggravated criminal sodomy may be filed at any time, regardless of when the offense occurred.
Other sexually violent felonies: Criminal prosecution may be commenced until the victim reaches age 28, or within 1 year of identification through DNA testing, whichever is later.
Child sexual abuse generally: Under HB 2127 signed into law effective July 1, 2023, the criminal statute of limitations for child sexual abuse offenses has been removed. Prosecutors may bring charges at any time for child sexual abuse, regardless of when the abuse occurred.
Misdemeanor sex offenses: 5-year statute of limitations from the date of the offense.
DNA exception: For offenses where the perpetrator is later identified through DNA testing, a new 1-year window opens from the date of identification regardless of the previous limitations period.
Kansas Civil Statute of Limitations
Kansas civil statutes of limitations for sexual abuse lawsuits have undergone significant reform in recent years, though the state still falls short of the most survivor-friendly jurisdictions.
Adult survivors abused as adults: 2 years from the date of the assault to file a civil lawsuit. (K.S.A. § 60-513)
Child survivors — current law (effective July 1, 2023): Under HB 2127, childhood sexual abuse survivors have 13 years after their 18th birthday to file a civil lawsuit, meaning they have until approximately age 31 to bring a claim. This is a significant expansion from the prior 3-year window that ran from age 18 (effectively requiring filing by age 21). (K.S.A. § 60-523)
Discovery rule for childhood abuse: In addition to the age-31 deadline, child abuse survivors may file within 3 years from the date they discover, or in the exercise of reasonable diligence should have discovered, that their injury or illness was caused by the childhood sexual abuse. If a survivor discovers the connection between their adult mental health struggles and childhood abuse after age 31, this discovery provision may still allow a lawsuit to proceed.
Conviction-based lookback window: If the perpetrator is convicted of a criminal sex offense, the survivor has 3 years from the date of the criminal conviction to file a civil lawsuit, regardless of how long ago the abuse occurred or whether the civil statute of limitations would otherwise have expired. This provides a meaningful pathway for survivors who were previously time-barred and whose abusers are later convicted.
No general lookback window: Kansas did not enact a general retroactive lookback window allowing all survivors with expired deadlines to file new claims. Survivors who were over age 31 when HB 2127 was enacted and whose abusers have not been subsequently convicted remain without a civil remedy unless they can invoke the discovery rule or another exception. Survivors in this situation should still consult an attorney to determine whether any pathways remain available.
Child USA grade: Kansas received a failing grade from Child USA for its civil statute of limitations before the 2023 reform. While the 2023 expansion to age 31 represents meaningful progress, the absence of a broader lookback window continues to limit relief for older survivors.
Kansas Victim Compensation Fund: Kansas provides victim compensation for crime victims, which may cover costs including medical treatment, mental health counseling, and related expenses. Contact the Kansas Crime Victims Compensation Board for current eligibility requirements and benefit limits.
How Civil Sexual Abuse Lawsuits Work
In a civil lawsuit, you are the plaintiff and you make key decisions including whether to settle or proceed to trial. The burden of proof in civil court is “preponderance of the evidence,” meaning it is more likely than not that the abuse occurred and caused harm. This is substantially lower than the “beyond a reasonable doubt” standard used in criminal court.
Civil defendants can include not only the direct abuser but also any institution, organization, employer, or other party that knew or should have known about the risk of abuse and failed to act. Common institutional defendants include schools and school districts, churches and religious organizations, youth sports organizations, summer camps, healthcare providers, residential treatment facilities, youth-serving nonprofits, and employers.
Damages available in Kansas civil sexual abuse cases include past and future medical and psychiatric treatment costs, past and future lost wages and earning capacity, pain and suffering, emotional distress, and loss of enjoyment of life. In cases involving egregious institutional conduct or deliberate concealment, punitive damages may also be available.
Most Kansas sexual abuse attorneys handle cases on a contingency fee basis, meaning no attorney fees are due unless compensation is recovered. Initial consultations are free and confidential.
Featured Kansas Sexual Assault Law Firms
1. DRZ Law
Location: Overland Park, Kansas (serving survivors throughout Kansas and Missouri)
Phone: (913) 400-2033
Website: https://www.drzlawfirm.com
DRZ Law is a Kansas trial firm that specializes exclusively in representing victims of child sexual assault and sexual abuse. The firm’s focused practice means its attorneys bring deep, case-specific knowledge of childhood sexual trauma to every representation, including experience with arbitration before the International Chamber of Commerce Court of Arbitration in addition to state and federal court litigation.
The firm was founded by Dan Zmijewski, a native of Kansas City who graduated in the top 20% of his class at the University of Kansas School of Law in 2002. Zmijewski began his legal career at Polsinelli PC, one of the largest law firms in the country, where he handled a full spectrum of plaintiff and defense matters across state and federal courts. He left large firm practice to create DRZ Law with the explicit goal of using his litigation experience to represent individuals who cannot obtain justice on their own. Zmijewski has been named “Best of the Bar” in the Kansas City Business Journal by a vote of fellow attorneys and has been recognized as a Super Lawyer and Super Lawyer Rising Star. He previously served as Board Chair of Wonderscope Children’s Museum and has served as an Assistant Professor at the University of Kansas School of Law teaching depositions skills and expert witness technique.
The firm also includes attorney Matthew R. Hale. DRZ Law has obtained compensation for 100 percent of its sexual assault clients and has secured millions of dollars in verdicts and settlements on behalf of survivors. Settled and pending cases include a confidential settlement for a student sexually assaulted by other students at a private school and a $370,000 arbitration award for a student victimized in a private school dormitory setting.
DRZ Law’s approach is built on believing the victim, not blaming them, and representing clients against institutions — schools, churches, sports organizations, large businesses — that ignored or covered up abuse. The firm is available for consultations by Zoom or in person. All initial consultations are free and confidential.
2. Monsees & Mayer, P.C.
Location: Kansas City, Missouri (primary); Springfield, Missouri; serving survivors throughout Kansas including Kansas City, Lawrence, Manhattan, Wichita, and Topeka
Phone: (816) 361-5555
Website: https://www.monseesmayer.com
Monsees & Mayer is a nationally recognized personal injury firm with extensive sexual abuse litigation experience across Missouri and Kansas. The firm has nearly 100 years of combined attorney experience and is especially well known throughout the Kansas City metro area and surrounding states for its representation of sexual abuse survivors and its work on complex institutional abuse cases.
The firm’s sexual abuse practice spans child molestation, school abuse, church and clergy abuse, camp abuse including Kanakuk Kamp cases, boarding school abuse including Agape Boarding School and multiple other residential programs, and doctor or therapist abuse. The firm’s entire staff is trained in trauma-informed practice to reduce the potential for re-traumatization during the legal process.
The firm’s attorneys include Timothy W. Monsees and David M. Mayer, both Super Lawyers with decades of plaintiff experience. Mayer has been recognized by Best Lawyers in America since 2013, is ranked as a top 1% attorney by the National Association of Distinguished Counsel, and has been named a top 10% attorney for client satisfaction by the American Institute of Personal Injury Attorneys. Phillip “Reed” Martens, a Shareholder since 2021, leads the firm’s sexual abuse practice and is its primary Kansas attorney. Martens graduated from the University of Missouri-Kansas City School of Law in 2016, is licensed to practice in state and federal courts in both Missouri and Kansas, and has been named a Super Lawyer Rising Star for multiple years running and an AV Preeminent attorney by Martindale-Hubbell. Martens has obtained millions in verdicts and settlements for survivors of sexual trauma. He serves on the Board of Directors of the Missouri Coalition Against Domestic & Sexual Violence (MOCADSV) and has testified before the Missouri legislature in support of expanding the statute of limitations for child abuse survivors. Additional attorneys include Robert “Bobby” Thrasher and Ryan D. Frazier.
The firm has offices in Kansas City and Springfield and regularly travels to meet clients throughout Missouri, Kansas, and Arkansas. All consultations are free and confidential, and the firm works on a contingency fee basis.
3. Goodwin Johnston LLC
Location: Kansas City, Missouri (serving survivors throughout Missouri and Kansas, including Kansas City, Lawrence, Manhattan, Wichita, Topeka, St. Joseph, Springfield, Columbia, and St. Louis)
Phone: (816) 624-3115
Website: https://www.goodwinjohnston.com
Goodwin Johnston LLC is a Kansas City personal injury firm that represents sexual assault survivors and their families throughout Missouri and Kansas. The firm focuses on serious personal injury claims including sexual assault, and its attorneys bring a combination of litigation experience and compassionate client advocacy to survivor representation.
The firm’s principal attorneys are Andrew Goodwin and Matthew Johnston. Both attorneys emphasize a thorough understanding of the applicable statutes of limitations in Kansas and Missouri and the importance of prompt legal consultation to preserve a survivor’s options. The firm’s approach centers on identifying all potentially responsible parties including institutions that failed to provide adequate security, supervision, or response to known risks, and pursuing maximum compensation for the full range of survivor damages including medical costs, therapy, lost wages, and pain and suffering.
The firm serves clients across a broad geographic footprint in the Kansas City metro area and throughout both states. Initial consultations are free, and the firm handles all cases on a contingency fee basis.
What to Expect When You Contact a Sexual Abuse Attorney
All three firms listed above offer free initial consultations. You do not need to bring documents or a fully formed account of what happened. Attorneys experienced in sexual abuse representation are accustomed to working with incomplete information and will guide you at whatever pace is comfortable.
Attorney-client privilege protects everything you share. Iowa courts, as well as Missouri and Kansas courts, routinely allow survivors to file lawsuits anonymously to protect their privacy.
Once retained, your attorney will conduct an independent investigation, identify all potentially responsible parties, gather relevant records, and assess the strength and scope of your case. Civil sexual abuse cases typically take one to three years to resolve depending on whether the case settles or goes to trial.
Survivor Resources in Kansas
National Sexual Assault Hotline (RAINN): 1-800-656-4673 (24/7, free and confidential)
Kansas Crisis Hotline: 1-888-363-2287 (1-888-END-ABUSE, 24/7 statewide)
Kansas Coalition Against Sexual and Domestic Violence (KCSDV): kcsdv.org — Maintains a statewide directory of local sexual assault service providers.
SafeHome (Overland Park): safehome.org — Provides emergency shelter, counseling, legal support, and services for survivors of domestic violence and sexual abuse in the Johnson County area.
Metropolitan Organization to Counter Sexual Assault (MOCSA): mocsa.org — Serves the Kansas City metro area including Kansas with crisis intervention, advocacy, medical accompaniment, and counseling for survivors.
Kansas Crime Victims Compensation Board: ag.ks.gov/victim-services
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I file a civil lawsuit if my abuser was never charged or was found not guilty?
Yes. Civil and criminal cases are completely independent. Many survivors successfully recover civil damages in cases where no criminal prosecution occurred or where a criminal trial resulted in acquittal.
I was abused as a child but I’m already past age 31. Do I still have options?
Possibly. The discovery rule may apply if you only recently connected your adult injuries to the childhood abuse. The conviction-based lookback window may apply if your abuser has been criminally convicted. Both theories require case-specific analysis, and an experienced attorney is the only reliable way to determine whether a claim remains viable.
Can I sue the institution that employed or supervised my abuser?
Yes. Schools, churches, camps, youth organizations, healthcare providers, and other institutions can be held liable for negligent hiring, negligent supervision, failure to report abuse, and related claims. Institutional claims often represent the most significant recovery opportunity.
Kansas HB 2127 expanded the civil SOL. Does it apply retroactively?
The 2023 expansion applies to survivors who had not yet been barred under the prior law at the time the bill took effect (July 1, 2023). Survivors who were already past age 21 when HB 2127 was enacted may not benefit from the extension unless another exception applies. Consult an attorney to evaluate your specific situation.
What compensation may be available?
A successful civil lawsuit can result in compensation for medical and psychiatric treatment costs, past and future lost wages and earning capacity, pain and suffering, emotional distress, loss of enjoyment of life, and in appropriate cases punitive damages.
This guide is provided for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Kansas’s statute of limitations and other legal rules are subject to change. Survivors should consult with a qualified Kansas or Missouri attorney to evaluate the specific facts of their situation. The firms profiled above have been included based on publicly available and verified information; inclusion does not constitute an endorsement.