University of Nevada, Reno Sexual Assault Lawsuits

Sexual assault survivors at the University of Nevada, Reno (UNR) are pursuing lawsuits to get justice and improve safety for students. By taking civil action, these plaintiffs are seeking compensation to cover their expenses and losses and working to hold those responsible accountable.

If you survived a University of Nevada, Reno attack, a Nevada sexual assault lawyer can assess your case to determine if you might qualify to pursue a lawsuit against the perpetrator, the school, or another party. Most provide free consultations for survivors.

How Does Nevada Define Sexual Assault?

Under NRS § 200.366, Nevada criminal statutes consider almost any unwanted sexual behavior a violation of the state’s sexual assault law. An abuser would commit sexual assault if they:

Forced penetration without consent
Used threats to convince a victim to consent to sexual activity
Engaged in any forced or coerced sexual activity
Engaged in sexual activity with someone who cannot give consent because of cognitive or physical disabilities
Engaged in sexual activity with some under the age of 14 years old

If someone violates this law, they could face significant penalties through the criminal courts. The police and local courts would handle this case, and jail time, fines, and other consequences could be possible.

For a free legal consultation, call (725) 900-9000

What Is the Difference Between a Sexual Assault Lawsuit and a Criminal Case?

When it comes to legal options for sexual assault survivors in Nevada, there are two types of cases you should be aware of. First is the criminal case. This is a case that involves the police and could hold the perpetrator criminally responsible, putting them behind bars.

However, survivors also have another option. They can pursue a civil case, too. In a civil case, a sexual assault lawsuit seeks to hold the perpetrator and any other responsible parties legally accountable. This case causes the liable party to suffer financial penalties, as they will pay the survivor compensation for their medical care, therapy, and other costs.

A sexual assault lawsuit is filed in civil court, and these cases are typically handled by personal injury law firms.

What Do You Need to Know About Sexual Assaults at the University of Nevada, Reno?

Students believe UNR may not be transparent about how common sexual assaults occur on campus or to students in nearby housing. According to the University of Nevada, Reno Police Department’s Annual Security and Fire Safety Report, the 2022 sexual assault statistics include:

4 rapes on campus, with 3 in student housing and 1 occurring in another area
1 fondling on campus, occurring in student housing
1 dating violence arrest, occurring in student housing

While these numbers seem relatively low—especially compared to the statistics in 2020—rape is the third most commonly-reported crime on campus. It ranks behind only burglary and motor vehicle theft, which includes electric scooter and golf cart thefts.

Students Urge for Action Against Campus Sexual Violence

Students are concerned. A student-written column titled “More work needed to prevent sexual misconduct at Nevada’s colleges, universities” was published in The Nevada Independent in April of 2023. A few months later, in October, This Is Reno reported students protesting during a UNR groundbreaking ceremony, citing a lack of response and transparency with recent rape, sexual assault, and discrimination complaints.

This is not the first time rape, sexual assault, and sexual violence has put the UNR community on edge. In 2007, several students were raped or kidnapped and sexually assaulted. This led up to the off-campus rape and murder of student Brianna Denison.

In early 2008, UNR police created a reserve force of officers in response to sexual assaults on or near the campus. Still, the problem persists.

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What Should You Do If You Experienced a Sexual Assault at the University of Nevada, Reno?

If you survived sexual assault at UNR, you have the right to take action. You can work with a sexual assault lawyer to build a compelling case showing how the institution or another party could take stronger action to protect students from sexual predators and prevent rape or other similar crimes.

Most personal injury law firms in Nevada provide free consultations for survivors hurt in a sexual assault. You can discuss your case with an attorney familiar with sexual assault lawsuits at the University of Nevada, Reno.

While we encourage you to contact an attorney as soon as you can, there are no deadlines for filing this type of lawsuit. Senate Bill 129 (SB129) eliminated the deadline for adult sexual assault survivors in June 2023. This also applies to survivors who never previously acted against the responsible parties. You might be eligible even if your assault occurred years or even decades ago.

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How Can a Sexual Assault Lawyer Help You With Your Reno Case?

You will want an attorney familiar with sexual misconduct complaints on your side. They fight for justice for sexual assault survivors and know how to navigate these cases. If they win a settlement or other compensation for you, you could receive money for your:

Past, current, and future medical care costs for physical injuries
Ongoing therapy and mental health care support
Past, current, and future income losses
Reduced ability to earn
Past, current, and future emotional distress

When an attorney handles a Reno sexual assault case, they manage all aspects of it from start to finish. You will not need to worry about any of it. They will maintain open communication with you to provide updates, answer questions, and get information from you as necessary.

As a part of this process, they will investigate the incident, build a compelling case, document your damages, and value the case. Using the information and evidence they gathered, they can often negotiate a fair settlement agreement or present a convincing argument at trial.

Discuss Your Reno Sexual Assault With Our Team to Learn More

Van Law represents sexual assault survivors in Nevada, including those affiliated with the University of Nevada, Reno. Our Nevada sexual assault legal team can assess your options and discuss how we can help during a free consultation. Contact us now to get started.

No obligation consultations are always free.

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