Over the last 30 years, hundreds of thousands of children experienced sexual abuse in orphanages and children’s homes across Romania. Very little of this abuse was ever reported, and the abuse that was reported resulted in few criminal convictions. Understandably, many victims feel they will never find justice, or are not aware that they may be able to claim compensation for their abuse.
If you were sexually abused by a foreign citizen in Romania, we may be able to help. McAllister Olivarius has a long record of holding sex abusers to account, including suing institutions and organizations that were responsible for facilitating, failing to prevent or concealing child abuse.
McAllister Olivarius has helped dozens of Romanian victims of physical and sexual abuse bring claims against US individuals, charities, businesses and religious bodies. We have won life-changing sums of money for our clients, with our settlements often reaching millions of dollars.
Our experience handling challenging cases on behalf of all types of Romanian citizens is truly unique. Our lawyers understand US and European laws and have extensive experience suing both major US institutions and private individuals through American courts. We often help our Romanian clients on a contingency basis, meaning you do not have to pay us anything upfront. Our fair and transparent approach means we will only take a percentage of your final settlement if we help you win.
Our Romanian speaking staff will help you understand the whole process and make sure you know exactly what is happening with your claim and when you can expect a decision. Typically, we will work with you to win compensation from the person or organization responsible for your abuse. However, civil justice is not only about winning compensation. We can also seek changes in the way the group responsible for your abuse operates, or demand that it does more to help survivors.
To start on your path toward recovery, please call us now on +44 (0)20 3048 5959 or fill in our contact form. You will be put in touch with an experienced member of our legal team who will work with you to determine how you can get justice from the person or institution that caused you harm.
FAQs
Can I sue a foreign citizen for abuse that took place in Romania?
In most cases, yes. For example, you do not have to be a US citizen to sue someone in a US court. However, to bring a claim for compensation in a US court the person or organization you are suing must have ties to the country. Generally, this means your abuser was a US citizen working for a US organization based in Romania.
How can I prove that I was abused?
To claim compensation for your abuse you will need to prove that a specific person or organization was responsible. In cases involving sexual abuse there are lots of things that may count as evidence, including witness statements produced by other victims, messages or emails sent by your abuser, records of financial payments made to you by your abuser, and much more. You do not have to prove your claims beyond all doubt, but the evidence you provide must be strong enough to convince a court that it is more likely than not that you were abused.
How much compensation am I entitled to?
The amount of compensation you may be entitled to depends on a variety of factors, such as the strength of your evidence, the nature of the abuse, and the degree to which you have suffered financial, physical or psychological harm. It is important to remember that any claim for financial compensation will only be successful if your abuser has money to pay you. It can be difficult to win significant compensation from individuals unless they are very wealthy. However, businesses, religious organizations, charities and other employers often have money to settle claims.
I was abused a long time ago – will this prevent me from bringing claims?
Many survivors of sexual abuse or assault do not come forward right away. They may be worried that their abusers will punish them, that their families or communities will shun them, or that no one will believe them. Often, by the time these victims are prepared to speak out they find that their claims have expired. However, new laws introduced in the US and elsewhere make it possible for victims of sexual abuse to bring claims that would otherwise be considered time barred. We will work with you to assess whether you have a potential claim.
Case studies
McAllister Olivarius has helped dozens of Romanian victims of child sex abuse in their fight for justice, winning tens of millions of dollars on their behalf. The following case studies will help you understand the types of cases we routinely take on, and how we may be able to help you on you path to recovery.
We have not used the victims’ real names, but their stories are real.
Daniella
Daniella grew up in a Romanian orphanage for girls that was run by an American organization. Her family had very little money, so they reluctantly sent her to live there hoping that she would have a brighter future. But the orphanage gave her the opposite. During her time in the home, Daniella’s social worker, an older man, frequently abused her, touching her inappropriately and threatening to physically hurt her if she told anyone. Scared and alone, Daniella kept quiet for many years.
One day, when Daniella was around fourteen years old, her social worker took her to the dentist. On the drive home, he took an unfamiliar route, and ultimately stopped at a field. The social worker then began to touch Daniella inappropriately and tried to take off her clothes. Daniella screamed for help and managed to jump out of the car. Her social worker slammed the door and drove away, forcing Daniella to find her way back to the orphanage on foot.
These painful memories have greatly affected Daniella’s adult life. She feels extremely unsafe in rural areas and frequently has flashbacks which affect her romantic relationships Daniella will never get back her childhood, but we were able to help her get justice in the United States.
Stefan
Stefan was abused for six years as a teenager by an American priest operating in Romania. He was promised an education that held hope for a brighter future. That hope was crushed by the physical abuse and psychological manipulation Stefan experienced at the hands of this man. When Stefan’s education was cut short, he felt like his life was over.
As a direct result of the abuse and the shame he felt about it, Stefan became severely addicted to drugs, gambling and alcohol. He found it very difficult to hold onto a job and turned to sex work to survive. Stefan spent many of the next few years living on the street, sleeping on a park bench and bathing in a river.
Our firm helped Stefan to find justice and helped him to get back on his feet. He no longer suffers from substance abuse addictions and is finding hope and meaning again in his life.
Lucas
Lucas grew up in a Bucharest children’s home where was horribly abused by an American aid worker. Because he had nowhere else to turn, he endured this abuse and accepted it as part of his life.
When Lucas left the home, he suffered from severe flashbacks and turned to alcohol to try and dull the pain he felt. The abuse destroyed his sense of self and harmed his romantic relationships. He felt like there was no hope for him or for his future.
Through our work, we were able to help Lucas achieve justice in the United States, and he has since rebuilt his life. Lucas is now a successful entrepreneur who owns a chain of cafes. Despite everything that happened to him in his childhood, he now has a bright future.
Alexander
Alexander was groomed by an American pedophile in Bucharest when he was a child. His family had no money and the attention and gifts showered upon him initially made him feel special. Alexander was abused by the pedophile for the next eight years. He felt trapped, manipulated, and unable to leave.
When Alexander reached adulthood, he developed a severe drug and alcohol addiction. He turned to sex work to earn money and became deeply depressed. He was unable to find steady employment and frequently lost work. As a result of the intense shame he felt, coupled with his depression and addiction, he attempted suicide twice.
Our firm helped Alexander find justice. He was then able to afford residential rehabilitation services, which saved his life. Alexander is now on the path towards recovery – from both his childhood abuse and his addiction – and is hopeful about his future for the first time in his life.
Elena
Elena lived in a public orphanage in Romania until she was six years old. She never met her parents and was so unhappy in the orphanage that she escaped and began living on the streets of Bucharest.
When Elena was 11 years old, she was attacked and raped by three young boys in central Romania. The boys continued to rape her multiple times throughout the months that followed, telling Elena that they would physically assault her if she protested.
Elena’s life then spiralled out of control. She could only find work for a very low salary and was living in poverty with very little food, struggling to pay rent each month. She was unable to make meaningful connections with others and felt like no one cared about her. She lived her life as an outsider. With our help, Elena was able to settle her case against her attackers and has used the funds to escape poverty and find stable housing. Elena’s life is now on a different track, and she is beginning to heal from her painful past.
Charles
Charles fled his state-run orphanage in rural Romania at age 10. For two years he was homeless, sleeping on trains, begging for food and avoiding the ticket collectors by hiding in the toilets. Eventually, after one day arriving in the capital city, he met an American church worker on the street who offered him a warm meal from a local McDonalds. The man started talking to Charles about God and salvation, and told him that, if he were to come live with him, he could offer Charles new clothes, a warm home, a hot bath, and regular food. Charles was abused by the church worker for the next 10 years.
Peter
Peter lived at home with his father in Romania until the age of 8. Peter and his father lived in poverty, often going days without food. One day, an American social worker appeared at their door. He persuaded Peter’s father to release Peter into his “care” under the promise of a brighter future filled with constant food, a warm shelter, and education. The American man was a pedophile, and sexually abused Peter until he reached adulthood.
John
John, a Romanian orphan, was plucked off the street of Bucharest at age 12 and taken on a trip to the US by an American couple. In America, the boy was used to raise donations for Romanian street children. John had never travelled internationally and was excited to see the US. However, while he was there, the man abused John multiple times while his wife tolerated the atrocity. John suffered psychologically from his experiences as a child. As a direct result of the settlement McAllister Olivarius helped him win, John was able to rebuild his life gradually.
Anton
Anton was abused as a child in Bucharest for nearly five years. Now an adult, he suffers from deep depression, severe physical health problems, and a crippling sense of shame about what happened to him. Through our work, Anton can now afford life-saving surgery and has been given a new chance at life. Anton says we saved his life.
Harrison
Harrison was abused between the ages of 10 and 17 by an American missionary at his local community center. Confused and trapped, Harrison had no home to return to, so simply accepted that the abuse he experienced as part of his life. Upon reaching adulthood, Harrison had very little education and was not adequately prepared for full time employment. He turned to sex work abd became deeply depressed, anxious and struggled with low self-esteem. To this day, Harrison has difficulties forming meaningful relationships with others.
David
David was as abused by an American pedophile at his home in Bucharest. David turned to sex work in his adulthood, and has since struggled greatly from anxiety, low self-esteem, and addiction. The shame that David feels is deep seeded in his life to this day.