Posted on Wednesday, June 18th, 2025 at 3:00 pm
At Wallace Miller, Survivor Advocacy is more than a tagline—it’s a commitment. We believe survivors of sexual abuse deserve to be heard. They deserve justice, accountability, and support every step of the way. That’s where we come in.
What is Survivor Advocacy?
Partner Molly Condon Wells
In a legal context, Survivor Advocacy means standing beside survivors as they make empowered decisions about their rights, their cases, and their futures. It means listening to what each person needs, both legally and emotionally. It means creating space for healing while holding institutions, individuals, and systems accountable through the courts.
Civil litigation is not the same as criminal prosecution. While the criminal justice system focuses on punishing offenders, civil abuse lawsuits focus on compensation for the harm done. Just as importantly, these lawsuits expose the systems and organizations that enable that abuse. It’s one way survivors can take back control.
Why this matters
More than 1 in 4 women and nearly 1 in 10 men experience sexual violence in their lifetimes, according to the CDC. Many never come forward. The reasons are complex—fear, shame, trauma, or concerns that no one will believe their stories. At Wallace Miller, we believe survivors. Always.
Our Survivor Advocacy team is led by partner Molly Condon Wells, a seasoned advocate for survivors with years of experience in sensitive, high-stakes litigation. Molly and her team—including attorney Alexandrea M. Messner and paralegals Mirena Fontana, Morgan Kapping, and Nicole Diaz—are compassionate, trauma-informed, and deeply committed to pursuing justice on their clients’ terms.
Who can bring a civil sexual abuse lawsuit?
Anyone who has experienced sexual abuse—whether in childhood or adulthood—may have a claim under civil law. That includes abuse involving companies and institutions like:
- Rideshare companies (Uber, Lyft, etc.)
- Medical facilities or mental health settings, including physicians and therapists
- Schools and universities
- Youth organizations (Boy Scouts, YMCA, etc.)
- Sports teams or extracurricular programs
- Community-based housing providers
- Churches and religious institutions
- Prisons, detention centers, and foster care systems
Even if the abuse occurred years ago, you may still have legal options. Many states, including Illinois, have extended or eliminated statutes of limitations for certain sexual abuse cases, especially those involving minors.
How Wallace Miller supports survivors
Our team works at a pace that feels right for each client. From our initial conversation to case resolution, we explain the legal process clearly and ensure each survivor is empowered to decide what justice means to them, whether that’s going to trial, settling confidentially, or simply speaking their truth in a legal setting.
Our approach is trauma-informed, meaning we recognize the effects of trauma and avoid re-traumatization wherever possible. We collaborate with survivors, not just represent them.
Referrals and confidential consultations
You may not personally need this kind of legal help, but you might know someone who does. Please consider forwarding this article or sharing our Survivor Advocacy page. Sometimes, all it takes is knowing where to start.
Survivors can speak with a member of our team for free and with no obligation. Everything discussed with us is confidential. Even if we’re not the right firm, we can help find the right path forward.
To learn more about our work on behalf of survivors, visit our Survivor Advocacy page.