Georgia Nursing Home Sexual Abuse Attorney

Why Georgia Families Trust McHugh Fuller Law Group

For more than 20 years, founding attorneys Jim McHugh and Mike Fuller have built a national reputation for taking on the hospitals, corporations, and nursing home chains that harm the people in their care — and winning. Our firm has:

• Secured a $91.5 million verdict in a nursing home wrongful death case
• Recovered over $100 million in combined verdicts and settlements
• Successfully resolved more than 1,000 cases for families nationwide

Sexual abuse cases require sensitivity, discretion, and an attorney unafraid to take on powerful nursing home corporations. We fight for the rights of those who cannot fight for themselves — and we will fight for your family.

What is Sexual Abuse?

Sexual abuse in a nursing home refers to any form of non-consensual sexual contact with a resident. This can include physical acts, verbal harassment, exposure to explicit materials, or unwanted sexual advances. In many cases, victims are elderly individuals who cannot consent due to cognitive impairments such as dementia or Alzheimer’s disease.

Sexual abuse is not only a gross violation of a resident’s rights—it is a serious criminal offense. Nursing homes have a legal and moral obligation to protect residents from all forms of abuse. If they fail to do so, they may be held liable through both criminal and civil legal action.

Common Forms of Sexual Abuse

Sexual abuse in long-term care facilities can take many different forms. Some of the most commonly reported include:

• Unwanted touching or groping
• Forced sexual acts or penetration
• Sexual assault or rape
• Taking or sharing explicit photographs or videos
• Verbal sexual harassment
• Exposure to pornography
• Coercing or threatening a resident into sexual acts

Abusers may include staff members, other residents, or even visitors. Regardless of who the perpetrator is, nursing homes are responsible for maintaining a safe and secure environment for all residents.

Signs of Nursing Home Sexual Abuse

Sexual abuse is often difficult to detect, especially when the victim has difficulty communicating or is afraid to report it. Families should be aware of both physical and behavioral warning signs that may indicate abuse, such as:

Physical Signs

• Unexplained bruising or bleeding, especially around the genital or anal areas
• Torn or stained undergarments
• Sudden development of sexually transmitted infections (STIs)
• Difficulty sitting or walking
• Pain or swelling in private areas

Behavioral Signs

• Sudden withdrawal or fearfulness
• Depression, anxiety, or agitation
• Panic attacks or emotional outbursts
• Reluctance to be alone with certain staff members or residents
• Regression in behavior (e.g., rocking, sucking thumb)

If you notice any of these signs, it’s essential to act quickly. Report your concerns to the nursing home administrator, local authorities, and contact an experienced Georgia nursing home sexual abuse lawyer right away.

Georgia Laws That Protect Nursing Home Residents

Georgia has enacted specific legal protections for elderly and vulnerable adults living in long-term care:

• Disabled Adults and Elder Persons Protection Act (O.C.G.A. § 30-5) — Defines elder abuse, including sexual abuse, and establishes mandatory reporting obligations for healthcare workers and caregivers who suspect mistreatment.
• Georgia Healthcare Facility Regulation Division (HFRD) — Part of the Georgia Department of Community Health, the HFRD licenses and inspects nursing homes and investigates complaints of abuse and neglect. Complaints can be filed online or by calling 1-800-878-6442.
• Federal Nursing Home Reform Act (NHRA) — Guarantees residents the right to be free from abuse, mistreatment, and sexual exploitation, regardless of which state they live in.

Because sexual abuse is both a crime and grounds for a civil claim, victims and families in Georgia may pursue justice on two fronts: criminal prosecution of the abuser by the state and a separate civil lawsuit pursued by the family to recover compensation. Our firm focuses on the civil side — building the case that holds the facility, and not just the individual abuser, financially accountable.

What to Do If You Suspect Sexual Abuse

1. Ensure immediate safety. If your loved one is in danger, call 911 or remove them from the facility.
2. Seek a medical evaluation. An independent exam can document injuries and preserve critical evidence.
3. Report it. File a complaint with the Georgia HFRD at 1-800-878-6442, and notify local law enforcement.
4. Document everything. Write down dates, conversations, observed injuries, and behavioral changes.
5. Call McHugh Fuller Law Group. The sooner our attorneys are involved, the sooner we can secure surveillance footage, staffing records, and other evidence before it disappears.

Who Can Be Held Responsible

Sexual abuse in a nursing home is rarely the result of one bad actor acting in isolation — it is frequently made possible by a facility's failures. Parties who may be held liable in a Georgia nursing home sexual abuse case include:

• The individual who committed the abuse
• The nursing home or facility, for negligent hiring, inadequate background checks, or failure to supervise staff
• Facility administrators who ignored warning signs or prior complaints
• Corporate owners or management companies that understaffed the facility or prioritized profits over resident safety

Our team investigates every layer of responsibility — because true accountability means holding the facility, not just the individual, to answer for what happened.

Compensation Available to Georgia Families

Families pursuing a nursing home sexual abuse claim in Georgia may be entitled to compensation for:

• Medical and psychological treatment costs
• Pain and suffering
• Emotional distress and trauma
• Relocation to a safer facility
• Punitive damages, in cases involving gross negligence or willful misconduct

Every case is different, and our attorneys take the time to fully calculate what a family is owed — not just what a facility's insurer is willing to offer.