Savannah Omegle Lawsuit Lawyer

April 6, 2022 | Attorney, Matthew Dolman
Omegle has come under fire for its policies and inability to protect children from pedophiles and other online sexual predators. Sexual abuse usually has a lasting impact on victims. It is understandable to see the growing concerns over the website's policies. If you or your child have experienced sexual abuse on Omegle, you can file a lawsuit to help you recover compensation for your damages. Contacting a Savannah Omegle lawsuit lawyer to assist you can transfer the stress off your shoulders.

What Is Omegle?

Omegle is a website created in 2009 to help strangers meet online and communicate through videos and texts. However, the content can sometimes be sexual. Even though the minimum age for Omegle users is 18 years, it is not uncommon to find children as young as 13 years on the platform. The website does not have any age-verification measures. While the platform has operated for more than a decade, its popularity spiked in 2020. The popularity likely occurred due to the COVID-19 pandemic and the emergence of TikTok. According to reports by BBC, Omegle had a popularity index of about 34 million visits globally in January 2020. The numbers significantly improved to over 65 million by January 2021.

The Problem With Omegle

When the COVID-19 pandemic struck, many children were allowed time on the internet for educational purposes. While on the internet, most of them joined websites like Omegle, where they were subject to online sexual abuse. Most people currently express their concerns about the credibility of Omegle because the platform does not have any age verification measures. As a result, children can pair with adults, exposing them to sexual predators and other malicious parties. Also, Omegle does not have a feature that allows users to report what they find abusive on the platform. There is no way that a minor partnered with an adult can air out their grievances.

Who Is Eligible to File an Omegle Lawsuit?

Anyone who has used Omegle and feels they experienced sexual abuse can file an Omegle lawsuit. You will need to prove how you experienced sexual abuse and the damages suffered. Some examples of sexual abuse you may have experienced include (but are not limited to):
  • The abuser asking for unwanted, sexually explicit pictures
  • The abuser threatening you for not sending said pictures
  • The abuser sending sexual messages or pictures
  • The abuser stalking your internet activity

The History of Omegle Lawsuits

Many people have filed Omegle lawsuits before. One of the most notable involved an individual identified as A.M. in the suit. According to the case, A.M., who was 11, was paired with a man named Ryan Scott Fordyce, who was in his late 30s.  According to A.M, Fordyce promised to make the victim "feel better." He then proceeded to ask for photos and videos. He threatened to leak the already-sent ones to the public if the victim did not comply with his wishes. She further indicates that the accused asked the victim to recruit more friends onto the platform. A.M. sued Omegle for $20 million in non-economic damages and other unspecified punitive damages against the company. The lawyers found Fordyce guilty, sentencing him to jail time. 

Do You Need a Lawyer to File an Omegle Lawsuit?

Proving online sexual abuse can be challenging, given the circumstances. However, a federal regulation known as Marsha's law is in place to ensure that victims have a clear path towards recovering compensation. While this is a positive thing, the process can be tricky, given that your legal knowledge may be limited. In this case, hiring a Savannah Omegle lawsuit lawyer can be beneficial. Your attorney can help you with the following:

Prepare a Strong Case

Online sexual abuse takes a toll on the victim's mental wellness. The victim could struggle to have peace from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) to anxiety. Our lawyers can help you build a compelling case to help compensate you for your damages. 

Provide Legal Representation

Omegle is a large company with a big reputation. Hiring a lawyer with experience taking on big companies can be a relief. You can have level-headed conversations and negotiations this way. Your representative will air your grievances, provide evidence of your damages, and provide you with important updates on your case.

Help You Follow Deadlines

You have a limited time to file your case from when the incident occurred. The deadline is the statute of limitations on how long you have to file a lawsuit. Your attorney can help you act within the stipulated time guidelines.

What Is Marsha's Law?

Following the rise in online sexual abuse cases such as those on Omegle, federal authorities passed Marsha's law to help victims recover compensation while implicating the culprits. To file your case under this law, you must prove that an Omegle user committed a "child pornography or exploitation crime" that resulted in the victim's injury. You have ten years from the time of the incident to file your lawsuit under Marsha's law. Victims can recover up to $150,000 in damages. Unlike most personal injury cases, you can also seek punitive damages and compensation for other relevant litigation costs.

Count on Our Omegle Lawsuit Lawyers Serving Savannah

At Dolman Law Group, we take sexual abuse claims seriously. If you or your child experienced sexual abuse on Omegle, we could help you file a lawsuit for fair compensation. Call us today to speak with one of our team members and receive a free case evaluation. Taking action can help you recover and heal. We work on a contingency-fee basis. This way, you do not have to worry about how to pay for our services. 

 

Matthew Dolman

Personal Injury Lawyer

This article was written and reviewed by Matthew Dolman. Matt has been a practicing civil trial, personal injury, products liability, and mass tort lawyer since 2004. He has successfully fought for more than 11,000 injured clients and acted as lead counsel in more than 1,000 lawsuits. Always on the cutting edge of personal injury law, Matt is actively engaged in complex legal matters, including Suboxone, AFFF, and Ozempic lawsuits.  Matt is a lifetime member of the Million Dollar Advocates Forum and Multi-Million Dollar Advocates Forum for resolving individual cases in excess of $1 million and $2 million, respectively. He has also been selected by his colleagues as a Florida Superlawyer and as a member of Florida’s Legal Elite on multiple occasions. Further, Matt has been quoted in the media numerous times and is a sought-after speaker on a variety of legal issues and topics.

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