Having a sexually transmitted disease can be an embarrassing and scary experience, and living with it can be a lifelong struggle.  The U.S. Center for Disease Control and Prevention has estimated that more than 110 million men and women in the United States have a sexually transmitted infection and that there are nearly 20 million new infections each year.  The cost of treating these infections is substantial, with the health care costs being almost 16 billion dollars per year.  More than just the treatment costs there can also be legal implications of having unsafe sex.  If a partner has knowledge of their infection and has unprotected sex with a partner without informing them of their disease, they can be legally and financially liable to that newly infected partner.

There is a growing body of case law in the United States over the last 25 years which involves large financial verdicts as a result of the infliction of a sexually transmitted disease.  In the last 10 years there have been verdicts ranging from $100,000 to $6,750,000 for cases involving the contraction of a sexually transmitted diseases.  Such verdicts include cases in Minnesota, D.C., Oregon, Georgia, California, Texas, and Iowa.  In Illinois, there have been verdicts ranging from $10,000 to $95,000, along with undisclosed settlements of potentially even higher amounts.

If you have been infected with a sexually transmitted disease by a partner who had knowledge of their infection and who did not notify you of it prior to sexual contact, you may have a legal claim against them.  Our firm can help you receive financial relief by filing a complaint for battery and negligent transmission of a sexual disease, and potentially obtain punitive damages for you.  Our firm can also help you file your matter under the fictitious name of “Jane Doe” so that your privacy is preserved.  We have experience obtaining substantial financial relief for clients related to the transmission of a sexually transmitted disease.  Please contact us if you have any questions or believe you may have a claim.

This post was written by Grace Doherty: Family Law Associate