Oklahoma Sexual Abuse and Assault Attorneys

Civil justice for survivors, handled by an all-female team in Tulsa. Free, confidential consultations for survivors in Tulsa, Oklahoma City and communities across Oklahoma.

You have options beyond the criminal system

A civil case gives you a way to hold someone accountable that does not depend on the state. A criminal case is brought by the state, moves on the state’s timeline and rarely puts the survivor first. A civil case is yours. It can hold the person who hurt you accountable, and it can hold accountable the school, church, employer or organization that let it happen.

Sexual abuse and assault cases are the main focus of our firm. Laurie Koller has practiced law since 1991. After a decade in corporate defense, she turned her practice toward people harmed by powerful systems, and today she focuses on survivors of sexual abuse and assault. She serves on the Board of Advisors of the National Crime Victim Bar Association and brings trauma-informed training to how she works with clients.

You may be reading this late at night, unsure whether you are ready to say any of it out loud. That is all right. You can call (918) 221-3861 just to ask questions, and you decide what happens next.

You do not have to have reported it. You do not have to have told anyone. You can still call.

Talk to us

Free, confidential consultation

Tell us what happened in your own words, at your own pace, and ask anything you want. What you share stays confidential, and there is no pressure to decide anything.

Cases we handle

Who we represent

Childhood sexual abuse

Adults who were abused as children and parents acting for a child. Ask us even if the abuse happened long ago.

Institutional abuse

Schools, churches, daycares, sports clubs and other organizations that failed to prevent or report abuse.

Adult sexual assault

Assault by an acquaintance, partner, coworker or stranger.

Abuse by a person in a position of trust

Teachers, coaches, clergy, therapists and caregivers who used their role to cause harm.

Abuse by medical providers

Doctors and other providers who abused patients during care.

Abuse in care facilities

Residents of nursing homes and assisted living communities who were assaulted while in care.

How a civil case is different from a criminal case

A civil case is a lawsuit you bring yourself, for the harm done to you. The state does not have to file charges first, and a civil case can go forward even if prosecutors declined the case or a jury did not convict.

In a criminal case, the question is whether the state can prove a crime. In a civil case, the question is whether a person or organization is legally responsible for what happened to you, and what they owe you for it. The two cases use different standards of proof, and they can run at the same time or years apart.

A civil case also gives you a measure of control. You choose whether to bring it. You decide, with your lawyer, whether to accept a settlement or ask a jury to decide.

Who can be held accountable

The person who abused you can be held responsible in civil court. So can the people and groups who were supposed to keep you safe and did not. A claim may be brought against:

An organization can be responsible when it ignored warning signs, failed to supervise, kept someone in a role they should not have had, or failed to report suspected abuse. Oklahoma law requires adults to report suspected child abuse, and institutions that ignore that duty may face civil liability. Our page on holding schools, churches and organizations accountable explains more.

Protecting your privacy

Your privacy matters, and we talk about it with you before anything is filed. In some cases, filing under your initials or a pseudonym may be possible, and we will talk with you about whether it fits your case.

We also explain, step by step, who will see what. A lawsuit involves the other side, their lawyers and the court. We tell you what information they will ask for and when, so you are not caught off guard. You decide how much to share with us and when. Talking with us is confidential, and calling us does not start a lawsuit or tell anyone else.

Deadlines to file a civil claim

Every civil claim has a filing deadline, and the rules for sexual abuse cases are complicated. The deadline in your case can depend on your age when the abuse happened, when you came to understand the harm it caused, and who the claim is against.

Please do not rule yourself out because time has passed. Many survivors wait years before telling anyone, and the law recognizes some of the reasons why. If you were abused as a child, our page on childhood sexual abuse claims covers what adult survivors and parents should know. The only way to know where you stand is to ask. Call (918) 221-3861 and we will look at your dates with you, confidentially and at no cost.

Working with an all-female, trauma-informed team

Our firm is two attorneys and two paralegals, and all four of us are women. For many survivors, that makes the first call easier. You will not be passed around a large office, and you will know who is working on your case.

Trauma-informed means we work at a pace you can handle. We explain each step before it happens. We do not ask you to repeat your story more than the case requires, and you can take a break or stop a meeting whenever you need to. Laura Martinez, one of our attorneys, is bilingual, so you can talk with us in Spanish if that is easier.

Support outside the legal case matters too. The federal Office for Victims of Crime lists services for victims in every state. When you are ready to talk about a case, you can send us a private message or call.

100+

Laurie Koller has tried over 100 cases. When a case needs to go before a jury, you have a trial lawyer beside you.

How we work

A trauma-informed approach to every case

You set the pace

You decide how much to share and when. We never push you to relive details before you are ready.

Your privacy comes first

We talk with you early about privacy, including whether filing under initials or a pseudonym may be possible.

A small team that knows you

Two attorneys and two paralegals, all women, who know your case and answer your questions.

Compensation

What a civil case can recover

Money does not undo what happened. It can pay for the care you need and recognize what was taken from you. Depending on the case, that may include:

Client reviews

What our clients say

"Laurie is a true advocate for her clients. Her passion and dedication to helping victims is unparalleled. Thank you Laurie for being a fearless leader in creating change."

Lexlee O.

Knowledgeable, honest, experienced, compassionate, determined. Laurie is the first attorney I'll call for legal advice and guidance. Without question, I'm all in.

Cari B.

Our family is so grateful for the services that this team provided when no one else would. Thank you for sticking with us and for getting justice for our brother.

Lonnie C.

Common questions

Questions survivors ask us

Is it too late to bring a case?

It may not be, and the only way to know is to ask. Oklahoma sets deadlines for civil claims, and in sexual abuse cases those deadlines can depend on your age at the time, when you understood the harm, and who the claim is against. Many survivors come forward years later. Share the basic dates with us in a free, confidential consultation and we will explain where you stand. Please do not decide on your own that you have waited too long.

Will my name be made public?

Not necessarily. In some cases, filing under your initials or a pseudonym may be possible, and we will talk with you about whether it fits your case. Before anything is filed, we explain what becomes part of the court record and who will see it. Talking with us is confidential, and a phone call with us does not file anything or notify anyone.

What if there was never a police report or conviction?

You can still have a civil case. A civil claim does not require a police report, criminal charges or a conviction. It is a separate case with its own standard of proof, and it asks whether the person or organization is legally responsible for the harm. Many survivors never reported to police. That does not close the door, and we will listen either way.

What if I am not sure it counts as abuse?

Call anyway. Many survivors are not sure what to call what happened, especially when it involved someone they trusted or slow grooming over time. You do not need the right words. Tell us what happened, and we will help you understand your options. There is no pressure and no obligation.

How much does it cost to hire you?

Consultations are free and confidential. Talking with us costs nothing and does not commit you to hiring us. If we can help and you decide to work with us, we will explain how fees and case costs work, in plain language, before you sign anything. Ask us any question about cost. You deserve clear answers.

You do not have to have all the answers

Call us. We will start by listening.

Tell us how we can help

Your message is confidential.