Sexually Transmitted Diseases (STDs), New York Personal Injury Lawyers, NY Attorneys, Herpes, Human Papillomavirus (HPV), HIV/AIDS

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SEXUALLY TRANSMITTED DISEASES (“STD”)

Finding out that you have a sexually transmitted disease can be a devastating experience. While some STDs—such as Syphilis, Gonorrhea, and Chlamydia—are bacterial and, thus, relatively easily treated with antibiotics, other STDs—such as Herpes, Human Papillomavirus (HPV), and HIV/AIDS are much more difficult to treat and can have serious adverse physiological and psychological effects. In cases of incurable STDs, such as herpes and HIV/AIDS, a person who has been unknowingly infected by a partner may have the legal right to seek compensation for their suffering.

STDs and the Law

In some cases, it may be possible for a person infected with an STD to seek legal remedy for their damages and suffering.

Criminal STD transmission

In many states, failure to disclose to a sexual partner that you have a sexually transmitted disease such as herpes or HIV/AIDS is grounds for criminal prosecution or a civil lawsuit. In approximately 27 states, it is a felony crime for a person with HIV/AIDS to willfully expose another person to this disease via sexual activity. In some states, the law is so broad as to consider it unlawful for a person to “conduct themselves in a manner likely to transmit the disease.” When a criminal STD case is successfully prosecuted, the guilty party may face up to eight years in prison for their crime.

It is important to note that only under specific circumstances might it be considered a criminal offense to infect another person with a serious STD such as HIV/AIDS. “Willful exposure” laws typically apply only to persons who have intentionally affected others through unprotected vaginal or anal sexual activity. The accused person must know they have HIV/AIDS, must have failed to tell their partner of their disease status, and must have had the specific intent of infecting the other party.

Civil STD lawsuits

In some cases, a person infected with a serious sexually transmitted disease may have the legal right to seek monetary damages. In these cases, the injured person may file an STD lawsuit on the grounds of battery, fraud, negligence, and/or the infliction of psychological and emotional distress.

Pursuing a lawsuit over a sexually transmitted disease is a serious decision that requires careful consideration of both legal and non-legal factors. In most cases, curable STDs—such as Syphilis, Gonorrhea, Chlamydia, urethritis, and some cases of genital warts—do not provide sufficient grounds for legal action because the “damages” are not considered “economically viable.”

However, several cases have been successfully won by those infected with a serious STD.

For example, in 2005, an Atlanta Falcons quarterback was sued by a 26-year-old Georgia woman who claimed the football player had infected her with herpes in 2003. In this herpes lawsuit, the woman sought damages for unwanted physical contact, pain, suffering, and potential future medical complications. She allegedly filed this STD lawsuit after the football player refused to help her deal with the symptoms caused by this disease. At first, the player denied knowing that he had herpes but later apologized to the woman. This suit was settled in the woman’s favor for unspecified monetary damages.

In another STD case, a Missouri appeals court ruled that an unmarried person may recover monetary damages for the negligent transmission of herpes. In the 1990s, a New York court ruled that wrongful transmission of an STD was legitimate grounds for a lawsuit in which compensation is sought from those responsible.

Legal considerations in an STD lawsuit

While the non-legal considerations in an STD case vary by individual, there are certain legal factors a person must bear in mind when considering an STD lawsuit. While this explanation is in not intended to be a substitute for legal advice, these are a few factors typically involved in an STD case:

Burden of Proof: To be successful in an STD lawsuit, the plaintiff (that is, the person unknowingly infected with a serious STD) must prove that the defendant (that is, the alleged “infector”) knew or should have known that they were infected with an STD. They must also prove that the plaintiff was unaware of the defendant’s STD at the time of the sexual encounter. Third, the plaintiff must show that they were infected by the defendant and no one else. A qualified attorney can examine your case to determine if your best options.
Type of STD: A person who has been infected with a curable STD may not have viable grounds for a legal claim. However, because diseases like Herpes and HIV are incurable and cause significant damages, people negligently or willfully infected with one of these diseases may have the right to seek legal compensation. To learn more about STD cases, it is important to speak with a qualified attorney who can determine your rights and options.
Legal damages. In a civil case, an injured person may seek monetary compensation for all past and future losses associated with the injury. In cases of serious STDs, the victim may seek compensation for life-long medical treatment, all medication costs associated with treatment and care, expenses related to high risk pregnancy management (expecting mothers with herpes must typically have a cesarean section in order to avoid passing the disease to her child), pain and suffering, emotional damages, and possibly even punitive damages.
Statute of Limitations. In all civil suits, legal action must be taken within a specific period of time. In general, this time period begins when the person learns of their injury (the time of “discovery”-- in this case, when the person learns they have acquired an STD. In an STD case, however, the statute of limitations may begin at different times. For instance, it is up to the court to decide whether the statute begins at the time the STD was transmitted, the time the person first developed symptoms of the STD, or the time the person is diagnosed with the disease. In order to learn more about the statute of limitations, it is important to speak with a qualified attorney as soon as possible. If you wait too long, you may forfeit your legal rights to seek compensation for your losses and suffering.
Settlement or Trial: Obtaining Compensation: There are generally two ways a person can be awarded damages in an STD case: through a settlement whereby the defendant agrees to pay damages or through a lawsuit whereby the court orders the defendant to pay damages. A large majority of personal injury cases (under which STD lawsuits fall), are settled out of court. To learn more about settlements and trials, it is important to speak with a qualified attorney about your specific case.

If you believe you have wrongfully acquired a sexually transmitted disease, you may wish to speak with an experienced attorney to learn more about your legal rights and options. You may not have to suffer in vain: though an STD lawsuit you may be able to seek compensation for your losses and suffering. Our qualified STD attorneys are available to evaluate your case. We highly value the privacy and interests of our clients and promise to treat you with the utmost care, attention, and respect. Please contact us to learn more about STDs and your legal rights.

Some Facts about Herpes and HIV/AIDs

Herpes
There are two kinds of herpes (herpes simplex virus)—HSV-1, which causes sores on the lips, eyes, face and mouth; and HSV-2, which causes genital sores—though this distinction is not always absolute (i.e. HSV-1 may cause genital herpes in some cases). Herpes can also affect other parts of the body including the fingers, corneas, and internal organs.

Herpes is a viral infection that causes recurring outbreaks characterized by small, fluid-filled, and painful blisters on the affected skin or mucous membranes. Herpes goes through periods of latency, during which no sores may be present though the virus remains dormant in nerve cells. The virus can reactivate causing an eruption of painful sores. While the trigger is often unknown, herpes outbreaks can be brought on by menstruation, stress, immune system suppression, fever, and physical trauma.

TRANSMISSION. Herpes is transmitted during skin-to-skin contact via either (1) direct contact with sores during vaginal, oral, or anal sex with a person who has an active infection, or; (2) contact with oral, genital, or anal areas of chronically infected people during latent periods (when no sores may be visible).

SYMPTOMS. Symptoms of herpes usually develop 2 to 12 days after exposure, although many people don’t have symptoms or aren’t aware of them until much later. Depending on the affected areas, a person may begin to develop tingling, itching, burning, discomfort and aching. Sores begin to develop 2 to 3 days later. During this period, a person may also experience malaise, fever, body aches, headaches, and general feelings of sickness. These initial outbreaks can last approximately 1 to 2 weeks. Reoccurring outbreaks often last approximately one week.

DIAGNOSIS AND TREATMENT. It is fairly easy for a doctor to diagnose herpes during a physical examination. There is no cure for herpes though treatments are available to manage outbreaks. Once a person contracts herpes, it remains with them and they can pass the disease to other partners. Though less frequent, herpes can also be transmitted from a mother to her baby during vaginal birth.

HIV/AIDS
Like herpes, there are two types of viruses that can cause HIV, or the Human Immunodeficiency Virus: HIV-1 and HIV-2. AIDS, or Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome, is the most severe form of HIV.

TRANSMISSION. Transmission of HIV occurs when one person comes into contact with another person’s bodily fluid, which contains the virus or infected cells. Transmission primarily occurs via blood, vaginal secretions, semen and breast milk. It is extremely rare for HIV to be transmitted through urine, tears, or saliva. The three primary means of transmission are:

Injection or infusion of contaminated blood. This can occur during blood transfusions, needle sharing, or an accidental prick with a contaminated needle. (In this latter circumstance, a person has a 1 in 300 chance of contracting HIV.)
Sexual contact with an infected person. During this method of transmission, the mucous membranes lining the penis, vagina, rectum, and mouth are exposed to HIV-contaminated bodily fluids (described above).
Transfer of the virus from a mother to a child before, during, or after birth.

The following factors increase the risk of HIV transmission:

Contact between HIV-contaminated bodily fluids and torn or damaged mucous membranes (which can occur during vigorous sexual activity)
One partner also has another STD, such as herpes, gonorrhea, syphilis, or genital warts.

Transmission of HIV CANNOT occur via:

Casual and/or nonsexual contact at home, work, school, or other public place.
Coughing or sneezing
Mosquito bites
An infected doctor or dentist (extremely rare)

Exposure to HIV doesn’t always lead to infection.

SYMPTOMS. Most people experience no symptoms upon infection. However, within a few weeks of transmission, a person may experience fever, swollen lymph nodes, rash, and/or fatigue for a few weeks. Even with no symptoms, a person can begin to spread the virus soon after they are infected.

SEXUALLY TRANSMITTED DISEASES (“STD”)

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