Have you or a loved one been the victim of image-based sexual harassment? At work? Over the Internet? To your family or to the public at large? We used to call this disturbing thing “REVENGE PORN”   now it is known as IMAGE-BASED SEXUAL ABUSE”

Trial Attorney Jeff Wertz recently handled what may be one of the largest cases currently in the nation involving the non-consensual mass dissemination of intimate photographic images in the federal court in Pittsburgh, PA.   A specialist firm out of Brooklyn, NY was brought in as co-counsel and the expertise and influence on such a powerhouse partner must be acknowledged and given due credit towards the overall success of the case.

The case was SB v. Grisetti and Crown Castle USA Inc.   After this case was filed in 2024 and received some media coverage, Mr. Wertz was invited to speak at the Washington DC headquarter of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services in a symposium on Image-Based Sexual Abuse and other current issues in this ever-evolving field.  The date of this symposium was December 10, 2024.  The interplay between the new federal civil statute and state court civil and criminal remedies was discussed in front of a packed house of victims, advocates, government officials and other interested people.  What a memorable day that was!

[UPDATE NOVEMBER 2025:  In case number 2:24-cv-01393, USDC WDPa, the trial court awarded Judgment in favor of Plaintiff SB and against the main perpetrator in the amount of $2.9 million. ECF#84.  Success in one matter is no guarantee that any other case will have a good result.]

The U.S. Congress enacted the Civil Action Relating to Disclosure of Intimate Images Act in 2022, creating a first-of-its-kind federal civil right: the ability for revenge porn victims to sue in federal court. This law—codified at 15 U.S.C. § 6851 and effective as of October 1, 2022—empowers survivors to seek emergency injunctive relief, monetary damages, and attorney’s fees.

Under the new federal law, a U.S. District Court can:

• Issue emergency injunctive relief to protect victims
• Use contempt powers to enforce compliance
• Allow victims to proceed anonymously when necessary
• Assert jurisdiction over online and cross-state abuse

Please contact us to have a confidential and discreet review of your situation…the laws of this nation are finally catching-up with the technology and victims are now getting their day in court…can I help you?  let’s see if I can.