New Jersey Intimate Image Victory: Veridian Legal Wins Landmark Case
Imagine your most private moments exposed online by someone you trusted. At Veridian Legal, we turned that nightmare into justice for a New Jersey survivor of intimate image abuse and nonconsensual pornography. On March 18, 2025, the Superior Court of New Jersey, Appellate Division, reversed a lower court’s ruling, ensuring our client receives attorney’s fees and costs under New Jersey privacy law. This landmark intimate image victory strengthens protections for victims of revenge porn and intimate image abuse across the state.
A Devastating Privacy Violation
Our client, a young woman betrayed by a former authority figure, suffered a profound breach of trust when intimate images she had shared privately were posted online without consent. In 2018, she discovered 14 personal photographs—including identifiable details—on a website notorious for distributing nonconsensual images. This act of intimate image abuse triggered severe emotional distress, including anxiety, panic attacks, and PTSD, requiring ongoing mental health treatment. Despite this trauma, she channeled her experience into advocacy, supporting other survivors of sexual abuse and privacy violations.
Veridian Legal’s Fight for Justice
In April 2023, Veridian Legal, a law firm committed to victims’ rights, filed a lawsuit under New Jersey’s invasion of privacy statute (N.J.S.A. 2A:58D-1), alleging violations of privacy and emotional distress due to intimate image abuse. After a rigorous six-day trial, a jury held the perpetrator accountable, awarding our client $10,000 in compensatory damages. However, the trial court initially denied her request for attorney’s fees and costs despite the statute’s provision for fee recovery in intimate image cases. Refusing to let this injustice stand, Veridian Legal appealed, determined to secure full justice for our client.
A Groundbreaking Appellate Ruling
On March 18, 2025, the Appellate Division overturned the lower court’s decision, remanding the case for a proper award of attorney’s fees and costs. The court ruled that a jury’s damages amount does not determine fee eligibility, emphasizing that New Jersey privacy law (N.J.S.A. 2A:58D-1) exists to ensure victims of intimate image abuse and nonconsensual pornography can seek justice without financial barriers. This precedent-setting intimate image victory reinforces the rights of survivors and the importance of fee-shifting provisions in revenge porn cases. For more details on the ruling, see the New Jersey Law Journal coverage.
Why This Matters for Victims of Intimate Image Abuse
This ruling is a game-changer for victims of intimate image abuse and revenge porn in New Jersey:
Access to Justice: Fee-shifting under New Jersey privacy law ensures survivors aren’t deterred by legal costs when pursuing claims for intimate image abuse.
Recognizing Full Harm: Intimate image violations and nonconsensual pornography cause lasting emotional damage—courts must honor the complete impact on victims’ lives.
Deterrence and Empowerment: Holding perpetrators accountable prevents future intimate image abuse and supports survivors’ recovery.
As I stated, “There’s a critical public interest in pursuing intimate image-based abuse. Survivors shouldn’t bear the cost of correcting someone else’s wrong. This decision reframes justice and recovery for victims under New Jersey law.”
Veridian Legal: Advocates for Victims’ Rights in New Jersey
At Veridian Legal, we represent victims of intimate image abuse, revenge porn, and other privacy violations. This intimate image victory showcases our relentless commitment to securing justice for survivors across New Jersey. Whether you’re facing a nonconsensual pornography case or another privacy violation, our victims’ rights attorneys are here to help. Contact us today for a confidential consultation.
