Revenge Porn & Image Based Abuse Lawyer

Choose Murphy Law Firm for Your Image-Based Abuse Case

The term “revenge porn” is the term commonly used for those who share your intimate photographs or video without your permission. Another term is “image-based abuse,” because it highlights the fact that the perpetrator did not obtain your consent before sharing the images or intended to hurt you. There is nothing wrong with making a “spicy” video with consenting adults. It is very wrong to share those private moments without the permission of everyone involved.

There is no justification for sharing any such content involving minors.

At Murphy Law Firm, we support you throughout uncomfortable conversations and details about your case. Many who experience this treatment are afraid to come forward, for fear of further embarrassment or harassment. We help you maintain your anonymity, your sense of dignity, composure, and self-esteem while holding the liable party publicly accountable. 

If there is a criminal case as well, we collaborate with state and federal authorities to use appropriate evidence and materials from the perpetrator’s criminal case as it befits your civil lawsuit. Fines they owe to the state do nothing to help you overcome your emotional and other losses. We fight to put the blame squarely on their shoulders and make them pay. We present a full account of your damages and seek to recover every penny.

Image-Based Abuse (Revenge Porn) Is a Growing Problem

Although recent efforts to remove larger revenge porn websites have been successful, more spring up every year, putting victims at continual risk of harm. A report published by the American Psychological Association (APA) shows a 400% increase in revenge porn incidents over a four-year period. Cell phones have made it easier to instantly share photos and videos, with less control over what happens to them once they are sent.

Additionally, artificial intelligence (AI) apps allow someone to take your photo and create an entire video that falsely shows you engaging in sexual activities. When a person does this to you with the intent of harming you after a breakup or negative interaction, it is known as revenge porn.

Both Federal and Colorado Laws Specifically Criminalize Revenge Porn, And Give You Important Rights

Colorado began implementing laws addressing this behavior back in 2014, with recent updates closing loopholes that allowed some defendants to escape justice. Primarily, the original law only described photos of nudity, whereas the 2018 update includes photos where the person is dressed but engaged in a sexual act. It also removes the burden for the plaintiff to demonstrate the defendant’s intent to cause emotional distress.

The current law grants you full right of ownership to all photos or depictions of your genitalia and body and makes it a Class 1 misdemeanor for anyone 18 or older to distribute the material without your permission. You also have the right to receive a minimum of $10,000 in damages during a civil trial.

In 2025, the Colorado legislature passed the Preventing Unauthorized Disclosure of Intimate Digital Depictions Act, allowing targeted individuals to sue others for the release or threat to release realistic but fake images and videos. If you can successfully demonstrate the criteria, you can demand up to $150,000 in financial losses. You can also seek to recover any money the defendant made from posting your images.

Federal law provides similar remedies for images shared across state lines. 15 U.S.C. Sec. 6851 Civil action relating to disclosure of intimate images.

You Can Strengthen Your Revenge Porn Case When You Take These Steps

To avoid falling prey to someone who abuses their access to your images, you do not have to refrain from taking and sharing them. The wrongdoing occurs when another person shares them without your permission, not when you send the pictures to them. Once you discover someone has targeted you in this way, follow these steps to protect your case against them:

• Preserve all evidence: When you locate your unauthorized images, take screenshots of digital versions and take photos of physical copies. Enable timestamps on your photos and capture the details of the websites or servers where you found the images.  
• Report the images to the platform: Find a Help or Contact Us link on the website or server where you found your photos. Use that to notify the operators of the unauthorized use and take screenshots of your messages to them. 
• File a police report: Contact police by phone or online to file a report detailing what happened.
• Meet with a revenge porn lawyer: Schedule a free case review with an attorney at Murphy Law Firm to discuss your situation and decide on your next steps.
• File a protection order: If you believe the perpetrator means you physical or other harm, your attorney can help you petition the court for a protection order. This document can force them to remove the images and prevent them from contacting you. 
• Keep all records pertaining to your case: If you require therapy or other treatment to process what is happening, hold on to those receipts. If you engage in self-harm, see your doctor or ER for immediate medical care and keep copies of your bills.

You can trust our attorneys to provide caring and knowledgeable advice on your legal avenues. For additional help with the psychological effects of nonconsensual photography distribution, you can get in touch with the Cyber Civil Rights Initiative Safety Center.

Methods and Laws We Use to Reduce Further Harm to You

Fortunately, you do not have to rely on just the Colorado law that criminalizes revenge porn. The TAKE IT DOWN Act, passed in May 2025, makes it a federal crime to knowingly publish or threaten to publish unauthorized images, including digitally manipulated ones such as AI-generated photos or deepfake videos. Violators can face up to 3 years in prison with heavy fines.

In addition to seeking relief under Colorado and federal statutes, we can perform the following actions, as appropriate in your case:

• Notify the platform or server owners to cease and desist publishing and delete all unauthorized content using your likeness.
• Send deindex requests to relevant search engines to remove the files from their servers and result pages. 
• File take-down requests under the Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA).
• Send letters requesting that social media sites, such as Instagram, X, or other sites, remove the images.

While these methods are usually effective, we are also prepared to pursue more stringent approaches if these distributors refuse to cooperate. This includes filing criminal charges and civil lawsuits against those who fail to follow the law and cause you harm. You may be able to sue not only the person who posted the images, but also those companies and individuals who continued to distribute them. 

Governments enacting laws is only one part of the solution to stopping the effects of image-based abuse. Another necessary step is reporting the person’s actions and then taking appropriate legal action to recover financial relief for the damage they did to you. When you work with Murphy Law Firm, we are dedicated to helping you get results.

When Revenge Porn Is Part of Domestic Violence or Child Abuse

In many instances, a partner engages in revenge porn as a form of domestic abuse and violence. Under Colorado law, these actions may generate additional charges when they are in the context of an existing intimate relationship. Demonstrating this connection can enhance your claim of intentional harm and financial damages.

Unfortunately, some abusers will use images of minor children to cause harm to the parent. When a revenge porn case strays into child sexual abuse, Colorado allows prosecutors to seek additional penalties. If you are the parent or guardian of the child, you can pursue damages on behalf of the child as well as your own losses.

Potential Compensation You Can Recover in Your Civil Lawsuit

As a personal injury plaintiff, you also have the right to file a lawsuit to recover additional damages, supported by relevant evidence. Your revenge porn attorney will assist you in calculating what your case is worth. For a successful claim, you must clearly show that the images are identifiable as you, that you did not give permission for their distribution, and that you suffered emotional distress.

While every case will differ, you may be entitled to receive substantial compensation for the following:

• Emotional distress
• Lost income
• Relocation costs if you lose housing
• Depression, anxiety, and
• PTSD
• Loss of personal reputation
• Loss of professional reputation
• Medical and therapy costs
• Travel expenses for treatment

You may also be able to request punitive damages in cases where the action was willfully harmful, fraudulent, or wantonly disregarded the health of others. For example, if a website or server owner knew their actions were against the law, yet they continued to display the images, you could seek punitive damages. Be aware that the burden of proof is much higher, and courts rarely make this judgment.

Our Lawyers Work Diligently to Bring Image Abusers to Justice

By investigating your case fully and identifying all avenues for compensation, we make every effort to recover your peace of mind when someone has illegally posted your image. We determine who is to blame and coordinate with the courts to punish them to the fullest extent of the law. While the Attorney General’s Office manages the criminal trial, we manage all aspects of your civil lawsuit.

This type of abuse extends beyond breakups of romantic relationships. Friends or acquaintances may decide to hurt you by posting revenge porn. Strangers may snap your photo in public, digitally alter it, and then use it as content on their social media for monetary gain or followers. These crimes become more complex with every technological advancement, but we stay up to date and ready to fight for you.

One silver lining to filing a lawsuit against the perpetrator is that Colorado law allows you to seek $10,000 minimum in damages for each offense. If the person posted multiple images or videos on multiple platforms, you can potentially receive payment for every instance. We will not settle for less than you deserve when negotiating with the defendant’s attorney or litigating your case in court.

Turn to Murphy Law Firm for a Skilled Revenge Porn Attorney

Located in Westminster, CO, near Denver, there is no case that is too big or too small for Murphy Law Firm. We are ready to take on individuals who have hurt you and will not back down against large tech companies that refuse to cooperate in taking down your unauthorized images. We understand the emotional distress you can suffer and will work hard to recover compensation that allows you to rebuild your life.

We offer a contingency fee payment plan, meaning you do not pay us until we achieve a satisfactory settlement. As personal injury lawyers, we have superior negotiation skills, allowing us to push back against insurance companies and defense lawyers who try to limit what their client has to pay. Our client testimonials speak to our results and our commitment to your case.

Contact us now to schedule a free consultation so we can answer your questions and listen to your concerns.

What Damages Can You Seek in a Personal Injury Case?

Our attorneys can help you understand the potential value of your personal injury case based on factors such as the type of accident, the severity of your injuries, the value of any medical expenses paid, and your projected recovery timeline. Personal injury cases often give rise to both economic and non-economic damages.