Shattered Trust: The Shari Karney Story

Shari Karney, a successful attorney, is assigned to a difficult incest case involving a three-year-old girl named Christie. Initially, she refuses the case, citing her lack of experience with sexual abuse cases. Her initial reluctance reflects her uncertainty about handling such sensitive and complex allegations.

Over time, Shari is convinced by the child's mother, Darlene Holland, to take on the case. As the trial progresses, she becomes heavily invested, causing her to experience sleep difficulties and flashbacks related to her own past abuse. Her emotional involvement begins to affect her personal life and mental health.

During a court session, Shari unexpectedly attacks David Holland, the accused, in a moment of frustration and anger. This outburst results in her being jailed for two days, raising concerns about her capacity to continue representing the case effectively.

The judge places Shari on probation and mandates her to seek psychological counseling to address her emotional struggles. She begins therapy with psychiatrist Joan Delvecchio, where she admits to hearing typing sounds and reveals her history of physical abuse by her mother and neglect by her father.

Through her therapy sessions, Shari uncovers suppressed memories of her childhood abuse by her father. She realizes that her nightmares and panic attacks are connected to her past trauma, which she had buried deep beneath her conscious memory.

Shari writes a heartfelt letter to her mother, expressing her hatred for her and disclosing her own history as an incest survivor. This act of honesty marks a turning point in her psychological healing process, as she begins to confront her past openly.

Shari finally confronts her parents with the truth of her abuse. Her parents react with outrage and refuse to accept her accusations, causing a rift in their family. Her sister Linda is also unwilling to believe her, further isolating Shari emotionally.

Motivated by her experiences, Shari decides to advocate for changing incest laws. She attempts to challenge the statute of limitations, aiming to give victims the legal ability to sue their parents at any time, despite the long and exhausting legal battle involved.

Shari shares her own story publicly to garner support for legal reform. Her activism leads to estrangement from her sister and disownment by her parents. She faces significant personal and professional sacrifices, including her clients withdrawing and her being fired from her law firm.

Despite the hardships, Shari's relentless efforts contribute to the successful amendment of the law, allowing incest victims to file lawsuits without a statute of limitations. Her activism helps bring justice and awareness to a long-neglected issue, culminating her journey of healing and advocacy.