Child sexual abuse is a horrible crime that causes victims to suffer profound and long-lasting damage. Children suffer deeply when adults take advantage of them through inappropriate touching or other acts of sexual gratification.
Children are physically and emotionally vulnerable. When an adult takes advantage of that vulnerability and engages in a sexual act or inappropriate conduct with the child, the damage to the child is profound and long-lasting. And it is worse when it is done by an individual that we teach children to trust the most, such as a teacher, clergy member, Scout leader, or coach. The California sexual abuse attorneys at The Senators Firmare committed to advocating on behalf of children and parents for safe schools, churches, and other child-oriented organizations. When children are abused, and when the employers, supervisors, and others who are responsible for preventing abuse fail to do so, justice demands that the victims and survivors be compensated to the fullest extent possible.
The Los Angeles sexual abuse lawyers at The Senators Firm are experienced in obtaining compensation from individuals, organizations, schools, and other governmental agencies whose actions and inactions led to the abuse of children under their care. The Firm’s ongoing litigation and investigations include cases against the Los Angeles Unified School District, the Long Beach Unified School District, the Catholic Church, and the Boy Scouts, among others.
If you or your loved one is a survivor of child sexual abuse in Los Angeles, the attorneys at The Senators Firm can help you seek justice against the parties responsible for your abuse. We have decades of experience litigating child sex abuse cases against both the perpetrators and the individuals and institutions that fail to protect vulnerable children from perpetrators, including schools and religious institutions. We are highly experienced, highly successful, and very reputable child sexual abuse attorneys in California. Contact us to begin your case with a free, confidential, and private consultation.
Why We Are Right for You
- Our lawyers have been helping child sex abuse victims for decades. We have collected over half a billion dollars ($500,000,000) for our clients.
- We have the experience and expertise necessary to represent you in your child sexual abuse cases in Los Angeles regardless of how complicated it may be. Our attorneys are prepared to take your case to trial, if necessary.
- We care about our clients and always put them first. We will make sure that you have everything you need during this difficult time.
- We keep your identity anonymous throughout your case.
Common Types of Child Sexual Abuse in Los Angeles, California
At The Senators Firm, we have the experience and expertise necessary to represent clients in different types of child sexual abuse cases in Los Angeles. We can help if you or your child is a victim of any of the following crimes:
- Touching a child’s private parts
- Oral sex
- Digital or foreign object penetration
- Intercourse of any kind
- Exposure of sex organs
- Fondling or groping
- Sexting
- Sodomy
- Statutory rape
- Forcible sex acts of any kind
- Child pornography
- Child sex trafficking
- Exhibitionism or public masturbation
Our attorneys represent victims of child sexual abuse regardless of where the child sex abuse happened, including at schools, camps, daycare centers, churches, sports programs, foster care facilities, juvenile detention centers, and health care facilities.
What Are the Rights of Child Sexual Abuse Victims in Los Angeles?
Victims of child sex abuse can seek justice through the criminal court system and through the civil court system. In the criminal court system, a successful prosecution can result in the perpetrator being sentenced to jail and to a lifetime registration as a Sex Offender. In the civil court system, a victim can sue the perpetrator and other responsible parties (e.g., school, church, sports team) for financial compensation for the damages that the victim has suffered.
A successful child sexual abuse lawsuit can provide the victim financial compensation for:
- Medical treatment and medications
- Mental health services
- Emotional distress and mental anguish
- Physical pain and suffering
- Lost wages and diminished earning capacity
- Punitive damages
To pursue a lawsuit in Los Angeles, it is critically important to be represented by an experienced child sex abuse attorney. This will significantly increase the likelihood and degree of a successful outcome. It will also allow you to focus on healing from your trauma while your lawyer focuses on the legal takes of investigation, collecting evidence, retaining experts, negotiating a settlement, and, if necessary, trial.
Defining Child Molestation
Child molestation, as defined by the law, occurs when any type of contact or interaction occurs between a child and an adult in which the child is being used, in any way, for the sexual stimulation of the perpetrator. It does not always include physical contact. Some examples include:
- Fondling
- Exposure to a minor
- Masturbation in front of a minor
- Inappropriate calls or texts
- Sexual intercourse
- Forcing a minor to masturbate
- Sex trafficking
- Pornographic content of children
What to Do If Your Child Is a Victim of Sexual Abuse
Do not remain silent, but instead take legal action. The first step is to report the evidence to the police. To ensure it is taken seriously, let our legal team be by your side as you do this. We also recommend getting the child into treatment, including a physical examination to ensure the child has not been exposed to illness. Then, work to get your child the mental health support they need immediately.
Who Is Liable for Child Molestation?
When child molestation occurs, it can be common to believe that just the abuser is responsible for what occurred. That is not always the only person liable, though. There are many situations in which the child’s suffering is brought on by others, including the people who failed to keep your child safe when there was the expectation that they would be kept safe. That may include, for example, a school district that did not take proper steps, or it may include the child’s employer.
Liability can often fall on the shoulders of the organizations, employers, and other parties that did not provide a safe environment for your child or those who knew or should have known about the risks. Some examples include:
- Employers
- School districts
- Churches or synagogues
- Athletic coaches
- Public school teachers
- College and university leadership
- Youth leaders
- Hospitals or medical providers
When you meet with our legal team, we will provide you with insight into who is responsible after providing a full investigation into what occurred.
What Is the California Child Victims Act?
In 2020, the California Child Victims Act went into place. It was designed to provide protection for children who were abused. It gives survivors the opportunity to come forward and get some type of legal support even after the traditional statute of limitations expires. With this law, it is not possible for a person to file a claim until the age of 40 for civil lawsuits against the abuser. Before this law was passed, this limit was 26.
This means that victims who suffer childhood sexual assault can file a civil lawsuit against the party responsible for them later. They must initiate the claim within five years of discovering some type of causal link between the psychological illness they have now and the childhood assault. This may happen, for example, during counseling.
If you believe you were the victim of sexual assault as a child, take action now. Reach out to our law firm now to learn how we can help you to hold those responsible accountable.
What Is the Statute of Limitations on Child Sexual Abuse in California?
A claim for child sexual abuse in Los Angeles must be made before the victim’s 40th birthday or five years from the date that he or she discovers a connection between the abuse and a mental injury or illness.
Contact an Experienced Child Sexual Abuse Attorney Today For Personal Attention and Proven Representation | Free Confidential Case Reviews
Every child sexual abuse case is unique and highly personal. This is why our child sexual abuse lawyers in Los Angeles never prescribe a one-size-fits-all solution to cases and always make it a priority to provide clients and their loved ones with the personal attention they deserve. Our successful case history and numerous awards and peer recognitions speak volumes about our legal abilities; however, our genuine desire to help sexual abuse victims through these difficult legal proceedings is something you have to see for yourself. Contact the Senators Firm today to schedule a free and completely confidential case evaluation to meet with a California child sexual abuse lawyer from our firm.
Find out how we can help you with a child sexual abuse case during a free and 100% confidential consultation. Contact us online or call (949) 557-5810 today.