Sexual Harassment Litigation

Types of Sexual Abuse Cases We Handle

Sexual abuse can occur in many forms and settings. Our Los Angeles sexual assault lawyers handle a wide range of cases involving adults, minors, and vulnerable individuals. Every case is approached with empathy, respect, and an understanding that each survivor’s story is unique.

Child Sexual Abuse

Children are among the most vulnerable individuals. These cases can involve family members, teachers, coaches, medical professionals, youth organizations, or religious institutions that failed to keep children safe. Our Los Angeles child sexual abuse lawyers are ready to protect the most vulnerable.

Physical Sexual Assault

These cases include any unwanted sexual contact, as defined under state law. Survivors may pursue claims against individuals, employers, or facilities that failed to prevent foreseeable harm or failed to act on warning signs.

Non-Physical Sexual Abuse

Not all abuse involves physical contact. Civil claims may be brought for coercion, threats, grooming, indecent exposure, exploitation, or other misconduct that causes emotional, psychological, or relational harm.

Institutional Negligence

Institutions have a responsibility to protect those in their care. If an institution covered up abuse, ignored complaints, or failed to follow safety protocols, it may be legally liable for your damages.

Online Grooming & Digital Exploitation

As the internet evolves, California law must adapt as well. Emerging forms of online abuse include:

• Online grooming of minors
• Sexting coercion
• Sexual extortion
• Digital harassment or threats
• Distribution of private images without consent

Who Can Be Held Liable in a Sexual Abuse Claim?

In many civil sexual abuse cases, liability extends beyond the individual perpetrator. California law allows survivors to seek compensation not only from the person who caused the harm but also from any third party that failed to protect them.

These at-fault parties can include:

• Individual Perpetrators
  The abuser is typically the primary defendant. Civil lawsuits allow you to hold them financially responsible, even if they were never criminally charged.
• Schools and Universities
  Educational institutions have a legal duty to keep students safe. When schools ignore warning signs, fail to supervise staff, mishandle reports, or allow unsafe conditions, they may be held liable for negligence.
• Religious Institutions
  Churches and other faith-based organizations may face civil liability if they fail to screen clergy, ignore complaints, conceal misconduct, or transfer abusive individuals to new locations where they could harm others.
• Hospitals & Medical Providers
  Healthcare facilities may be responsible if the abuse occurs in a medical setting, especially if the institution failed to supervise staff, review complaints, or enforce proper safety procedures.
• Employers and Workplaces
  Employers can be liable when abuse occurs on the job or when a supervisor or coworker uses their authority to commit misconduct. Negligent hiring or failure to investigate complaints often increases liability.
• Youth Organizations & Care Facilities
  Camps, sports programs, group homes, and residential facilities can be held responsible if a lack of oversight, improper training, or unsafe environments contributed to the abuse.

If you believe an institution failed to protect you, our Los Angeles sexual abuse lawyers can help you identify every party responsible and pursue the full compensation you are entitled to.

How Long Do Sexual Abuse Victims Have to File a Case in California?

California has some of the strongest laws in the nation protecting survivors of sexual abuse. However, deadlines, known as statutes of limitations, still apply. Understanding these timelines protects your rights as a survivor while ensuring you can legally pursue proper compensation.

Time Limits for Adult Survivors:

California Code of Civil Procedure § 340.1 establishes extended timelines for adult survivors of sexual assault. Depending on the circumstances, you may have:

• Up to 10 years from the date of the assault, or
• Up to 3 years from the date you discovered emotional or psychological injuries caused by the abuse.

Time Limits for Childhood Sexual Abuse Survivors:

Survivors of childhood sexual abuse often need years, or decades, to process the harm they endured. California recognizes this and provides extended time to file.

Under current law, childhood sexual abuse claims may be filed:

• Anytime before the survivor’s 40th birthday, or
• Within 5 years of discovering the connection between the abuse and psychological injury.

The “Lookback Window”

California opened a temporary “lookback window” through legislation like AB 1619, allowing survivors whose claims were previously time-barred to file lawsuits. While some windows have closed, new legislative changes continue to evolve.