What Is AB 218 and How Does It Help California Sexual Abuse Survivors? A Complete Legal Guide
If you or someone you love experienced sexual abuse as a child in California, a landmark law may have already changed your legal options — no matter how long ago the abuse occurred. According to RAINN, one in nine girls and one in 53 boys under the age of 18 experience sexual abuse at the hands of an adult, yet most survivors never come forward during childhood. California’s AB 218, signed into law in 2019, recognized this reality and permanently eliminated the statute of limitations for childhood sexual abuse lawsuits. If you were once told your case was too old to pursue, that answer may no longer be true.
Key Takeaways
- AB 218 (codified as CCP §340.1) permanently eliminated the statute of limitations for childhood sexual abuse in California — survivors can file a civil lawsuit at any age, with no deadline.
- Schools, churches, youth sports organizations, and other institutions can be held liable under California law when they negligently hired, retained, or failed to supervise a known abuser.
- Preserving records, communications, therapy notes, and witness information early strengthens your civil case — even if years have passed since the abuse.
- Compass Law Group, LLP has recovered more than $250 million for survivors across California; consultations are free, completely confidential, and survivors are never required to disclose their identity.
What Is AB 218 and Why Did California Pass This Law?
Assembly Bill 218, signed by Governor Gavin Newsom on October 13, 2019, stands as one of the most consequential expansions of survivors’ civil rights in California history. Before AB 218, strict age caps prevented most childhood sexual abuse survivors from filing civil claims — most lost their legal window long before they were psychologically ready to come forward. Trauma researchers and clinicians have documented for decades that the average survivor of childhood sexual abuse waits more than 20 years before disclosing. AB 218 directly acknowledged this reality.
The law amended CCP §340.1 in three critical ways. First, it completely eliminated any age deadline for childhood sexual abuse survivors — meaning a survivor in their 40s, 50s, 70s, or beyond faces no legal bar whatsoever. Second, it created a three-year lookback window from January 1, 2020 through December 31, 2022, during which previously time-barred claims could be revived. Third, the law authorizes treble damages — up to three times the compensatory damages awarded — against defendants who actively concealed abuse, a provision targeting institutions such as schools and religious organizations that covered up misconduct rather than reporting it.
“Survivors of childhood sexual abuse carry their trauma for decades, often well into adulthood,” said Joseph Shirazi, Managing Partner of Compass Law Group, LLP. “AB 218 finally acknowledges what survivors have always known: justice cannot be timed to a child’s inability to speak. Our firm has seen firsthand how this law gives people the opportunity to reclaim their voice — sometimes for the very first time in their lives.”
The law applies to abuse committed by individuals in all settings — private homes, schools, religious organizations, sports programs, medical facilities, and more. It represents a fundamental shift in how California treats survivors’ rights, placing the burden of time squarely where it belongs: not on the survivor, but on the responsible parties.
How Do California Laws AB 218 and AB 2777 Protect Sexual Abuse Survivors?
California now operates under two parallel statutory frameworks that protect survivors’ rights to civil recovery. Understanding which law applies to your specific situation is essential — and where you fall in the timeline determines your current legal options.
AB 218 (CCP §340.1) — Childhood Sexual Abuse: If you were under 18 years old when the abuse occurred, AB 218 applies unconditionally. There is no statute of limitations, no age ceiling, and no historical cutoff date. Whether the abuse took place in the 1970s, 1990s, or 2015, you may file a civil lawsuit in California today. This protection is permanent and applies regardless of whether a prior attorney told you your claim was time-barred before 2020.
AB 2777 (CCP §340.16) — Adult Sexual Assault Revival Window: If you were 18 or older at the time of the abuse, a separate statute provides a temporary window of opportunity. Under CCP §340.16, adult survivors whose claims would otherwise be time-barred have until December 31, 2026 to file a civil lawsuit. After that date, the revival window closes permanently — and with it, the legal option for many adult survivors. If you are an adult survivor, acting now is not optional. It is urgent.
One important procedural requirement exists for claims against government entities such as public school districts, county agencies, or municipal organizations. The Government Claims Act requires survivors to file a formal government tort claim within six months of the date of discovery of abuse — this requirement exists in parallel with AB 218 and AB 2777 and cannot be waived. Missing this six-month notice deadline can permanently bar claims against public institutions even when AB 218 would otherwise apply. For a comprehensive overview of the full timeline landscape, read our guide on the California Statute of Limitations for Sexual Assault — or call Compass Law Group directly to have your specific deadlines reviewed by an attorney.
Who Can Be Held Liable for Sexual Abuse in California?
One of the most powerful — and least understood — aspects of California sexual abuse civil law is that liability extends far beyond the individual perpetrator. Institutions and organizations that created conditions allowing abuse to occur, that failed to act on warning signs, or that actively concealed known predators can be held legally accountable. This is called institutional liability, and it is the area where the largest civil recoveries in sexual abuse cases are achieved.
Under the legal doctrines of respondeat superior (employer responsibility for employee conduct within the scope of employment), negligent hiring, negligent retention, and negligent supervision, employers and institutions may be held liable when they knew or reasonably should have known about an abuser’s dangerous conduct — and failed to act. California courts have applied these doctrines broadly across industries, resulting in multi-million dollar verdicts against school districts, religious organizations, youth sports programs, and healthcare providers. AB 218’s treble damages provision specifically targets institutional cover-ups, creating financial consequences severe enough to deter future concealment.
Parties who may bear civil liability in California sexual abuse cases include:
- Individual abusers — teachers, coaches, clergy members, medical professionals, family members, or any person who directly committed the abuse
- School districts and private schools — when administrators knew or should have known about abuse and failed to investigate, report to authorities, or remove the abuser from contact with students
- Religious organizations and their parent entities — including dioceses and national bodies that transferred known predatory clergy rather than reporting them, enabling continued abuse across multiple communities
- Youth sports organizations and clubs — leagues, associations, and athletic programs that failed to conduct meaningful background checks or ignored complaints from athletes and parents about coaches
- Employers and staffing agencies — when they placed employees in positions of trust and authority over vulnerable individuals without adequate pre-employment screening
- Hospitals, clinics, and medical facilities — when abuse occurred in a clinical context and the institution failed to take action on patient disclosures or complaints
- Foster care agencies and residential treatment facilities — including state-contracted providers who failed to protect children placed in their care by child welfare authorities
An experienced Los Angeles sexual abuse lawyer can investigate the complete scope of institutional knowledge — who knew what, and when — and help identify every party who bears legal responsibility. Holding institutions accountable is essential not only for individual survivor justice, but for systemic change that prevents future abuse.
What Damages Can California Sexual Abuse Survivors Recover?
A civil sexual abuse lawsuit is not a criminal proceeding — it is a legal action for financial accountability and compensatory recovery for the lasting harm that abuse causes in a survivor’s life. California law allows survivors to pursue an extensive range of economic and non-economic damages, and in cases involving institutional cover-ups, substantial punitive damages as well.
Damages recoverable in a California sexual abuse civil lawsuit may include:
- Past and future therapy and psychological counseling costs — including specialized trauma treatment such as EMDR, somatic therapy, cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), and inpatient or residential treatment programs
- Medical expenses — for physical injuries sustained during abuse, sexually transmitted infection treatment, reproductive health care, and any abuse-related physical conditions requiring ongoing care
- Lost wages and diminished earning capacity — for survivors whose careers, professional functioning, or educational trajectory were impaired by PTSD, depression, anxiety disorders, or other documented trauma responses
- Pain and suffering — compensation for the physical and emotional anguish caused by the abuse itself and its ongoing effects on daily life
- Emotional distress damages — including documented depression, anxiety, PTSD, relational difficulties, sexual dysfunction, substance use disorders, and loss of enjoyment of life
- Punitive damages — available under California Civil Code §52.4 and the AB 218 treble damages provision, specifically targeting institutional defendants who concealed or covered up abuse to protect themselves
- Attorney’s fees and costs — recoverable in certain cases involving gender violence and civil rights violations under California’s statutes
California courts and juries have awarded eight-figure verdicts and settlements in sexual abuse cases, particularly where institutions possessed prior knowledge of an abuser’s conduct and chose to suppress it. Compass Law Group has recovered more than $250 million for clients across its California sexual abuse lawyer practice, including cases involving childhood institutional abuse, adult workplace assault, and clergy abuse. A confidential case evaluation with our team will give you a realistic picture of your potential recovery based on the specific facts of your case.
California Sexual Abuse Statistics: Understanding the Scope of the Crisis
The scale of sexual abuse — both nationally and in California — makes clear why legislators acted boldly with AB 218 and AB 2777. These numbers reflect real lives, and they explain the urgent need for laws that give survivors meaningful access to justice.
1 in 4 girls and 1 in 13 boys in the United States experience child sexual abuse, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The vast majority of these survivors do not disclose during childhood — making laws like AB 218 indispensable for any real accountability to occur.
93% of juvenile victims of sexual abuse know their perpetrator, according to RAINN’s analysis of Department of Justice data. This reality directly refutes the myth of the stranger abuser and underscores why institutional settings — schools, religious organizations, sports programs — are among the highest-risk environments for children.
Only 310 out of every 1,000 sexual assaults are reported to police, according to RAINN’s analysis of Bureau of Justice Statistics data. Fear, shame, power imbalances, and the time it takes to process trauma all contribute to chronic underreporting — and all of these dynamics are exactly what AB 218 was designed to overcome in the civil justice system.
More than $660 million was paid in settlements by California institutions — including major school districts and the Archdiocese of Los Angeles — attributable in part to the AB 218 lookback window between 2020 and 2022. This figure illustrates both the scale of institutional wrongdoing and the tangible financial accountability this law has already produced for thousands of survivors.
20+ years is the average time a survivor of childhood sexual abuse waits before disclosing, according to research cited by California legislators in the AB 218 floor debates. This well-documented disclosure delay is the central reason the law’s permanent elimination of the statute of limitations is so meaningful.
How Can Compass Law Group Help AB 218 Survivors Pursue Justice?
Navigating a civil sexual abuse lawsuit requires attorneys who understand both the legal complexity and the profound human dimension of your case. At Compass Law Group, LLP, our team — led by managing partners Joseph Shirazi (California Bar #265403) and Simon Esfandi (California Bar #275307) — has built one of California’s most trusted sexual abuse litigation practices. We represent survivors in civil claims against individuals, school districts, religious institutions, youth organizations, medical facilities, and government agencies throughout the state.
Every client engagement begins with a free, completely confidential consultation. You are never required to share your name publicly, and you will never pay any fee unless we successfully recover compensation for you. Our Beverly Hills sexual abuse attorneys serve as the cornerstone of our practice, supported by regional teams throughout the state — including a dedicated Sacramento sexual abuse lawyer team for Northern California survivors. Our offices in Los Angeles, Long Beach, San Francisco, Sacramento, and Oakland ensure that survivors across California have access to skilled, compassionate representation without barriers of distance.
With over $250 million recovered across our practice areas, Compass Law Group has the resources, the experience, and the commitment to take complex institutional cases to trial when necessary. We understand that filing a lawsuit is one of the most significant decisions a survivor will ever make — and we approach every case with the gravity, sensitivity, and determination that decision deserves. You should not have to face this alone.
Q: Does AB 218 apply if my childhood sexual abuse happened decades ago?
Yes. AB 218 permanently eliminated the statute of limitations for childhood sexual abuse in California under CCP §340.1, with no age limit and no historical cutoff date. Whether your abuse occurred in the 1970s, 1990s, or more recently, you may file a civil lawsuit today regardless of your current age. The law was specifically designed to reach survivors whose trauma prevented childhood disclosure. The sole procedural exception is claims against government entities, which still require a Government Claims Act notice filed within six months of the date of discovery of the abuse.
Q: Can I sue a school or church for sexual abuse under AB 218?
Yes. AB 218 explicitly reaches institutional defendants — schools, religious organizations, youth programs, and other entities whose employees or agents committed abuse. California law holds institutions liable under respondeat superior, negligent hiring, and negligent supervision doctrines when they knew or should have known about an abuser’s conduct and failed to act. AB 218 also authorizes treble (triple) damages against institutional defendants that actively concealed or covered up abuse, making institutional accountability claims especially significant for survivors seeking the fullest possible legal remedy.
Q: What if I was an adult when the abuse occurred — does AB 218 still protect me?
AB 218 (CCP §340.1) covers only abuse that occurred when the survivor was under 18 years old. If you were an adult at the time of the abuse, a separate statute — AB 2777 (CCP §340.16) — may apply. AB 2777 created a revival window for adult survivors of sexual assault whose claims are otherwise time-barred. That window closes permanently on December 31, 2026. After that date, adult survivors who have not yet filed will permanently lose their right to civil recovery under this provision. If you are an adult survivor, please contact Compass Law Group immediately to determine whether you qualify before the deadline passes.
Q: Do I need a criminal conviction to file a civil sexual abuse lawsuit in California?
No. Civil and criminal sexual abuse proceedings are entirely separate legal processes with different standards of proof. A civil lawsuit requires proof by a “preponderance of the evidence” — meaning it is more likely than not that the abuse occurred — which is a significantly lower threshold than the criminal standard of “beyond a reasonable doubt.” You may file and prevail in a civil claim whether or not law enforcement ever investigated, charges were filed, or a criminal conviction was obtained. Many of California’s most significant civil sexual abuse recoveries have been achieved without any parallel criminal case.
Q: Will my identity be protected if I file a sexual abuse lawsuit in California?
California law provides meaningful privacy protections for sexual abuse survivors in civil litigation. Courts routinely permit survivors to file using a pseudonym such as “Jane Doe” or “John Doe,” and protective orders can shield identifying information from becoming part of the public court record. At Compass Law Group, confidentiality begins at the very first phone call — survivors are never required to disclose their real name or identity to begin exploring their legal options. Our attorneys will explain all available privacy protections specific to your case during your free, no-obligation consultation.
References
- California Code of Civil Procedure §340.1 (AB 218) — Sexual Abuse Statute of Limitations
- RAINN — Sexual Violence Statistics
- California Code of Civil Procedure §340.16 (AB 2777) — Adult Survivor Sexual Assault Revival Window
Source: Compass Law Group | AB 218 Sexual Abuse Law
Steps to Take After a Sexual Abuse Disclosure
- Prioritize safety and immediate medical care. If you or a survivor you know is in immediate danger, contact 911. Seeking prompt medical attention — including a sexual assault forensic exam (SAFE exam) — can preserve critical physical evidence. SAFE exams are available at California hospitals at no cost to the survivor through the California Victim Compensation Program.
- Document every detail you remember. Write down all specifics of the abuse — approximate dates, locations, the abuser’s full name, any witnesses present, and any disclosures already made to others. Memory is most complete in the days immediately following a disclosure; a written record protects that information. Store notes on a private, secure device.
- Preserve all communications and physical evidence. Save all text messages, emails, letters, social media exchanges, or other communications from the abuser or from any institution involved. Screenshot or photograph records before they can be deleted. Do not allow anyone to destroy or “clean up” potential evidence on your behalf.
- Consider reporting to authorities when ready. Survivors have the right — but are never required — to report abuse to law enforcement, a professional licensing board, or child protective services. A civil lawsuit proceeds entirely independently of the criminal justice system. Our attorneys can help you understand both paths simultaneously and support whatever choice feels right for you.
- Contact a qualified California sexual abuse attorney as soon as possible. Even though AB 218 eliminates deadlines for childhood abuse claims, physical evidence disappears over time, witnesses relocate, and institutional records are routinely destroyed in ordinary records retention cycles. Consulting a sexual abuse lawyer in California early protects the integrity of your case. For claims against government entities, the six-month Government Claims Act notice is a hard deadline — any delay creates significant risk of losing the right to sue a public institution entirely.
