Compass Law Group represents survivors throughout Northern California, including those assaulted at UC Berkeley, UC Davis, San Francisco State, and CSU East Bay. If you are in San Francisco or Oakland, our Northern California attorneys can consult with you confidentially. Our Sacramento sexual abuse lawyers serve survivors at UC Davis, Sacramento State, and institutions throughout the Central Valley.
By the Numbers: Campus Sexual Assault in California
The statistical scale of campus sexual violence makes clear why California’s legal protections for survivors are so consequential — and why civil litigation is often the only path to real accountability.
Source: Compass Law Group | Were You Sexually Assaulted at a California College or University? Your Legal Rights Explained
1 in 5 women and 1 in 16 men are sexually assaulted while in college, according to RAINN — making the college years one of the highest-risk periods for sexual victimization across a person’s entire lifetime.
Fewer than 20% of college student survivors report their assault to law enforcement, according to national sexual violence data. The vast majority of campus assaults are never formally reported to police, which makes the civil justice system the primary mechanism through which most survivors can pursue any form of institutional accountability.
$1.1 billion — the combined settlement value connected to the University of Southern California’s Dr. George Tyndall abuse scandal, one of the largest campus sexual abuse settlements in California history, illustrating the financial accountability that institutions face when they enable or conceal systemic abuse over time.
December 31, 2026 is the permanent closing date for the AB 2777 revival window under CCP §340.16, which allows adult survivors to file civil claims for sexual assault that would otherwise be outside the standard limitations period. After this date, the legislative window is gone — it will not be reopened.
63% of perpetrators of sexual assault are never incarcerated, according to RAINN. This reality explains precisely why the civil justice system exists as a parallel and independent form of accountability — one that does not require a criminal conviction, is not controlled by prosecutors, and focuses entirely on compensating the survivor rather than managing a criminal docket.
How Does Compass Law Group Help Campus Sexual Assault Survivors in California?
Compass Law Group, LLP is a California sexual abuse litigation firm representing survivors throughout the state. Attorneys Joseph Shirazi (Bar #265403) and Simon Esfandi (Bar #275307) have built a practice around holding individuals and institutions accountable for sexual abuse and serious injury, recovering over $250 million for clients across California — including campus sexual assault survivors, workplace sexual abuse victims, and survivors of institutional abuse involving clergy, California YMCA programs, California youth sports leagues, California Boy Scout councils, CYO organizations, 4-H programs, and others in positions of institutional trust.
We understand that reaching out about a sexual assault is one of the most difficult decisions a survivor can make. Every consultation with Compass Law Group is completely free, fully confidential, and conducted with the compassion every survivor deserves. You do not need to give your name when you first contact us — anonymity is your right, and we will protect it. We work on a contingency fee basis exclusively: no win, no fee. If we do not recover compensation for you, you owe nothing.
Campus sexual assault cases frequently involve powerful institutional defendants — UC and CSU campuses backed by state resources, well-funded private universities, and affiliated entities like Greek life organizations and athletic department foundations — each represented by experienced institutional defense counsel. Our attorneys understand California’s Government Claims Act requirements for public university defendants, the strategic interplay between Title IX findings and civil litigation, and the respondeat superior and negligent supervision theories that anchor institutional liability claims. We serve survivors from our offices in Beverly Hills, Los Angeles, Long Beach, Sacramento, San Francisco, Oakland, and Bell Gardens.
Whether your assault occurred at UCLA, USC, UC San Diego, Cal Poly, a community college, or a private institution anywhere in California, our team will evaluate your case honestly, explain every legal option available to you, and fight for every dollar of compensation you are entitled to recover. Explore our full range of practice areas or call (213) 320-1001 today for a free, confidential consultation.
Q: Can I sue my university for sexual assault in California if I never reported it to the school?
Yes. You are not required to have filed a Title IX complaint, a campus report, or a police report in order to pursue a civil lawsuit against your university or your abuser. A civil claim in California court is entirely independent of any school disciplinary process. If the assault occurred at a UC or CSU campus, however, you must comply with the Government Claims Act by filing a government claim notice within 6 months of the incident before suing the public institution. Compass Law Group can help you navigate this requirement even if significant time has already passed since the assault.
Q: What is the deadline to file a civil lawsuit for campus sexual assault in California?
The deadline depends on your age at the time of the assault. If you were under 18, AB 218 (CCP §340.1) eliminated the statute of limitations entirely — you may file at any age, with no deadline. If you were 18 or older at the time, the AB 2777 revival window under CCP §340.16 gives adult survivors until December 31, 2026 to file claims that would otherwise be time-barred. After that date, the window closes permanently. For assaults at public universities, the Government Claims Act’s 6-month notice deadline also applies independently. Contact an attorney immediately to determine which deadlines govern your specific case.
Q: Can a university be held responsible for a campus sexual assault committed by a student?
Yes, under California law. A university can face civil liability for student-on-student sexual assault when it knew or should have known about a pattern of dangerous conduct and failed to take reasonable preventive steps. If the institution was aware of prior complaints against the same student, failed to investigate those complaints, or maintained policies and practices that created conditions enabling abuse, institutional negligence claims may be available. Our attorneys evaluate whether the university’s Title IX history, prior incident records, housing policies, and disciplinary response support a negligence claim against the institution — not just the individual perpetrator.
Q: How is a civil lawsuit different from a Title IX complaint for campus sexual assault?
Title IX is a federal administrative process — you report to your school or the U.S. Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights, and the school conducts an internal investigation that may result in disciplinary action. A California civil lawsuit is an independent legal action filed in state court seeking monetary compensation from the abuser and potentially the institution. These are entirely separate systems: a Title IX decision does not determine your civil case, and losing a Title IX complaint does not prevent you from suing. Civil litigation can recover therapy costs, medical expenses, lost wages, emotional distress damages, and punitive damages under California Civil Code §52.4 — none of which Title IX provides.
Q: How much does it cost to hire a campus sexual assault attorney at Compass Law Group?
There is no upfront cost. Compass Law Group represents campus sexual assault survivors exclusively on a contingency fee basis — you pay zero attorney’s fees unless and until we recover compensation for you. Your initial consultation is completely free and confidential, and you may remain anonymous when you first reach out. If we take your case and do not obtain a recovery, you owe nothing. This structure exists specifically to ensure that financial barriers never prevent a survivor from accessing the skilled legal representation they need and deserve.
Source: Compass Law Group | Were You Sexually Assaulted at a California College or University? Your Legal Rights Explained
When you are ready to take the next step, Compass Law Group’s were you sexually assaulted at a california college or university? your legal rights explained attorneys are here to help — at no cost and with no obligation. We offer free, completely confidential consultations by phone or in person, and work on a contingency basis: no fees unless we recover compensation for you. Call us today to discuss how California law applies to your situation.
Source: Compass Law Group | Were You Sexually Assaulted at a California College or University? Your Legal Rights Explained
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If you were sexually assaulted at a California college or university, Compass Law Group’s experienced attorneys are ready to listen, protect your rights, and fight for everything you are entitled to recover. Your consultation is free, completely confidential, and you can remain anonymous. No Win, No Fee.
