By the Numbers: Intimate Partner Sexual Violence in California
Understanding the scale of intimate partner sexual abuse reveals why access to civil justice matters for so many California survivors — and why the AB 2777 deadline is so consequential:
Source: Compass Law Group | Intimate Partner Sexual Abuse in California: Your Civil Rights and Legal Options
1 in 5 women and 1 in 14 men in the United States have experienced rape or attempted rape at some point in their lives, according to RAINN. 34% of all sexual assault survivors are victimized by a current or former intimate partner — making romantic relationships one of the most common contexts for sexual violence (RAINN). 8 out of 10 rape survivors report knowing their attacker, definitively dismantling the myth that sexual violence is primarily a danger from strangers (RAINN). According to the CDC’s National Intimate Partner and Sexual Violence Survey, more than 51% of female rape survivors report that the perpetrator was a current or former intimate partner — making intimate partner sexual abuse the single most prevalent form of rape against women in the United States. And while no statistic captures the full human cost, Compass Law Group has recovered more than $250 million for California abuse and injury survivors — proof that civil justice is not merely possible, but achievable.
These numbers represent real people in communities Compass Law Group serves every day, including survivors in Los Angeles, Beverly Hills, and Long Beach. Despite the prevalence of intimate partner sexual abuse, the vast majority of cases go unreported to law enforcement. Many survivors fear they will not be believed, worry about retaliation, or incorrectly assume that sexual abuse within a relationship is not legally actionable. California law provides a clear answer: it is fully actionable, compensable, and you do not need to go through the criminal justice system to pursue it.
How Compass Law Group, LLP Helps Intimate Partner Sexual Abuse Survivors
“Intimate partner sexual abuse survivors come to us carrying an enormous burden — the weight of what happened, the fear of not being believed, and deep uncertainty about what comes next,” says Joseph Shirazi, Managing Partner of Compass Law Group, LLP. “Our role is to remove every legal obstacle from their path, build the strongest possible case on their behalf, and make sure they know they are not facing this alone.” Attorneys Joseph Shirazi (Bar #265403) and Simon Esfandi (Bar #275307) lead a team that has recovered more than $250 million for California survivors of sexual abuse, assault, and catastrophic injury.
Compass Law Group serves survivors throughout California from offices in Beverly Hills, Los Angeles, Long Beach, San Francisco, Sacramento, Oakland, and Bell Gardens. Our experience spans the full spectrum of sexual abuse litigation — from intimate partner sexual abuse and California workplace sexual abuse claims to California child sexual abuse cases, California clergy sexual abuse litigation, and institutional abuse involving organizations such as California Boy Scout councils, YMCA chapters, youth sports programs, and 4-H clubs. That breadth of experience means our attorneys recognize institutional concealment patterns, know what evidence to demand, and can connect survivors with immediate support resources while their civil case proceeds. In addition to sexual abuse litigation, our broader practice areas include complex injury matters such as California Prop 213 car accident injury claims — but holding abusers and the institutions that protect them accountable is at the core of everything we do.
Every consultation at Compass Law Group is free, confidential, and available to survivors who wish to remain completely anonymous. You will speak directly with an experienced attorney about the specific facts of your situation. We will identify every applicable statute and deadline — including the AB 2777 window closing December 31, 2026 — and explain your options without any pressure to proceed before you are ready. There are no upfront costs, no retainer fees, and no financial risk to you: our firm works exclusively on a no-win, no-fee contingency basis, which means our interests are fully aligned with yours.
Q: Can you sue a spouse or intimate partner for sexual abuse in California?
Yes. California law provides no marital or relationship exemption from civil liability for sexual abuse. Spousal rape has been criminalized in California since 1979, and any intimate partner — current or former spouse, domestic partner, boyfriend, or girlfriend — can be sued for sexual abuse regardless of whether criminal charges were filed. A civil judgment does not require a prior conviction and can reach wages, bank accounts, real estate, and other assets. Recoverable damages include therapy costs, medical expenses, lost wages, emotional distress, and punitive damages, with additional remedies available under California Civil Code §52.4.
Q: How long do I have to file a civil lawsuit for intimate partner sexual abuse in California?
The deadline depends on your age when the abuse occurred. If you were a minor, AB 218 (CCP §340.1) eliminates the statute of limitations entirely — you can sue at any age, with no deadline. If you were 18 or older at the time, California’s AB 2777 revival window (CCP §340.16) allows adult survivors to file until December 31, 2026, after which the window closes permanently. If a government entity is involved, California’s Government Claims Act requires a written notice within six months of discovering the entity’s liability. Contact Compass Law Group immediately to identify which deadline controls your case.
Q: What evidence helps prove intimate partner sexual abuse in a California civil lawsuit?
California civil cases apply a “preponderance of evidence” standard — the abuse must be shown to be more likely than not. Persuasive evidence includes forensic sexual assault examination records, photographs of injuries, text and email communications showing coercion or admissions, contemporaneous journal entries, witness testimony from friends or coworkers who observed changes in your behavior, and medical and mental health treatment records. Expert witnesses — including forensic psychologists and medical specialists — can corroborate your account and connect documented symptoms to the abuse. Our attorneys know precisely what evidence to request and preserve.
Q: Can I file a civil lawsuit even if my abuser was never criminally charged or convicted?
Absolutely. Criminal prosecution and civil litigation are separate legal processes with fundamentally different standards of proof. Many California intimate partner sexual abuse survivors successfully obtain civil judgments even when their abusers were never charged, when charges were dropped, or when criminal juries returned acquittals. The civil burden of proof — “more likely than not” — is far lower than “beyond a reasonable doubt.” Prosecutors decline cases for many reasons entirely unrelated to whether abuse actually occurred. A civil lawsuit gives survivors direct access to justice without depending on any governmental charging decision.
Q: What damages can I recover in a California intimate partner sexual abuse civil lawsuit?
California allows intimate partner sexual abuse survivors to recover economic damages (therapy and counseling costs, medical and psychiatric treatment, lost wages, relocation expenses), non-economic damages (pain and suffering, emotional distress, loss of enjoyment of life), and punitive damages where conduct was malicious or oppressive. Under California Civil Code §52.4, gender violence — which explicitly includes intimate partner sexual abuse — provides for additional statutory damages that can substantially increase total recovery. Compass Law Group works exclusively on a no-win, no-fee basis: there are no upfront costs to pursuing your claim.
Source: Compass Law Group | Intimate Partner Sexual Abuse in California: Your Civil Rights and Legal Options
Steps to Take After Intimate Partner Sexual Abuse in California
Taking any action after intimate partner sexual abuse requires enormous courage — especially when the abuser is someone you loved and trusted. Moving at your own pace matters. When you are ready to protect your legal rights, the following steps will preserve your ability to pursue a civil claim:
- Seek immediate medical care if you have been injured. Emergency rooms and sexual assault response teams (SARTs) can treat injuries, conduct forensic rape kit examinations that preserve critical physical evidence, and connect you with victim advocates — all without requiring you to file a police report if you are not yet ready to do so.
- Preserve all digital evidence before it disappears. Screenshot and securely archive text messages, emails, social media messages, voicemails, and any other communications from your abuser. Send copies to a secure account your abuser cannot access. Do not delete anything — even messages that appear minor may be critical to proving a pattern of coercion or control.
- Document your injuries and emotional impact consistently. Photograph any visible injuries under good lighting and note the date and time. Keep a private, password-protected journal recording what happened, how the abuse has affected your sleep, work, relationships, and daily functioning — this contemporaneous record carries real weight in civil proceedings.
- Secure a domestic violence restraining order if you fear for your ongoing safety. A restraining order from a California court creates an official legal record of the abuse, prohibits contact, and can prevent further harm. Emergency protective orders can be issued within 24 hours.
- Contact a California sexual abuse attorney before speaking with your abuser’s insurance company, employer, or legal representatives. An experienced California sexual abuse attorney will evaluate your claims under AB 218 (CCP §340.1), AB 2777 (CCP §340.16), and California Civil Code §52.4 to identify every available avenue of compensation and ensure no deadline is missed.
- Identify potential witnesses who may have observed warning signs, heard you disclose the abuse, or can speak to changes in your health or behavior. Friends, family members, coworkers, therapists, and neighbors can all provide important testimony in civil proceedings — even if they never witnessed the abuse directly.
- Track every financial loss from the moment you are safe to do so. Keep receipts for therapy, medical bills, prescriptions, relocation costs, and any missed work. These documented expenses directly support the economic damages portion of your civil claim and should be preserved from the earliest possible date.
Source: Compass Law Group | Intimate Partner Sexual Abuse in California: Your Civil Rights and Legal Options
Get Your Free Consultation Today
If you experienced intimate partner sexual abuse in California, you may have the right to pursue civil justice — regardless of whether the abuse was ever reported to police or prosecuted. Compass Law Group, LLP offers free, confidential consultations with no obligation and no upfront fees. You may remain completely anonymous. No Win, No Fee.
