Your Battle, Our Compass:
Los Angeles School Sexual Abuse Attorney
Our Los Angeles attorneys have spent years fighting for survivors of school sexual abuse across Los Angeles County, holding negligent institutions accountable for the harm they allowed. If you or your child was abused at a school in the Los Angeles area, call us today at (213) 320-1001 for a free, confidential consultation.
California School Sexual Abuse Law: What Los Angeles Survivors Can Sue For
California imposes a legal duty of care on every school — public or private — to protect students from foreseeable harm, including sexual abuse by teachers, coaches, administrators, and staff. When a Los Angeles school district fails to screen employees properly, ignores abuse complaints, or allows a known predator to remain in a classroom, it can be held civilly liable under theories of negligent hiring, negligent supervision, and negligent retention. Public institutions such as LAUSD are subject to the California Government Claims Act (Government Code § 810 et seq.), but California courts have consistently held that childhood sexual abuse claims fall outside the standard six-month government claim deadline. Instead, California Code of Civil Procedure § 340.1 governs — giving most adult survivors until age 40, or five years from the date they discover the institutional connection to the abuse, to file suit. Private school students in Los Angeles face no government-claim barrier at all and may pursue claims directly in civil court.
Who Can Be Held Liable for School Sexual Abuse in Los Angeles?
Sexual abuse in Los Angeles schools rarely involves only the individual perpetrator. California law allows survivors to hold institutions accountable when they negligently hired, supervised, or retained employees who posed a known risk to students. The Los Angeles Unified School District — the second-largest school district in the nation, serving over 400,000 students — has faced substantial civil litigation under these theories. Private schools, charter schools, and religious institutions operating throughout Los Angeles County carry the same exposure under the doctrine of respondeat superior when abuse occurs within the scope of an employee’s duties.
California Code of Civil Procedure §340.1, significantly expanded by AB 2777 in 2022, permits survivors to bring civil claims against institutions regardless of when the abuse occurred, through December 31, 2026. Title IX independently imposes liability on any school receiving federal funding when administrators had actual knowledge of abuse and responded with deliberate indifference. Schools that ignored complaints, buried investigations, or quietly transferred known abusers to other campuses face compounded liability under both state and federal law.
- Individual abusers — teachers, coaches, counselors, administrators, and support staff
- Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD) and other Los Angeles County public school districts
- Private and parochial schools, including institutions within the Archdiocese of Los Angeles
- Charter school operators and their management organizations
- Third-party contractors providing tutoring, after-school programs, or extracurricular activities on school grounds
How We Value a School Sexual Abuse Case in Los Angeles
Calculating the full value of a school sexual abuse claim requires accounting for every layer of harm. Compensatory damages typically include the cost of therapy and ongoing mental health treatment—often tens of thousands of dollars over a survivor’s lifetime—along with any medical expenses, lost wages, and diminished earning capacity caused by trauma’s long-term effects on education and employment. Emotional distress damages are substantial in these cases; California juries regularly award seven-figure sums for the psychological suffering inflicted by childhood sexual abuse, particularly when the abuse was perpetrated or enabled by trusted institutions such as LAUSD or a private Los Angeles County school.
When an institution like a school district demonstrated gross negligence—ignoring complaints, concealing abuse, or retaining a known offender—California courts may also impose punitive damages designed to punish and deter misconduct. Under AB 218 and AB 2777, survivors face no cap on recovery, and courts cannot limit damages based solely on the age of the claim. Our attorneys have recovered more than $250 million for abuse survivors and will fight for the full measure of compensation you deserve. Call (213) 320-1001 for a free, confidential consultation.
What to Do If You Are a School Sexual Abuse Survivor in Los Angeles
- Get to a safe place and seek immediate support — Your safety and well-being come first; distance yourself from anyone who has harmed you and reach out to a trusted adult, counselor, or crisis line such as RAINN (1-800-656-4673) for confidential guidance and emotional support.
- Document everything you remember — Write down as many details as possible while they are fresh: the name of the school, the abuser’s identity and role, dates and locations of incidents, and the names of any witnesses or others who may have seen something unusual.
- Report the abuse to authorities — File a report with the Los Angeles Police Department or the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department and notify the Los Angeles Unified School District’s Office of the Inspector General; California law requires schools to report suspected abuse, and a police report creates an official record that strengthens your civil case.
- Preserve all physical and digital evidence — Save any text messages, emails, social media communications, photographs, school records, or medical records connected to the abuse, and store copies in a secure location separate from your school or employer’s control.
- Act before the AB 2777 look-back window closes on December 31, 2026 — California’s AB 2777 reopened the statute of limitations for childhood sexual abuse survivors, allowing claims that would otherwise be time-barred to be filed until December 31, 2026; once this deadline passes, the window closes permanently and you may lose your right to sue.
- Contact a Los Angeles school sexual abuse attorney — An experienced attorney can investigate the school district’s liability, identify all responsible parties — including administrators who failed to report or stop the abuse — and pursue the maximum compensation available under California law for your medical expenses, therapy costs, lost earnings, and pain and suffering.
If you or someone you love is a survivor of school sexual abuse in Los Angeles or anywhere in Los Angeles County, call our legal team today at (213) 320-1001 for a free, confidential consultation — we are here to help you understand your rights and take action before time runs out.
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#1 Do I have a case?
Understanding whether a claim exists is one of the challenges of personal injury law. This is why we offer free initial consultations to help you make this determination and allow you an avenue to vindicate your rights.
We’re committed to fighting for the rights of accident victims throughout Southern California, and, unlike other California personal injury attorneys, we will take on any case if we can help, no matter how big or small.
#2 What is personal injury?
Personal injury involves harm to an individual’s body or property caused by someone else’s negligence. It can range from minor to significant injuries, often requiring legal action to recover damages. We specialize in representing and securing fair settlements for such victims.
#3 Why hire Compass Law Group?
Our client-focused approach ensures personalized attention, detailed case building, and compelling evidence presentation. We’re skilled in negotiating settlements and prepared for trial with aggressive strategies. Our firm maintains transparent communication, involves clients in the process, and utilizes a wide network of expert witnesses and resources to strengthen cases. Choosing us means trusting a team dedicated to your success and justice.
#4What if I didn't go to the hospital?
No matter the injury size, you have rights that need defending. Many injuries seem minor at first but can worsen over time. Ignoring treatment or legal advice risks your health and compensation. Seek immediate medical and legal help after any accident to ensure proper diagnosis and strengthen your compensation claim.