San Francisco Sexual Abuse Lawyer

Under California Code of Civil Procedure §340.16, most adult survivors of sexual assault have 10 years from the date of the last act of abuse, or 3 years from the date you discovered a psychological injury caused by the abuse, whichever is later. For childhood sexual abuse, California law is even more generous — survivors generally have until age 40, or 5 years from discovery of the connection between the abuse and an injury. We strongly urge you to contact us as soon as possible, because evidence and witness availability diminish over time.

Yes. Civil and criminal cases operate under completely separate legal standards. Criminal cases require proof beyond a reasonable doubt, while a civil lawsuit only requires us to prove your case by a preponderance of the evidence — meaning it is more likely than not that the abuse occurred. We have successfully represented San Francisco survivors in civil court even where no charges were filed or a criminal case ended in acquittal.

In many cases, third parties who enabled, concealed, or failed to prevent the abuse can be held civilly liable. This includes employers, schools, churches, hospitals, group homes, youth organizations, and property owners who knew or should have known about a perpetrator’s dangerous conduct. San Francisco institutions — including SFUSD schools, nonprofits in the Mission and Tenderloin districts, and private facilities — have faced civil liability under these theories. We investigate every layer of potential defendant to maximize your recovery.

You may be entitled to economic damages such as past and future medical bills, mental health treatment costs, lost wages, and reduced earning capacity. Non-economic damages — including pain and suffering, emotional distress, loss of enjoyment of life, and humiliation — are also recoverable and are often the largest component of a settlement or verdict. In cases involving malice or oppression by a defendant organization, California law permits punitive damages to punish the wrongdoer and deter future misconduct.

We handle sexual abuse civil cases on a contingency fee basis, meaning you pay absolutely nothing unless we recover compensation for you. There are no upfront costs, no hourly fees, and no out-of-pocket expenses during the case. Our fee is a percentage of the final settlement or verdict, which we will explain clearly before you sign any agreement.

During your free, confidential consultation we listen to your account at your own pace, answer every legal question you have, and give you an honest assessment of your case — including who may be liable and what your claim may be worth. You are never under any obligation to hire us, and nothing you share leaves our office. We regularly meet with San Francisco survivors in person, by phone, or via secure video call, whichever makes you most comfortable.

We routinely file sexual abuse civil cases under a pseudonym such as ‘Jane Doe’ or ‘John Doe’ to protect your identity from public court records. California courts, including San Francisco Superior Court at 400 McAllister Street, regularly grant these protective orders in sensitive cases. We take every available legal step to shield your privacy throughout the litigation process.

Possibly. California enacted AB 218, which temporarily revived certain childhood sexual abuse claims and created expanded windows for institutional abuse cases. Additionally, if the defendant fraudulently concealed the abuse or your psychological injury prevented you from understanding the connection to the harm, the limitations period may be tolled. We review every survivor’s timeline carefully — do not assume your case is too old before speaking with us.

California follows a pure comparative fault system, meaning even if a defendant argues you bear some share of responsibility, your recovery is reduced only by your percentage of fault — you are not barred from recovery entirely. In sexual abuse cases, courts and juries are extremely skeptical of attempts to shift blame to a victim, and we aggressively challenge any such arguments. Our job is to hold the responsible parties fully accountable.

We build these cases by investigating the institution’s hiring practices, background check policies, complaint history, and internal communications. Organizations such as San Francisco Unified School District, local nonprofits, and private businesses have a duty to protect people in their care from known or foreseeable abusers. We subpoena records, depose administrators, and retain expert witnesses to establish that the institution’s negligence or cover-up directly enabled the harm you suffered.

Every case is different, but most civil sexual abuse claims take between one and three years from filing to resolution, depending on whether the matter settles or goes to trial. Cases filed in San Francisco Superior Court generally follow the court’s case management timeline, which includes discovery, depositions, and pretrial motions. We keep you informed at every stage and will never pressure you to accept a settlement you are not comfortable with.

You do not need a complete file of evidence to schedule a consultation — your account of what happened is the starting point. Helpful materials can include any records of medical or mental health treatment, prior complaints you made to an employer, school, or authority, text messages, emails, photographs, or the names of potential witnesses. We conduct our own independent investigation and know how to gather evidence you may not have access to on your own.

Yes, civil and criminal cases can proceed simultaneously or at different times. In fact, information developed during a criminal investigation — including police reports, evidence logs, and witness statements — can strengthen your civil claim. We coordinate carefully with prosecutors when appropriate and advise you on timing to ensure the civil case is pursued in a way that supports, rather than jeopardizes, any related criminal matter.

The individual perpetrator is often not the only — or even the primary — financial source of recovery. In many San Francisco cases we target institutional defendants such as employers, schools, or property owners whose negligence allowed the abuse to occur, and these organizations typically carry substantial insurance policies. We also explore whether other third parties share responsibility. Our investigation is specifically designed to identify every defendant with meaningful financial resources.

Simply contact us to schedule your free, confidential consultation — there is no cost and no obligation. We serve survivors throughout San Francisco and the Bay Area, and we can meet with you in person at a location that works for you, by phone, or via secure video. The sooner you reach out, the sooner we can begin preserving evidence and protecting your rights under California law.