Sexual abuse is a general term used to describe unwanted or non-consensual sexual contact. Forcing, hassling, intimidating, or coercing an individual into doing something sexual against their will is considered sexual abuse in all states including California. Our team of Los Angeles sexual abuse lawyers is dedicated to pursuing justice in cases like yours. We possess the resources and experience to hold the responsible parties accountable.
If you or someone you love has suffered a sex crime, our Los Angeles personal injury lawyers are here to help. We have seen firsthand the physical pain and emotional trauma survivors of molestation and rape experience. Arias Sanguinetti represents sex crime survivors in Los Angeles and is committed to obtaining justice for our clients. Our team has secured justice for thousands of survivors – we are deeply proud of our track record of fighting on behalf of these brave individuals.
Contact us now to get a free, no-obligation consultation. We’ve recovered well over one billion dollars in damages for our deserving clients and played a role in changing policies at the state and national level to prevent future harm.
Compassionate Legal Representation to Help You Through This Challenging Period
Sexual abuse can have lasting harm and affect all aspects of life for survivors. Recovery is a challenging process – you deserve the relief that justice and financial compensation can bring. Our team of experienced and compassionate sexual abuse lawyers can handle all aspects of your legal case and hold the perpetrator accountable for their actions.
With an experienced attorney advocating on your behalf, you can be confident that your case is in good hands. Depending on how you wish to proceed, you can be thoroughly involved in every aspect of your case or take a step back and let our team of lawyers take the lead.
Our legal team has a thorough understanding of these cases and their wide ranging impacts on survivors. No matter what your current situation is, we are here to help you through this difficult period.
Common Types of Sexual Abuse in Los Angeles, California
Our team of Los Angeles sexual abuse lawyers have represented countless survivors throughout our firm’s history. We bring extensive experience in a variety of sexual abuse cases including:
- Molestation
- Child sexual abuse
- Revenge porn
- Stalking
- Rape
- Statutory rape
- Non-consensual condom removal
- Oral copulation
- Hugging, kissing, or sexual contact without consent in a professional or institutional environment
- Indecent exposure at work, church, or a similar setting
These are deeply traumatic experiences and survivors deserve justice. Sexual abusers can target children and adults. Abuse can come from anyone, including family members, strangers, coworkers, authority figures, friends, or even a spouse. Our Los Angeles sexual abuse attorneys are here to help and will fight for the justice and compensation you need.
Los Angeles Sexual Abuse Lawyer Near Me 310-844-9696
How an Experienced Lawyer Can Help With Your Case
When you retain one of our experienced attorneys to represent you in your sexual abuse case, we will take a variety of actions to ensure you recover the compensation you need to begin putting your life back together.
Your testimony is always at the heart of what we do. It’s important that your voice is heard. We will carefully listen to your story, then investigate the circumstances of the abuse you suffered to determine responsible parties, including parties whose negligence may have contributed to what happened beyond the actual perpetrator such as an employer.
Our team will interview any witnesses and collect any available evidence that supports your claim. We will then assess the damages you incurred and assemble a demand letter. If the responsible parties are unwilling to take responsibility for their actions, we may file a lawsuit on your behalf. After filing, we will continue to build your case as we prepare for a potential trial.
While preparing to take your case to trial, your lawyer will also be engaged in negotiations with the opposing party, attempting to reach a favorable settlement deal. We will never accept a lowball offer – you deserve to be compensated for the harm you have endured. At Arias Sanguinetti, we are trial lawyers with decades of courtroom experience. If the responsible parties refuse to reach a fair settlement, we are prepared to pursue your case at trial.
At all times during your case, we will do everything in our power to protect your safety. This may include seeking court approval to file your case under seal and adopting pseudonyms to protect your identity. If you are concerned for your safety, you have several options to pursue justice while staying as protected as possible.
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What Is the California Child Victims Act?
The Child Victims Act (California AB 218) extends the statute of limitations for survivors of child sexual abuse in California. This law, which went into effect on January 1, 2020, changes the time limits in which childhood sexual abuse survivors may file a claim.
Under the Child Victims Act, the deadline for filing a claim is extended from eight years to 22 years after turning eighteen years old.
The time you have to file from the date you discovered or should have reasonably discovered that your psychological injury or illness was the result of sexual assault is extended from three years to five years. In other words, if you uncover that you experienced sexual abuse or that you suffered previously unidentified harm from past sexual abuse, you can still file a lawsuit even if you are over 40-years-old.
Additionally, the Child Victims Act allows the court to award triple the standard damages to a survivor if there was an attempt to cover up the abuse. California’s legislature has empowered survivors to seek justice – our team is dedicated to uplifting these experiences and bringing survivors the long-awaited justice they deserve.
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Institutional Sexual Abuse and Harassment in Los Angeles
Our team of attorneys have represented survivors who have been taken advantage of by people in positions of trust at various organizations, such as:
- The Catholic Church and other religious organizations
- The Boy Scouts of America
- Schools, colleges, and universities
- Other institutions
The Catholic Church and Other Religious Organizations
The sexual abuse of parishioners by clergy members inflicts profound physical, emotional, and spiritual wounds. Survivors of clergy sexual abuse face unimaginable distress and difficulty living with their trauma.
For too long, survivors have suffered in silence, unable to confront their abusers and those who enabled or covered up the abuse.
Thankfully, laws like the Child Victims Act provide survivors with a new opportunity to hold individuals and organizations accountable. Sexual abuse by religious leaders and cover-ups are not limited to the Catholic Church.
The Child Victims Act was passed to address sexual misconduct, whether the perpetrator was an individual or part of a private or public institution. If you or your child has been sexually abused, our Los Angeles clergy sexual abuse lawyers are here to help.
The Boy Scouts of America
Although long praised for its moral standards and for teaching children valuable skills, the Boy Scouts of America faced a revelation in secret files: a staggering number of child sexual abuse cases that were deliberately concealed from the public for almost a century.
As a result, thousands of men are now pursuing civil suits against the Boy Scouts, arguing that the organization failed in its duty to safeguard children in its programs adequately. The organization should have reported all instances of sexual predators to the authorities instead of choosing to ignore the issue.
The Boy Scouts of America have since filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy, creating a survivor compensation fund.
If you are a survivor of sexual abuse caused by a person associated with the Boy Scouts of America, our team of Los Angeles sexual abuse attorneys can help. We can assist you with filing a claim against the local councils overseeing the region where the abuse occurred. Our firm is here to help you receive your fair share of this fund.
Schools, Colleges, and Universities
Sexual abuse and harassment in schools can take many forms such as unwanted touching, sexual comments or jokes, sexual bullying or hazing, sexual assault, and rape. These actions are not limited to staff and teachers – they can also come from other students.
Schools have a duty to keep their students safe and protected from harm, yet perpetrators still take advantage of the school system to gain access to children and gain their trust.
It is the responsibility of schools to:
- Adequately vet teachers, coaches, and other employees.
- Supervise students while they are on campus or engaged in school activities.
- Thoroughly investigate complaints made about an employee’s or student’s behavior.
- Report suspected or known sexual abuse to the proper authorities.
Schools must be held accountable for allowing sexual assaults or harassment on or off campus during school-related activities. A school’s failure to take proper action may create a liability against the school, its administration, and its employees for neglecting to keep the students in their care safe.
If you or your child are a sexual abuse survivor, you can file a civil claim to hold the perpetrator and school district accountable. If you need a knowledgeable attorney to represent you, our sexual abuse lawyers in Los Angeles can provide you with the insight necessary to take the appropriate actions.
Other Institutions and Authority Figures
Sexual assault reflects power dynamics as perpetrators use their positions of authority within institutions to abuse those who look up to them. The effects of this type of manipulation can be detrimental to sexual abuse survivors and could lead to long-lasting psychological damage.
Institutional sexual abuse could include sexual assault or harassment committed by the following:
- Correctional officers
- Employers
- Youth leaders
- Religious figures
- Educators
- Coaches
- Foster parents
- Caregivers
- Medical professionals
- Any others in a position of authority
Survivors of institutional sexual abuse can seek justice in court in their journey toward recovery. If you need a hand in doing so, contact our experienced sexual abuse lawyers in Los Angeles to take the first step.
What Does the Law Say About Sexual Abuse in Schools?
Many colleges and universities have been scrutinized for their lack of action related to assaults and harassment on their campuses. Sexual harassment is prohibited under Title IX Education Amendments of 1972 and Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964.
All schools receiving federal Title IX funds that fail to protect their students from sexual harassment and assault can be held responsible for violating federal law.
A Sexual Abuse Attorney in Los Angeles Can Help You Recover Financial Compensation for Your Damages
If you’ve experienced sexual assault or abuse, seeking legal recourse can help you recover various types of damages. These damages aim to compensate for the physical, emotional, and financial harm caused by such traumatic events. Here are some common types of damages that legal professionals can help you recover:
- Medical expenses: These cover the direct medical costs incurred as a result of the assault or abuse. Medical expenses can cover all your medical bills related to healing from your physical injuries, as well as the cost of therapy to address your psychological trauma.
- Pain and suffering: This type of damage compensates for the emotional distress, mental anguish, and trauma you’ve endured.
- Loss of enjoyment of life: If the assault or abuse has affected your ability to enjoy life’s activities or relationships, you may be compensated for this loss.
- Lost wages: If you’ve missed work due to the assault or abuse, you can seek damages for the income you would have earned. If you suffered injuries as a result of the abuse that affected your ability to earn income, you can collect compensation for lost earning ability as well.
- Punitive damages: In cases of egregious misconduct, punitive damages may be awarded to punish the perpetrator and deter future misconduct. While punitive damages are rare in the majority of other types of personal injury cases, they are commonly awarded in cases of sexual abuse.
Dealing with complicated legal issues after such a traumatic experience can be challenging, but pursuing damages can provide not only financial compensation but also a sense of justice and closure. Our Los Angeles sexual abuse lawyers are experienced in these cases and can provide essential support and guidance throughout the process of seeking damages.
You Don’t Pay Unless We Get You Compensation
Our experienced trial lawyers represent Los Angeles residents during their most difficult legal challenges. No matter the county or venue, our attorneys are here for all sexual assault survivors. We handle cases on a contingency basis, which means you owe us nothing if we do not recover compensation for your damages. Every aspect of our legal services, from the initial consultation to a potential trial, is completely free until we win for you.
We don’t charge expensive retainer fees and high hourly rates, we will only collect a single fee for our services. This fee will be assessed at the conclusion of your case after we recover compensation on your behalf.
Because of the way we charge our clients, we are able to provide legal services to any sexual assault survivor, regardless of their financial standing. You can also be confident that we will do everything in our power to ensure you recover the money you need and deserve.
Pay Attention to the Filing Deadline When Pursuing Compensation Through a Sexual Assault Lawsuit
Remember, you must file your claim in a timely manner under the statute of limitations. We know that taking legal action after an assault can be overwhelming, but our Los Angeles sexual assault attorneys are here to guide you through the process. The sooner you act, the more open your legal options will be.
We’ll identify the deadline that applies to your case and ensure that all the required paperwork is completed and filed well in advance of the cutoff date. Reach out to an experienced lawyer as soon as possible to ensure your right to pursue justice is protected.
By retaining our team of attorneys early, you put us in the best possible position to collect evidence before it can become corrupted or lost. In the same vein, we will be able to take statements from any witnesses while their memories of the event are still fresh in their minds.
Contact Our Sexual Assault Lawyers in Los Angeles
If you or a loved one has experienced sexual abuse, our team of attorneys at Arias Sanguinetti is prepared to pursue civil action on your behalf to seek the justice you deserve. Based in Los Angeles, our sexual abuse lawyers are dedicated to holding both the perpetrator and potentially the organization responsible, advocating for you in a civil lawsuit for sexual abuse.
Our track record of achievements underscores our firm’s capacity to effectively represent our clients and recover the best possible compensation. As always, we offer free consultations and operate on a contingency fee basis.
Reach out to us today by phone or through our website to schedule a free consultation with a member of our legal team and learn more about how we can help with your sexual abuse case. We are dedicated to protecting survivors of sexual assault and will help ensure you are in a position to thrive as you work to rebuild your life.
Call or text 310-844-9696 or complete a Free Case Evaluation form
