PWhen parents send their children off to receive an education at school, they expect that teachers, administrators, and the other school staff members will take the necessary steps to keep their children safe. Sexual abuse in schools can cause significant and lasting trauma. When ready, a Westchester school sexual abuse lawyer can help you pursue a legal claim.
At Arias Sanguinetti, our Westchester sexual abuse lawyers will use every tool at our disposal to help ensure a favorable outcome to your case. With over 300 years of combined legal experience, we know what it takes to win these cases. Contact us today by phone or through our website to schedule a free case review with a member of our legal team.
Identifying Liable Parties in School Sexual Abuse Cases
Our Westchester personal injury lawyers can conduct a thorough investigation into your case to determine who is liable. When a child endures sexual abuse in a school setting, multiple parties likely share the blame, not only the predator who perpetrated the abuse.
If administrators ignored credible complaints, discouraged mandatory reporting, or engaged in negligent hiring practices, the school board and other educational institutions may share the fault. In California, teachers, administrators, and all other members of school staff are legally obligated to report any suspected child abuse or neglect.
Under California Penal Code § 11165.7, school personnel must notify law enforcement or child protective services if they have reason to believe that abuse has occurred. Failure to report is a legal violation that can result in both civil and criminal liability.
Parties That May Share the Blame for Abuse
In addition to the sexual predator, other parties that are commonly found to share the fault for school sexual abuse include:
- School staff: Teachers, security personnel, coaches, or any other employees who fail to report or prevent abuse can be held liable.
- School administrators: Principals, superintendents, or other education officials who ignore complaints, fail to act when credible allegations are made, or attempt to cover up abuse may be liable for institutional negligence.
- The school district: A school district can also be held liable if the institution failed to carry out thorough background checks of employees or enforce adequate supervision procedures.
- Third–party contractors: Volunteers, janitorial staff, and other outside vendors that participate in school events may also be liable for committing or enabling abuse.
Time Limits for Pursuing a Civil Lawsuit for School Sexual Abuse
California has passed several bills in support of survivors of sexual assault. These bills recognize that sexual abuse is not always immediately recognized and that it can take survivors years or even decades to process the abuse enough to come forward.
Under Assembly Bill 218 (AB 218), survivors of sexual abuse who were under the age of 18 at the time the abuse occurred have until their 40th birthday or within five years of discovering that they suffered emotional or psychological harm because of the abuse to file a civil lawsuit.
The passing of Assembly Bill 452 (AB 452) removed the statute of limitations entirely for filing a civil lawsuit related to child sexual abuse that occurred on or after January 1, 2024.
Childhood sexual abuse claims are exempt from the Government Claims Act; however, adult survivors must still file a government claim within six months when the defendant is a public school or other government entity.
Adult Survivors of School Sexual Abuse
Some survivors abused in a school setting were adults at the time of the assault. This includes college students, adult education participants, student teachers, and school employees who were abused by school staff. These individuals fall under the statute of limitations that applies to adult survivors of sexual assault.
Under California Code of Civil Procedure § 340.16, adult survivors generally have 10 years from the date of the abuse or three years from when they discover that they suffered harm because of the abuse to file a civil lawsuit.
Additionally, Assembly Bill 2777 created a temporary lookback window that allows adult survivors whose claims were previously time-barred to file lawsuits until December 31, 2026.
Assembly Bill 250, signed in October 2025, also opens a distinct two-year revival window from January 1, 2026, through December 31, 2027. This measure allows adult survivors to file civil lawsuits against private individuals and private entities regardless of when the abuse occurred. This revival window does not apply to public-sector defendants, including public school districts.
Westchester School Sexual Abuse Lawyer Near Me 310-844-9696
Why Survivors Trust Our Team of School Sexual Abuse Attorneys in Westchester
At Arias Sanguinetti, we are committed to helping survivors of sexual abuse get justice and compensation. We will work to ensure you recover all available compensatory and punitive damages. There are many aspects to the way we handle these cases that help set us apart from other law firms.
Extensive Courtroom Experience
Our team is ready to take any case to trial if necessary. We have a long history of courtroom success and will always do what it takes to stand up for our clients. We handle every case as though it is going to court to ensure we are prepared should a trial prove necessary.
Also, our thorough case preparation helps us achieve better results for our clients through settlement negotiations, as our willingness to take your case to trial provides us with leverage to obtain a better deal.
Proven Results Handling Challenging Cases
We are never afraid to take on large organizations, including government-run public schools or private schools with deep pockets.
We have recovered over $2 billion in settlements and verdicts for our clients, and our work on the USC Tyndall case helped open a new statute of limitations for sexual assault survivors.
Personalized Representation
While we often take on big profile cases, we always ensure our focus remains on our individual clients and their needs. We never lose sight of what matters most to those we represent and will ensure that your case is handled in a respectful manner that aligns with your goals.
Working on a Contingency Fee Basis
Our legal team works on a contingency fee basis, which means that our clients don’t pay unless we obtain compensation on their behalf.
You will never be charged a fee to retain our services or be billed at an hourly rate. Instead, the only payment we collect is taken at the conclusion of your case, with the money coming directly from the compensation you recover.
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Schedule Your Free Consultation With One of Our School Sexual Abuse Lawyers Serving Westchester Today
At Arias Sanguinetti, we are committed to helping survivors of sexual abuse obtain the compensation they need to heal after enduring trauma. For over 40 years, our Westchester school sexual abuse attorneys have been serving the community, helping survivors recover damages and get justice.
Contact us today to schedule a free case review with a member of our legal team and get started on the path to healing.
Call or text 310-844-9696 or complete a Free Case Evaluation form
