When a child experiences sexual abuse, the trauma extends far beyond the immediate incident. Survivors and their families face physical, emotional, and psychological challenges that can last a lifetime. At Dordick Law Corporation, we understand the impact of child sexual abuse and the courage it takes for survivors to seek justice. Our team of child sexual abuse lawyers in Southern California provides legal representation to help families hold perpetrators and negligent institutions accountable through civil claims.
Child sexual abuse can occur in any setting—schools, religious organizations, youth sports programs, camps, and healthcare facilities. Many cases involve institutional failures, where organizations failed to implement proper safeguards, conduct background checks, or respond appropriately to warning signs. Our experienced sexual abuse lawyers investigate thoroughly to identify all liable parties and pursue the compensation survivors deserve. Our case results demonstrate our commitment to securing justice for survivors.
Understanding Child Sexual Abuse and Your Legal Rights
Child sexual abuse encompasses a range of harmful behaviors, from direct physical contact to non-contact forms of exploitation. Understanding the legal landscape is essential for survivors and families considering their options. According to the National Sexual Violence Resource Center, one in three victims of completed rape experienced their first rape between ages 11 and 17.
What Constitutes Child Sexual Abuse?
Child sexual abuse includes any sexual activity involving a minor, whether through physical contact or non-contact means. Contact abuse involves direct physical touching of a child’s genitals, breasts, or buttocks, or forcing a child to touch an adult’s genitals. Non-contact abuse includes exposing genitals to a child, showing pornographic material, voyeurism, or online exploitation. Understanding these distinctions is critical when pursuing a civil lawsuit for child abuse.
Civil Claims vs. Criminal Cases
Many families are unaware that they can pursue civil claims independently of criminal prosecution. Criminal cases are brought by the state and focus on punishing the perpetrator. Civil lawsuits are filed by survivors or their families to recover financial compensation for damages. The California Courts provide detailed information on civil case procedures.
A critical distinction exists: civil cases use a lower burden of proof (“preponderance of the evidence“) compared to criminal cases (“beyond a reasonable doubt“). This means you can pursue a civil claim even if criminal charges were never filed or if a criminal case resulted in acquittal. This is why many survivors choose to pursue civil claims for sexual abuse even without criminal prosecution.
How Dordick Law Corporation Helps Child Sexual Abuse Survivors
Our approach to child sexual abuse cases combines thorough investigation, institutional accountability, and trauma-informed representation. Our award-winning legal team has secured significant verdicts and settlements for survivors.
Comprehensive Investigation
We conduct detailed investigations to uncover all facts surrounding the abuse and identify every potentially liable party. This includes:
- Reviewing institutional records, policies, and communications
- Interviewing witnesses and gathering statements
- Obtaining background information on perpetrators and supervisory staff
- Analyzing whether proper safeguards were in place
- Identifying patterns of abuse or institutional knowledge of misconduct
Our investigation process has led to landmark verdicts, including a historic $900 million verdict in a sexual assault case.
Identifying All Liable Parties
Many survivors focus solely on the perpetrator, missing opportunities to recover from institutions that enabled the abuse through negligence. We identify:
- The direct perpetrator and their personal assets or insurance
- The employer or organization that supervised or employed the perpetrator
- Third-party contractors or vendors with access to the child
- Insurance carriers who may cover the claim
- Any other entities with potential liability
This comprehensive approach to identifying liable parties is why our sexual abuse case results consistently exceed expectations.
Settlement Negotiation and Litigation
We pursue settlement negotiations with defendants and their insurance carriers. When fair settlements cannot be reached, we litigate on your behalf. Our goal is to secure fair compensation while respecting your preferences regarding trial versus settlement. Our litigation team includes experienced trial attorneys with proven track records.
Trauma-Informed Representation
We recognize that discussing abuse is difficult and can be retraumatizing. Our team approaches every interaction with sensitivity and respect for survivors’ emotional needs. We coordinate with mental health professionals and other experts to support your healing throughout the legal process. This compassionate approach is central to our sexual abuse legal services.
No Upfront Costs
We represent clients on a contingency fee basis, meaning you pay nothing unless we recover compensation for you. This ensures that financial barriers don’t prevent survivors from accessing justice.
Who Can Be Held Liable for Child Sexual Abuse
Identifying all liable parties is important to recovering fair compensation. Responsibility often extends far beyond the individual perpetrator.
Direct Perpetrators
The person who committed the abuse bears direct liability for their actions. However, pursuing claims against individuals alone often proves insufficient. Perpetrators may lack substantial assets or insurance coverage. This is why pursuing institutional liability claims is often more effective.
Institutional Defendants and Negligent Supervision
Organizations that employed, supervised, or had access to the child frequently bear liability through negligent supervision claims. These include:
- Schools (public and private): Schools have a duty to protect students and implement reasonable safeguards. Liability may arise from failure to conduct background checks, inadequate supervision, failure to report suspected abuse to authorities, or retention of staff with known histories of misconduct. Our school sexual abuse cases have resulted in significant recoveries for survivors.
- Religious Organizations: Churches, synagogues, mosques, and other faith-based institutions have faced significant liability for failing to prevent abuse by clergy and staff members. These cases often involve institutional cover-ups and failure to report to law enforcement.
- Youth Sports Programs: Coaches, trainers, and athletic organizations owe a duty of care to young athletes. Liability may stem from inadequate screening, failure to implement abuse prevention policies, or ignoring warning signs of inappropriate behavior.
- Youth Organizations: Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, Boys & Girls Clubs, summer camps, and similar organizations have faced substantial liability for failing to protect children in their care.
- Healthcare Facilities: Doctors, therapists, and medical staff who abuse their positions of trust and authority can expose healthcare providers to liability for negligent hiring, supervision, and retention.
Mandatory Reporter Failures
California law requires many professionals to report suspected child abuse to authorities. These include teachers, coaches, healthcare providers, and social workers. For a complete list of mandatory reporters, see California Penal Code § 11165.7.
Failure to report constitutes a violation that can support civil liability claims against both the individual and their employer. According to the California Department of Social Services, mandatory reporting is essential to child protection.
Background Check and Screening Failures
Organizations that fail to conduct thorough background checks, verify credentials, or investigate red flags in an applicant’s history may be held liable for negligent hiring. This applies even when the organization didn’t directly employ the perpetrator but contracted with them or allowed them access to children.
Types of Compensation Available in Child Sexual Abuse Cases
California law allows survivors to recover various forms of compensation, reflecting the full scope of damages caused by abuse.
Medical and Psychological Treatment
Survivors often require extensive medical care, including physical examinations, treatment for sexually transmitted infections, and ongoing healthcare. Psychological treatment—therapy, counseling, and psychiatric care—addresses trauma, PTSD, depression, and anxiety. Compensation covers past treatment costs and future anticipated care needs. Our sexual abuse attorneys work with medical experts to calculate these damages accurately.
Pain and Suffering
This category encompasses the physical pain experienced during abuse and the emotional suffering that follows. Pain and suffering damages recognize the non-economic harm of trauma, including loss of enjoyment of life, emotional distress, and diminished quality of life.
Lost Wages and Earning Capacity
For adult survivors, compensation may include lost wages during recovery periods and reduced earning capacity if the abuse impacts your ability to work. For minors, this may include future educational and career opportunities affected by the trauma.
Punitive Damages
When an organization’s conduct was particularly egregious—such as covering up abuse, retaliating against reporters, or knowingly allowing a dangerous individual access to children—courts may award punitive damages. These damages punish the defendant and deter similar conduct in the future. Our landmark verdicts demonstrate our ability to secure punitive damages for survivors.
Structured Settlements
Large settlements are often structured to provide ongoing payments over time, offering tax advantages and ensuring long-term financial security for survivors and their families.
The Statute of Limitations for Child Sexual Abuse Claims in California
Understanding California’s statute of limitations is important, as it determines your deadline to file a claim.
Assembly Bill 452: Eliminated Statute of Limitations for Recent Abuse
California law has undergone significant changes regarding the time survivors have to file claims. Assembly Bill 452, effective January 1, 2024, fundamentally transformed the statute of limitations for child sexual abuse survivors. According to California Civil Code § 1708.5, survivors now have expanded rights to pursue justice.
- For abuse occurring on or after January 1, 2024: There is NO statute of limitations. Survivors can file civil claims at any age, regardless of when the abuse occurred.
- For abuse occurring before January 1, 2024: Survivors may file claims until age 40, or within five years of discovering the psychological injury caused by the abuse, whichever is later.
- Tolling for Minors: For all cases, the statute of limitations is tolled (paused) until the survivor reaches age 18, giving minors time to process their experiences before deciding whether to pursue legal action.
Why Acting Promptly Matters
While California’s extended timelines provide significant opportunities for survivors of recent abuse, evidence degrades over time. Witnesses’ memories fade, and documents may be lost or destroyed. Acting promptly preserves evidence and strengthens your case. If you experienced abuse before January 1, 2024, consult with an experienced child sexual abuse attorney in Southern California to determine your specific deadline. Circumstances vary, and an attorney can clarify your timeline.
Frequently Asked Questions About Child Sexual Abuse Claims
What should I do if I suspect a child is being sexually abused?
If you suspect a child is being abused, report it immediately to local law enforcement or child protective services. In California, certain professionals are mandated reporters who must report suspected abuse. If you’re not a mandated reporter, you can still report to:
- Local police department
- Sheriff’s office
- California Department of Social Services Child Abuse Central Index
- Childhelp National Child Abuse Hotline: 1-800-422-4453
Reporting protects the child from ongoing harm and creates an official record that may support future civil claims. Preserve any evidence, including communications, photographs, or medical records, as these strengthen both criminal investigations and civil lawsuits.
How long do I have to file a child sexual abuse claim in California?
Under AB 452, the statute of limitations depends on when the abuse occurred:
For abuse on or after January 1, 2024: There is no statute of limitations. You can file a civil claim at any age.
For abuse before January 1, 2024: You have until age 40 to file, or within five years of discovering the psychological injury caused by the abuse, whichever is later.
Additionally, the statute of limitations is tolled (paused) until you reach age 18. Consult with an experienced child sexual abuse attorney to determine your specific deadline, as circumstances vary.
What types of institutions are commonly involved in child sexual abuse cases?
Child sexual abuse occurs across all institutional settings:
- Schools: Public and private schools, where abuse may be committed by teachers, coaches, staff, or other students. See our school sexual abuse lawyer page for more information.
- Religious Organizations: Churches, synagogues, mosques, and faith-based schools, where clergy and staff have abused positions of trust
- Youth Sports: Coaches, trainers, and athletic organizations where abuse occurs during training or travel
- Youth Organizations: Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, camps, and mentorship programs
- Healthcare Facilities: Doctors, therapists, and medical staff who abuse professional authority
- Childcare: Daycare centers and in-home providers
Institutional liability often exceeds individual perpetrator liability, as organizations may have failed to implement safeguards, conduct background checks, or respond to warning signs.
Can I pursue a civil claim if the perpetrator was never criminally prosecuted?
Yes. Civil and criminal cases are independent legal proceedings with different standards of proof. Criminal cases require proof “beyond a reasonable doubt,” while civil cases require proof by a “preponderance of the evidence“—a lower standard. Many civil cases proceed without criminal prosecution because:
- The perpetrator was never identified or located
- Criminal charges were declined by prosecutors
- The statute of limitations for criminal prosecution expired
- The survivor chose not to participate in criminal proceedings
A civil claim allows you to pursue justice and compensation even without criminal prosecution. This is why many survivors choose to work with a child sexual abuse lawyer to pursue civil remedies.
What is the process for filing a child sexual abuse lawsuit?
- The process typically follows these steps:
- Initial Consultation: Meet with an attorney to discuss your case, timeline, and potential defendants
- Investigation: Your attorney investigates the abuse, identifies liable parties, and gathers evidence
- Demand Letter: Your attorney sends a formal demand letter to defendants and their insurance carriers, outlining the claim and requesting settlement
- Negotiation: Settlement discussions occur, with attorneys negotiating on your behalf
- Litigation (if necessary): If settlement cannot be reached, your attorney files a lawsuit and pursues the case through discovery, depositions, and trial
- Resolution: Cases conclude through settlement or jury verdict
The timeline varies depending on case complexity, but most cases resolve within 1-3 years. Our litigation team has extensive experience navigating this process.
How much does it cost to hire a child sexual abuse attorney?
Dordick Law Corporation represents child sexual abuse survivors on a contingency fee basis. This means:
- No upfront costs: You pay nothing out of pocket
- No hourly fees: You’re not billed for attorney time
- Payment only upon recovery: We receive a percentage of your settlement or verdict only if we recover compensation for you
- Expenses: In some cases, you may be responsible for case expenses (investigation, expert witnesses, court costs), but these are typically deducted from your recovery
This fee structure ensures that financial barriers don’t prevent survivors from accessing justice. We’re invested in your case because our success depends on your recovery.
Contact Dordick Law Corporation for a Free Consultation
If you or a loved one experienced child sexual abuse, you deserve justice and compensation. Dordick Law Corporation provides legal representation to sexual abuse survivors throughout Southern California, including Los Angeles, Beverly Hills, Riverside, and San Diego. Our law firm investigates thoroughly, identifies all liable parties, and pursues fair compensation on your behalf.
Contact us today for a free consultation or give us a call (310) 551-0949, confidential consultation. Our attorneys here to help you heal and hold perpetrators accountable.
