When you entrust your child to a daycare facility, you expect a safe, nurturing environment where trained professionals protect their wellbeing. Tragically, some children experience sexual abuse in daycare settings—a violation of trust that demands accountability and justice. At Dordick Law Corporation, we represent families in Southern California whose children have suffered sexual abuse in daycare facilities. We hold negligent daycare providers, staff members, and responsible organizations accountable through civil litigation, pursuing the compensation your family deserves.

If your child has been sexually abused at daycare, you have legal options. Our Southern California sexual abuse attorneys understand the profound impact of childhood sexual abuse and work tirelessly to build strong cases that result in meaningful compensation for medical care, therapy, pain and suffering, and other damages. We have secured significant verdicts and settlements for families in similar situations.

Why Choose Dordick Law Corporation?

Dordick Law Corporation brings extensive experience representing families in child sexual abuse cases throughout Southern California. We understand the sensitive nature of these cases and approach each matter with compassion, confidentiality, and unwavering commitment to justice. Our team includes experienced trial attorneys who have dedicated their careers to protecting children’s rights.

We work on a contingency fee basis, meaning you pay no attorney fees unless we recover compensation for your family. This arrangement ensures that financial constraints do not prevent families from accessing quality legal representation. Our lead attorney, Gary A. Dordick, has spent decades fighting for victims of abuse and negligence.

Our attorneys conduct thorough investigations, retain expert witnesses, and build compelling cases that hold negligent facilities accountable. We pursue maximum compensation for medical care, therapy, pain and suffering, and other damages your family has incurred. Our track record includes significant case results that demonstrate our commitment to holding negligent facilities accountable.

We handle all aspects of your case—from initial investigation through settlement negotiation or trial—allowing you to focus on your child’s healing and recovery. Your family’s wellbeing and justice remain our priorities throughout the legal process. Whether your case involves premises liability, negligent supervision, or institutional negligence, we have the expertise to pursue justice.

Understanding Daycare Sexual Abuse and Your Legal Rights

How Daycare Sexual Abuse Occurs

Daycare sexual abuse takes many forms. Perpetrators may include daycare staff members, volunteers, contractors, or other children in the facility. Abuse can range from inappropriate touching and exposure to more severe forms of sexual assault. The abuse often occurs in areas with limited supervision—bathrooms, nap rooms, or isolated spaces where children lack protection.

Daycare facilities have a legal duty to maintain safe environments through proper supervision, background checks, and staff training. When facilities fail to implement adequate safety measures, they create conditions where abuse becomes possible. Parents place their children in daycare with the reasonable expectation that trained professionals will protect them from harm. This duty extends to inadequate security measures and failure to implement proper protocols.

Research indicates that approximately 10% of students report experiencing sexual misconduct by school personnel, and similar vulnerabilities exist in daycare settings where supervision standards may vary. The American Academy of Pediatrics emphasizes that comprehensive background screening, staff training, and supervision protocols significantly reduce abuse risk. Additionally, the CDC provides guidelines on preventing child abuse in institutional settings.

Recognizing Signs Your Child May Have Been Abused

Children often cannot articulate what happened to them, making it crucial for parents to recognize behavioral and physical warning signs.

• Behavioral indicators include sudden changes in behavior, regression to earlier developmental stages, fear of specific people or places, inappropriate sexual knowledge or behavior for the child’s age, nightmares or sleep disturbances, withdrawal from activities they previously enjoyed, and anxiety or depression.
• Physical signs may include unexplained injuries to genital or anal areas, difficulty walking or sitting, sexually transmitted infections, or torn or stained underclothing. Some children display a combination of signs, while others show subtle changes that parents might initially attribute to other causes. The National Child Traumatic Stress Network provides resources for recognizing trauma in children.

If you notice these signs in your child, document them carefully and seek medical evaluation immediately. Contact law enforcement and consult with an experienced daycare abuse attorney to understand your legal options. Early intervention protects your child and preserves evidence critical to your case. Our sexual abuse lawyers are available to help families throughout the region.

Who Can Be Held Liable for Daycare Sexual Abuse

Daycare facilities can be held liable for sexual abuse through negligent hiring and supervision claims.

Negligent Hiring

Negligent hiring occurs when a facility fails to conduct adequate background checks, verify employment history, or investigate references before hiring staff. If a facility hired someone with a known history of abuse or concerning behavior, the facility bears responsibility for that decision.

California law requires daycare facilities to conduct thorough background investigations, including criminal history checks and reference verification. Facilities that fail to follow these requirements and subsequently hire individuals who abuse children face significant liability. The California Department of Social Services establishes licensing requirements for child care facilities that mandate these background screening procedures.

Negligent Supervision

Negligent supervision claims arise when facilities fail to properly monitor staff and children. Adequate supervision requires sufficient staff-to-child ratios, regular monitoring of all areas where children spend time, and clear protocols for bathroom breaks and changing areas. When facilities fail to maintain these standards, they create opportunities for abuse. This is particularly relevant in cases involving inadequate security or failure to implement proper monitoring systems.

Negligent Retention

Negligent retention occurs when a facility continues employing someone after learning of concerning behavior or warning signs. If a facility knew or should have known that an employee posed a risk to children and failed to take action, the facility remains liable for subsequent abuse. Our child sexual abuse lawyers investigate these failures thoroughly and hold facilities accountable.

Daycare Facility Accountability

Daycare centers, corporate operators, and facility owners can all be held accountable for sexual abuse occurring on their premises. Facilities have a duty to implement comprehensive safety protocols, conduct thorough background investigations, provide staff training on abuse recognition and prevention, maintain appropriate supervision ratios, and respond promptly to any concerns or disclosures.

When facilities breach these duties, they create liability. Our attorneys investigate how the abuse occurred, what safety measures the facility failed to implement, and what warning signs the facility ignored. We build cases that demonstrate the facility’s negligence directly contributed to your child’s abuse. Similar principles apply to school sexual abuse cases, where institutional negligence creates liability.

Compensation Available for Daycare Sexual Abuse Victims

Families of daycare sexual abuse victims can recover multiple categories of damages through civil litigation.

• Medical expenses cover immediate and ongoing medical care, including emergency room visits, examinations, testing for sexually transmitted infections, and any necessary medical procedures. These costs can be substantial and extend throughout a child’s lifetime.
• Therapy and mental health treatment damages compensate for counseling, psychological treatment, and psychiatric care necessary to address trauma from the abuse. Many survivors require years of therapy to process their experiences and develop healthy coping mechanisms. The American Psychological Association recognizes trauma-informed care as essential for abuse survivors.
• Pain and suffering damages compensate for the physical and emotional trauma your child experienced. These damages recognize the profound harm caused by abuse and the lasting impact on your child’s development, relationships, and quality of life. Our attorneys have recovered substantial pain and suffering awards in sexual abuse cases.
• Lost wages or earning capacity may apply if the abuse impacts your child’s educational development or future employment prospects. Punitive damages may be available in cases involving particularly egregious conduct, serving to punish the defendant and deter similar behavior. Our case results demonstrate our ability to secure comprehensive damage awards.

Our daycare sex abuse attorney in Southern California work with medical experts, mental health professionals, and economists to calculate the full scope of damages your family has suffered and will suffer in the future. We pursue compensation that reflects the true cost of your child’s abuse and recovery.

California’s Statute of Limitations for Child Sexual Abuse Cases

California law provides extended timeframes for filing child sexual abuse claims. Under California Code of Civil Procedure Section 340.1, victims of childhood sexual abuse can file civil lawsuits within five years of discovering the abuse or within five years of turning 18 years old, whichever occurs later.

Recent legislative changes have expanded these timeframes further. Assembly Bill 218, effective January 1, 2020, created a three-year window allowing survivors to file claims that would otherwise be barred by the statute of limitations. The California Legislature recognized that many abuse survivors do not disclose or seek legal action immediately, often due to trauma, shame, or fear. Current law allows survivors greater flexibility in pursuing justice.

However, statutes of limitations are strict deadlines. Missing the deadline eliminates your right to file a lawsuit. If you suspect your child has been abused, consult with an attorney immediately to understand your specific timeline and ensure your claim is filed within applicable deadlines.

Frequently Asked Questions About Daycare Sexual Abuse Cases

Contact Dordick Law Corporation Today

If your child has been sexually abused at daycare, contact Dordick Law Corporation for a free, confidential consultation. Our team of Southern California daycare sexual abuse attorneys are ready to discuss your case, answer your questions, and explain your legal options. Our firm represents families on a contingency fee basis—you pay nothing unless we recover compensation for your family.

Call (310) 551-0949 or complete our online contact form to schedule your free consultation. Let us help you pursue justice and the compensation your family deserves.