You have the right to sue the person that sexually abused you, but you can also file a lawsuit against the school district if they were negligent in their duty of care to you as a student. With the case involving Matthew Joseph Shelton, there are various forms of negligence that can serve as grounds for a lawsuit against the Benicia Unified School District.

For one thing, the previous allegations of sexual abuse by Shelton are available through public files. So, clearly, this was something that the school district would have or should have known about, yet they still chose to hire this man. Granted, he was acquitted of the charges filed by the girls at Phillips Edison Elementary School, but it’s astounding that school officials took the risk of hiring someone who was formally arrested and charged for child sexual assault.

Furthermore, it’s highly unlikely that there were no complaints of inappropriate conduct by Shelton in his 8 to 9 years of employment with the school system. We doubt that this recent victim was the first one to come forward and tell a teacher, the principal, or someone else about what Shelton was doing to them. So, what was done about complaints or suspicious behavior between Shelton and his students? If the school knew about his previous history, was there extra supervision or other precautionary measures to ensure that he did not engage in sexual misconduct?

Our guess is, the school district failed to take these and other reasonable actions that could have prevented this tragedy. And BUSD is just one of many school districts that look the other way when there are signs or accusations of sexual abuse. If they do anything at all, it’s a slap on the wrist punishment, like a temporary suspension that has the teacher back in the classroom in a matter of weeks. Or, they allow the offender to resign with a spotless history so they can find work at another school. In some cases, we were able to uncover evidence that was hidden by school administrators, which could have been used in a criminal prosecution against the teacher.

Cuando pensamos en los casos de agresión sexual en escuelas que hemos resuelto a lo largo de los años, estamos seguros de que hay más víctimas de Matthew Joseph Shelton. Si usted es una de estas personas o alguien que fue abusado sexualmente en otra escuela pública de California, llámenos. Durante una consulta gratuita, puede obtener más información sobre sus derechos y explorar la opción de demandar a un distrito escolar por abuso sexual por parte de un maestro.

The average value of a lawsuit for sexual misconduct by a teacher is around 1,500,000 USD to 5,000,000 USD depending on the sexual acts, the resulting injuries, and other relevant factors. The amount of compensation can range from 450,000 USD to over 10,000,000 USD, but you can generally expect payments of 6 to 7 figures. Keep in mind, however, that the value of your own lawsuit is based on many factors, including the damages you are owed. Possible damages from a child sexual abuse lawsuit include:

• Angustia emocional
• Dolor y sufrimiento
• Costo de la terapia y otros gastos médicos
• Pérdida de salarios/oportunidades de ingresos
• Pérdida de consorcio
• Honorarios de abogados
• Daños triples

Un abogado especializado en agresión sexual escolar de nuestra oficina puede explicarle cada una de estas categorías y asegurarse de que obtenga cada centavo que merece de una demanda contra el Distrito Escolar Unfired de Benicia o cualquier otro sistema escolar en el estado de California.

A lawsuit for the sexual abuse of a student by a teacher can take just a few months to settle, though we would say that 1 to 2 years is a more realistic timeline. Suing a school district is more complicated than filing a lawsuit against a private entity, like a business or homeowner. Then, there are the added complications of suing for student sexual assault, which is not an accusation that any school wants to be associated with. That’s why the process of negotiating a favorable settlement can be very challenging, and why it’s in your interests to have an experienced attorney by your side.

Many victims ask us about the possibility of their case being tried in court. While you often hear about school sexual abuse court cases in the news, we want to assure you that 95% of these cases are settled privately between the victim and the school district. In the rare instance that a court proceeding is required, resolving your case through a jury verdict can take 3 or more years.

Una demanda por abuso sexual mientras usted era un niño debe ser presentada por su padre, madre o tutor legal.^th cumpleaños. Esto se basa en el hecho de que usted tiene 22 años después de ser legalmente un adulto (18 años) para presentar una demanda por abuso sexual infantil. Sin embargo, existe una excepción legal conocida como la regla del descubrimiento, que puede extender la cantidad de tiempo que tiene para demandar al Distrito Escolar Unificado de Benicia.

En esencia, la regla del descubrimiento se basa en la percepción de una lesión causada por un accidente o un incidente de abuso en un momento posterior de la vida. Por lo general, los sobrevivientes adultos de abuso sexual infantil pueden tardar muchos años en procesar lo que les sucedió, ya que se han condicionado a suprimir estos recuerdos dolorosos. Mientras tanto, hay varios problemas de salud mental con los que luchan, pero no pueden relacionarlos con el abuso sexual por parte de un maestro de escuela. Con la ayuda de un terapeuta, finalmente comprenden el daño que les causaron estos incidentes.

Thankfully, even if the victim is over 40 years old, the discovery of a physical or psychological injury provides them with 5 years in which to file a lawsuit. That’s why many of the clients we represent are in their 50s and 60s, meaning there is technically no age limit to when you can sue for being sexually abused as a student.

Si todo esto le resulta confuso, no se preocupe: un abogado especializado en abuso sexual escolar está disponible para responder todas sus preguntas durante una consulta gratuita.

California siempre ha sido líder en leyes progresistas y protecciones para las víctimas de abuso sexual. Como resultado, quienes sufrieron abusos hace muchos años ahora pueden presentarse y reclamar la compensación a la que tienen derecho. Pero navegar por el proceso legal puede ser difícil incluso en los casos más sencillos, y es por eso que lo alentamos a que se comunique con nuestro bufete de abogados.

The first step is to learn about your rights and legal options during a free case evaluation. If filing a school sexual assault lawsuit is right for you, there is no need to pay us, as we offer a representation on a contingency fee basis. This is a policy where all legal fees are billed to the school district, which is paid to us at the same time as your settlement check. In essence, the only way we get paid is by prevailing in your case and ensuring that justice is served for you and your loved ones.

Comuníquese con DTLA Law Group y programe un tiempo para hablar con un abogado que pueda demandar a un distrito escolar por abuso sexual.