After School Program Sexual Abuse Lawsuit Attorney

While it’s painful to admit, any program that’s focused on the needs of children is vulnerable to sexual predators that infiltrate the system. These criminals typically apply for jobs as teachers, counselors, bus drivers, janitors, etc., in order to have easy access to underage individuals. That’s why incidents of sexual assault against a minor are common in the following afterschool programs:

• Latchkey or afterschool programs for working parents
• School mentorship programs
• Academic / Honor’s society programs
• School clubs (yearbook, school paper, chess club, book club, volunteer clubs, etc.)
• Sports teams
• Performing arts / theater / band program 
• Big Brothers Big Sisters of America
• Boys Scouts of America 
• Girl Scouts of the USA 
• Summer school / summer day camp

If you or your loved one was sexually abused at any of these programs, please take a moment to contact our law firm. A seasoned child sexual abuse attorney will go over the steps you can take, including how to file a compensation claim against the liable individuals and organizations.

As a victim of sexual abuse at an afterschool program, you have the right to file a lawsuit for monetary compensation. Filing a lawsuit is a big decision, and many people have conflicting emotions when it comes to a legal action, especially if you were abused many years ago.

However, seeking justice through the civil courts is the only option for many survivors of sexual abuse if they have run out of time for a criminal complaint. It’s also worth noting that sexual assault victims have considerable losses due to the effects of what they went endured. These include cost of therapy and medical treatments, missed income opportunities and job loss, and inability to form / sustain healthy relationships. California laws provide compensation to victims who are in this situation, but it’s difficult to succeed in a legal case if you don’t have many years of experience with the legal system.

An experienced attorney can help you with important issues regarding your rights and legal options. These include:

• Who is liable for the abuse I went through as a child in an afterschool program?
• What is the legal process to file a lawsuit against my abuser, the afterschool program, the school district, etc.?
• Can I file criminal charges against the abuser while seeking payment from a sexual assault lawsuit?
• What if I have an after school sexual abuse case already, but I have questions or concerns about my case?

No matter the issue, our legal team is here for you 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, so contact DTLA Law Group at your earliest convenience.

As a parent or legal guardian, you can file a lawsuit on behalf of your child if they were subjected to sexual abuse by someone at an after school program. Many of our clients are caretakers of the victim, who wish to pursue all available legal remedies to protect and empower their child.

Working with an experienced attorney is the most important step in the legal process if you are suing an afterschool program for sexual assault. These lawsuits involve many steps, complicated paperwork, and skilled legal arguments, which most people are unable to accomplish on their own. That’s why many families have come to us over the years when a loved one is sexually violated by a trusted adult.

Simply give us a call as soon as possible to discuss your case with an after school sexual assault lawsuit attorney. You can count on us to take immediate action on your case and fight tirelessly for the compensation your child is entitled to for their harm and suffering.

Child sexual abuse lawsuits must be filed within 22 years of the victim’s 18^th birthday (up to 40 years old). However, you may have the right to seek monetary compensation if you are past 40 years old under California’s 5-year discovery rule.

Essentially, the discovery rule is an exception to the normal statute of limitations for a personal injury lawsuit. There are situations where a victim is injured, but they are not aware of the harm they’ve suffered until a later date. We see this quite often with adult survivors of child sexual abuse. These individuals are not aware that they are being abused, or they repress memories of the incident because they are too traumatic to deal with.

The problem with repressing trauma is that it will inevitably reemerge, typically through mental health disorders based on fear, self-hatred, guilt, and shame. You often see these victims struggling at school or at their jobs. They have relationship phobias and commitment issues, either with friends, family members, or romantic partners. You also find that many of them are addicted to alcohol and/or drugs as a way to cope with the pain of what they suffered.

Most of these people are unable to connect what they are going through now with the incidents of sexual assault at an after school program. It’s not until many years later, perhaps beyond the age of 40, when they receive professional counseling and figure out the source of their problem. With the discovery rule, you may have the right to sue the school district and other entities, no matter how old you are.

Keep in mind that you must prove your right to a lawsuit under the discovery rule with evidence that meets the standards set by the California court system. Our attorneys can help you with this process, so don’t hesitate to call if you are interested in a legal action for sexual abuse at an afterschool program.

An after school sexual abuse lawsuit is worth anywhere from $500,000 to $5,000,000 in the state of California. Frankly, the majority of claims at our law firm are settled for over $1,000,000, especially if there were multiple incidents of abuse. These awards, by the way, are largely based on emotional injuries rather than physical ones. Of course, it’s possible for a victim to have physical damage from sexual abuse, but the vast majority of these incidents do not produce bodily harm. However, the trauma to one’s mental health from childhood abuse is extremely harmful, especially if the victim represses what has happened to them.

Though we have provided you with a range of estimates, these amounts may not reflect the amount of compensation you are entitled to. For an accurate valuation of your child sexual abuse lawsuit, contact us for a free, confidential case review.

The amount of time to settle an afterschool sexual abuse lawsuit is 1 to 3 years in most cases. This is due to a variety of complications that have to do with the process for suing a school system, especially a public school district. Based on the circumstances, it’s possible to reach a settlement within 6 months, but we would say that most cases of sexual abuse against a minor will take longer.

Our goal is to secure payment on your behalf as soon as possible, and we can assure you that over 95% of all our cases are settled without the need for a trial. If your case is taken to court, settling an after school child abuse lawsuit can take up to several years. However, it’s more than likely that we can negotiate a settlement with the other side long before the scheduled hearing date.

The devastating effects of sexual abuse cannot be erased with the passage of time. But there are many things you can do to work through these issues and live the quality of life you deserve. For the clients we have helped over the years, legal action has been a critical part of the healing process, whether they are the abuse victim or the loved one of someone that was sexually abused.

All of our attorneys work on contingency under a policy known as the Zero Fee Guarantee. We believe that legal fees should be paid by the negligent party, not the person that deserves justice under the law. That’s why you will not be charged a single penny upfront if you decide to hire us. The cost of representing you is paid to us as a part of your settlement check, and if we don’t win your case, you pay $0, even if your case goes to trial.

Legal services by our attorneys include free second opinions if you have concerns about a pending lawsuit with another law firm. For a free consultation with a child sexual or physical abuse lawsuit lawyer, please give us a call.

Other Pages on Our Website Related to This Topic
South California School District Conceals Evidence of Sexual Abuse for Decades
School Sex Abuse Lawyer
Former El Sereno High School Coach Charged with Sexual Abuse