Average Value of a Kedren Community Health Center Sexual Abuse Case

People are often confused about their rights when it comes to who they can sue for a case of sexual abuse. Your attacker is one party you can go after, as they are the actual perpetrator of the crime. However, Kedren Health has a duty of care to ensure your safety while you are on their property. In fact, they have a higher duty of care than most businesses / organizations, as they are a medical facility. If Kedren Community Health Center failed to take reasonable measures to protect you from sexual assault, you may have grounds to sue them for monetary compensation.

But how do you prove negligence in a case of sexual assault at a medical center? To answer that question, let’s explore Kedren’s Health troubled history, which was revealed in a 2019 investigation by the Los Angeles Times. The investigation was launched after a psychiatric patient killed his roommate – an incident that may have been prevented if there was an after-hours psychiatrist. It seems unbelievable that an in-patient psychiatric unit failed to have a clinician on staff 24 hours a day, and clearly, this was a form of negligence. The investigation also revealed incidents of physical violence and sexual assault, which we believe has been going on for decades at Kedren Community Health Center.

Legal options are available to help you move forward with your life. A California sexual abuse lawyer is here to assist you, so please give us a call right away.

Sexual abuse claims vary widely in terms of settlements, but these are generally high value cases, especially when they involve children or mentally impaired individuals. Depending on various factors that are unique to each client, a sexual assault lawsuit can bring in anywhere from $1,000,000 to $7,500,000. The biggest settlements typically include punitive damages, which is a form of monetary punishment that’s issued by the court. Essentially, if the negligence of misconduct that led to your sexual abuse is particularly outrageous, the defendant can be ordered to pay you an extra amount on top of your settlement award. As there is no cap on punitive damages in California, this payment can add increase the value of a sexual abuse case by $1 million or more.

When we calculate the value of a client’s case, there are many elements we have to consider. There are, of course, the physical injuries, but the emotional scars are much harder to deal with for most victims. Overall, it’s challenging to put a dollar value on the impact of sexual violence, but here are some of the factors that we examine:

• The extent of the victim’s physical and emotional injuries (particularly, mental health disorders like PTSD and suicidal thoughts).
• How those injuries have impacted their life (school / job performance, intimate relationships, social interactions, etc.)
• If the victim was in fear for their life (use of weapons, for example)
• Age of the victim versus the abuser’s age
• Types of sexual assault that were involved
• The degree of negligence by the defendant

In the previous section, we talked about punitive damages, which plays a role in many claims of sexual abuse. Gross negligence by an organization includes covering up, or deliberately concealing evidence of a sexual assault. This is a critical factor in child sexual abuse cases, thanks to recent changes in the law under California’s Assembly Bill 218. If the defendant willfully engaged in the concealment or destruction of evidence related to the sexual abuse of a minor, they may be ordered to pay three times the normal amount of damages.

This is a lot of process, and you may be overwhelmed by all the information we’ve presented. One of our attorneys can answer all your questions and help you determine an approximate value for your case.

Knowing the statute of limitations for your case is essential to filing your claim and recovering compensation in a timely manner. California is very generous when it comes to the amount of time victims have to seek justice in a sexual abuse case. As an adult – 18 years or older – you have 10 years from the time you were sexually assaulted to file a lawsuit against the responsible parties. If you were under the age of 18 when you were abused, you have until the age of 40 to seek monetary damages. Alternatively, you have up to 5 years after discovering the effects of sexual violence, whichever date comes later. We can explain these terms to you in detail and help you decide on the statute of limitations that applies to your situation.

Of course, Kedren Health has been open since the mid-1960s, meaning there may be cases that go back several decades. For those claimants, the statute of limitations may have expired long ago on their cases. Fortunately, there is a three-year revival window under AB-218, which allows for these claims to go forward. That means even if you were sexually abused 40 to 50 years ago, you may still have the chance to sue Kedren Community Health Center. But you must act quickly, as the revival window on expired cases comes to an end on December 31, 2022.

Just like case values, the amount of time it takes to settle a case varies from client to client. We have had cases that only took a few months to settle, while others took two or more years. As your legal advocate, our goal is to negotiate your settlement within the first 6 months, but unforeseen complications can take weeks or months to resolve. You must also keep in mind that offers and counter offers have to be exchanged in writing, and the other side has a right to consult their attorney before they respond to us. That’s why it often takes us 12 to18 months to recover a client’s payment. Ideally, we can settle the case without court intervention, but we may have to file a lawsuit if the other side is engaging in stall tactics or other bad faith actions. That’s when cases take the longest to resolve, especially if a trial is required.

Many clients come to us to learn about their rights and legal options as a victim of sexual abuse. But we also speak with victims that have an active claim but need a second opinion from another attorney. We provide free second opinions no matter where you are in your case. After a private, one-on-one consultation, you may decide to switch lawyers and transfer your case to our law firm. On the other hand, you may choose to continue your case with your current lawyer, which is completely up to you. Please give us a call if you’re interested in a free second opinion with one of our legal experts.

Sexual abuse victims stay silent for many reasons, but the cost of legal services should never hold you back from taking action against your abuser. The lawyers of DTLA work on contingency, meaning all our payments are deferred until the end of your case. Our expenses are paid by Kedren Health at the same time as your settlement award, so the only way we get paid is if you get paid.

We know that this will be one of the most challenging times in your life, but we are with you every step of the way. Our lawyers will not rest until you are compensated for the harm you’ve suffered. To speak with a Kedren Community sexual abuse attorney, please contact DTLA Law Group.   

Other Pages on Our Website Related to This Topic
How Long Do I Have to Sue for Sexual Abuse at Kedren Community Health Center?
Kedren Community Health Center Sexual Abuse Lawyers
MacLaren Hall Sexual Abuse Lawsuits – How Much Can I Receive?