Jiu Jitsu Instructor Sexual Abuse Lawyer

For the most part, we understand sexual assault as an incident where one party was forced to endure a sexual act, even after they said “no.” However, the definition of sexual assault changes when the interaction is between a child and an adult. By child, we mean an individual under 18 years old, as 18 is the legal age of consent in California. Thus, if you are below this age, you cannot legally consent to having sex or engaging in any type of sexual activity with an adult.

Why is this important to note? In far too many of these cases, the perpetrator tries to defend themselves by saying that the minor was mature for their age, they were already sexually active, and a myriad of other excuses. However, any instance of an adult having a sexual relationship with a minor is defined as sexual assault in the state of California. Even if there was no physical contact, sexual interactions like sexting, exchanging nude pics, and sharing pornographic material counts as sexual abuse of a minor.

In either of these situations, the victim has the right to seek criminal prosecution and/or compensation from a child sexual abuse lawsuit. Perhaps this is the course of action that’s right for you, which we can talk you about in more detail during a free, private case review.

Along with the instructor that abused you, liable entities for sexual abuse may include the martial arts academy or school that hired the teacher. In addition, you may have grounds to file a lawsuit against individuals and organizations that plan training events and competitions. For example, there may be tournament organizers that have heard of allegations against an instructor or sense that something inappropriate is going on.

Keep in mind that employers and others that have a duty of care to the students do not need to witness an incident of sexual assault. Even if they are told about it or see that a child is struggling with issues that are signs of sexual abuse, they are required to file a report with the police or child protective services. This is a legal requirement under California’s mandatory reporter laws, so not reporting the abuse is a criminal offense. But even if criminal charges are never filed, the victim or their parents / guardians can file a jiu jitsu instructor sexual assault lawsuit.

Liability is a complicated concept when a child is sexually abused due to negligence by multiple individuals. It’s essential for abuse victims to speak with a child sexual abuse attorney, who can help with a lawsuit for monetary damages. If you or your family member was victimized by an instructor at a martial arts center, please take some time to speak with a member of our legal team.

Survivors of child sexual assault have until the age of 40, or 22 years following their 18^th birthday if they wish to file a civil claim. This is based on the terms of Assembly Bill 218, which went into effect on January 1, 2020.

At this point, you may be asking yourself, “What if I’m older than 40? Can I still file a lawsuit for sexual abuse by a jiu jitsu instructor?”

You may be eligible for a lawsuit if you can prove that you experienced a delayed discovery of injuries that resulted from sexual assault while you were a minor. With children who are abused in a sexual manner, they are confused and scared about what happened, and the natural reaction is to repress the painful memories and go on with life as normal. But the impact of sexual assault eventually catches up with you, typically in the form of mental health disorders. For many victims, it takes years – maybe decades – before they understand that these problems are connected to sexual abuse during their childhood.

Starting from whenever you come to this realization, you are allowed 5 years to file a lawsuit according to the discovery rule for survivors of child sexual abuse. If you would like to discuss the statute of limitations for a lawsuit in more detail, please give us a call.

All lawsuits are meant to provide monetary funds for the victim, but this is not the only thing that is achieved when you file a claim for sex abuse by a martial arts teacher. Suing for what happened to you is a matter of justice and finding a way to move forward from the pain and trauma of sexual assault.

The attorneys of DTLA Law Group look forward to fighting for your rights and being a part of your journey to recovery. We have a Zero Fee Guarantee policy, so you pay $0 upfront to be represented by our law firm. After we successfully recover your settlement, a portion of it will be deducted to cover all legal fees. If we don’t bring you compensation from a lawsuit for sexual assault, you owe us $0.

For more information on the Zero Fee Guarantee and all the other ways we can assist you, contact DTLA Law Group at your earliest convenience.

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