Sexual Abuse Legal News & Updates

Not every survivor is willing to come forward immediately—or even ever—after being sexually abused. But, for those looking to move forward in the healing process, confronting sexual abuse could be the best course of action. Confronting sexual abuse may look different for every survivor; it can involve speaking up about what happened, pressing criminal charges, or filing a civil lawsuit.  If you are wondering if you should confront your sexual abuser—and anyone else who may have known or aided in the abuse—consider the possible benefits.    Possible Benefits of Confronting Sexual

Assembly Bill 1599 (AB 1599), a peace officer transparency bill introduced in January 2020, could close a vital loophole that kept sexual assault allegations off the public record. The bill passed the Assembly with a 63-2 vote in January and has moved to the Senate, where it is expected to pass by a wide margin sometime this summer. You can keep an eye on this legislation here. In the meantime, this article will discuss who the bill pertains to, why it was proposed, and ultimately what the passage of AB

If you were forced to have sex against your will, it is considered rape and against the law. California’s rape law is codified in Penal Code §261, which makes sex illegal when it is initiated through force, fear, threats, or duress. If a date, partner, coworker, acquaintance, or stranger forces you to have sex against your will, you can press criminal charges against that person for crimes committed against “the state of California.”   Forced sex on a larger, more orchestrated scale is known as sexual slavery or sex trafficking—one of

With 93% of perpetrators being known by the child and their family, it’s likely that when childhood molestation is reported, it’s difficult to believe. This may leave many childhood victims wondering: “What to do if my family doesn’t believe I was molested?” Regardless of whether your family believes you or not, if you were molested as a child, you have the right to seek justice. This article will discuss your legal options should you decide to press criminal charges, file a civil lawsuit, or both.     Reasons Family Members

Following the #MeToo movement, lawmakers have set their sights on eradicating the culture of sexual harassment in the workplace. California Senate Bill 1300 (SB 1300), was signed into law on September 30, 2018, and became effective January 1, 2019. This is one notable example of a state law indicating that sexual harassment victims are to be believed, supported, and reimbursed for the traumatic events they have endured. If you’ve experienced sexual harassment in the workplace, legislation like SB 1300 is designed to bring you justice.   What is the Fair Employment

For many, massage therapy is a means to feel relaxed and relieve tension. Unfortunately, over the years, clients have reported being sexually violated by their massage therapist resulting in added stress or tension.  If you’ve been sexually violated by a massage therapist, you may be able to press criminal charges and seek compensation in civil court for pain and suffering.   Reports of Sexual Assault by Massage Therapists  Over the past decade, a number of massage parlors in California have been accused of negligently hiring and supervising employees, ignoring the known