24-09-2019
New York has joined states like California in efforts to afford survivors of childhood sexual abuse the opportunity to seek justice against their abusers. The Child Victims Act (S2440) was signed into law by New York Governor Andrew Cuomo on February 14, 2019. It provides a beacon of light for victims of childhood sexual abuse who may have suffered silently or been unable to take legal action due to expired statute of limitations. If you are a survivor of childhood sexual abuse living in California, you may be interested in
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17-09-2019
Sexual abuse in teenage relationships can occur as one of four types of violent behaviors between intimate partners—physical violence, sexual violence, psychological aggression, and stalking. Data from the CDC’s Youth Risk Behavior Survey and the National Intimate Partner and Sexual Violence Survey shows that about one in nine female high school students and one in 36 male high school students report having experienced sexual dating violence in the last year. For many victims of sexual abuse in teenage relationships, it can be difficult to understand that what you’re experiencing isn’t
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29-08-2019
In some cases, sexual harassment is obvious and may involve an overt action, threat, or reprisal. In other instances, sexual harassment is subtle and indirect. In one survey conducted in January 2018, 81% of women and 43% of men reported experiencing some form of sexual harassment and/or assault in their lifetime. If you’re wondering how to file a sexual harassment claim in California, the experienced attorneys at Lewis & Llewellyn can help. Here, we discuss the differences between sexual abuse, assault, and harassment, laws against sexual harassment, how to file
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22-08-2019
This post was written before the passage of AB-218. For information regarding the statute of limitations for filing a civil lawsuit for childhood sexual assault/abuse, click here or contact our team of experienced representatives. There is no set timetable for recovery after sexual assault or abuse. Many survivors find solace in speaking with therapists while others may decide to not come forward at all. In fact, it is believed that less than 35 percent of all sexual assaults are ever reported to law enforcement. Regardless of how you decide
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08-08-2019
Transgender and gender non-binary teens are at a greater risk of sexual assault in schools that prevent them from using bathrooms or locker rooms consistent with their gender identity, according to one study. Of the students (ages 13-17) surveyed, 25.9% reported being victims of sexual assault. For non-transgender teens, the rates of sexual assault were reported as 15% for girls and 4% for boys. Transgender or gender non-binary teens who faced restrictive access to restrooms or locker rooms reportedly experienced a 36% rate of sexual assault. Many wonder if the
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06-08-2019
While California weighs the idea of extending the statute of limitations for childhood sexual abuse survivors to come forward in seeking justice, more research supports the idea that adults can accurately recall traumatic events repressed from their childhood—specifically repressed memories of sexual abuse. People can forget details or delay coming forward, especially if the abuse was severe, but the passage of time shouldn’t deny a person’s right to file a lawsuit for redress. Repressed memories of sexual abuse have been a controversial topic for decades, which might cause you to
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01-08-2019
In 2018, the California Coalition Against Sexual Assault published a report that found the annual cost of sexual assault in California to be $140 billion. That amount includes the tangible costs of sexual violence in California such as medical and mental health care, prevention, investigation, sanctioning, treatment, and victim services. It also includes intangible costs such as lost quality of life and lost work productivity. When considering these costs on an individual level, it’s not uncommon for survivors of sexual assault to want to seek compensation after being sexually assaulted.
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30-07-2019
The ways in which one chooses to recover from sexual abuse can vary widely. Because the effects of sexual abuse aren’t always immediate, it can be difficult to fully comprehend or pinpoint exactly how the abuse has affected you. Oftentimes, survivors of sexual abuse don’t experience issues until years after the abuse. In efforts to prompt healing after an act of sexual assault, it is important to seek out the proper care and guidance. Recovering from sexual abuse can be a complex process that takes one through the full gamut
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23-07-2019
For many survivors of childhood sexual abuse coming forward about what they’ve endured is difficult. Oftentimes, by the time a survivor has decided to seek justice, their time limit has expired due to the statute of limitations in their state. In California, lawmakers are hoping that California Assembly Bill 218 (AB 218) can expand the scope of child sexual abuse litigation. In this article, we discuss the current statute of limitations for childhood sexual abuse, the historical context behind bills similar to AB 218, and how sexual abuse survivors can
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18-07-2019
California lawmakers have taken action in response to numerous allegations of child sexual abuse within the Catholic Church. California Senate Bill 360 aims to protect children by breaking the seal of confession and requiring members of the clergy to report child sexual abuse as mandated in the Child Abuse and Neglect Reporting Act (CANRA). For victims of child sexual abuse suffered at the hands of church clergy, this could mean their abusers would no longer be able to hide behind the sacrament of confession. What Is California Senate Bill 360?
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16-07-2019
In the state of California, “yes means yes” is used to define sexual consent. This means that someone who is of age to legally consent to a sexual act has to actually say “yes” instead of not specifically say “no.” A permittance of a sexual act can be complicated in cases where a person’s sexual consent was based on fear or coercion. Many clients ask “what is sexual coercion?” and wonder how can it impact their claim of sexual assault. What Is Sexual Coercion? When sexual coercion occurs, one’s consent
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03-07-2019
Too often in cases of sexual assault does victim blaming occur. Suggesting that a survivor of sexual assault was the “ideal victim” or somehow “asked for it” allows the abuser to avoid accountability for their actions. Sexual predators also use a tactic of claiming victims “made them do it” or “enjoyed it” to increase the victims’ feelings of shame, guilt, and confusion that allows the crimes to remain hidden for many years. While the societal scales have tipped toward believing victims of sexual abuse, the problem of victim blaming has
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