Skip to main content

Sexual Abuse Legal News & Updates

landlord negligence
In civil court, the perpetrator of sexual assault isn’t the only one who can be held liable. Civil courts allow victims the opportunity to sue third parties for sexual assault, including property landlords. This liability is particularly helpful when the identity of the perpetrator is unknown or when the perpetrator can’t afford to compensate the plaintiff for personal damages suffered as a result of the abuse. If you were sexually assaulted on your rental property and your landlord failed to uphold their end of the rental agreement, they can be
Continue Reading
california bans secret settlements
The pervasive use of secrecy provisions to prevent victims of sexual assault and abuse from speaking about their situations has prompted new legislation in California. State Senator Connie Leyva authored the bill, which was also sponsored by the Consumer Attorneys of California and the Screen Actors Guild. “For decades, secret settlements have been used by wealthy and well-connected perpetrators to offend repeatedly with no public accountability,” Senator Levya said. “SB 820 will finally lift the curtain of secrecy that has continued to protect these perpetrators by forcing their victims to remain
Continue Reading
sexual assault in the military
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.   According to the Department of Defense's 2018 report on Sexual Assault in the Military, the reporting of sexual assault in the military has increased by 10 percent in one year’s time. The Department of Defense encourages reporting of sexual assaults so that military men and women can be connected with restorative care, and perpetrators can
Continue Reading
What to Do If You’ve Been Sexually Assaulted in Another Country
Violence occurs in every country around the world, regardless of political affiliation, economic prosperity, or culture. Societal attitudes toward sexual assault can vary greatly from country to country and the support you receive from local law officials can be surprisingly inadequate. Knowing who to call and what to do if you’ve been sexually assaulted in another country can make a big difference in your pursuit of justice and the eventual outcome. What to Do If You’ve Been Sexually Assaulted in Another Country Seek medical attention. No matter where in the
Continue Reading
child abuse and neglect reporting act
Rarely does a sexual predator assault a child, suddenly and without warning. More commonly, they select a target and gradually groom the child to accept their abusive behavior. Subtleties include pats on the back, praise, reiteration of a “special relationship,” calls for secrecy, and alone time. For this reason, California law calls for mandated reporters to exercise vigilance in their communities. The list of mandated reporters includes teachers, instructional aides, school employees, and anyone whose job involves the direct supervision of minors. According to the Child Abuse and Neglect Reporting Act
Continue Reading
california mandated reporter law
Child sexual abuse requires a culture of silence to continue. Though it’s unthinkable, there are people who would look the other way to save face, rather than protect a vulnerable child. In 2002, Penn State University’s graduate assistant reported up the chain of command to the football team’s head coach that he witnessed the assistant coach molesting a student in the shower. Penn State administrators discussed the reports internally but failed to report the abuse. It took a decade before the assistant coach was arrested for the sexual abuse. After
Continue Reading
sexually assaulted at work by customer
Those in media and news have been in the spotlight lately for sexual assault claims but other industries lead in the number of assault charges filed. More than a third of people sexually assaulted on the job work in accommodation and food services, retail, and health care. It may not be a manager, owner, or coworker perpetrating the abuse, but a customer who, in these cases, is not “always right.” Continue reading to learn more about how to confront a customer in the workplace, what happens if you call the police,
Continue Reading
sexual abuse in the workplace
The State of California provides workers with the right to a non-hostile work environment. By law, employers must create a written policy regarding sexual abuse in the workplace and investigate all complaints. They have an obligation to provide diligent hiring, supervision, and training to prevent sexual abuse on their watch. When employers fail to protect their workers from sexual abuse in the workplace or even aid and abet known abusers, an experienced attorney will fight to make sure all guilty parties are held accountable. What Does the Law Say About
Continue Reading
what to do if my child was sexually abused at summer camp
Staff members at summer camps hold a legal responsibility to act in loco parentis—in place of parents—to safeguard those entrusted into their care. Camp owners and administrators possess a legal duty of care to hire staff members with clean records; to train and supervise staff members in recognizing and preventing sexual abuse; to limit one-on-one opportunities between campers and staff members; and to provide a safe environment that protects patrons from danger or abuse. When a child is sexually abused while in the care of staff members at a summer
Continue Reading
doctor sexual abuse
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.   Survivors of sexual abuse typically deal with the effects for many years after the abuse has ended. Sexual abusers come from all walks of life and most hold positions of authority and trust such as coaches, caregivers, and medical professionals. Instances of doctor sexual abuse often go unreported for years but that doesn’t mean survivors
Continue Reading
what to do if i was sexually assaulted by my doctor
When you seek medical care from a doctor, dentist, surgeon, physical therapist, or psychiatrist, you place your trust in their hands. Sexual abuse by a medical professional is a serious violation of medical ethics and the law. As the Medical Board of California puts it, “Physicians must be held to a higher standard than others, simply because of the very private nature of the doctor-patient relationship.” California courts, the Medical Board of California, and the American Medical Association have a "zero-tolerance" policy toward intimate or sexual relationships in the medical
Continue Reading
sexual abuse in foster care, sexually abused in foster care
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.   Foster care agencies are designed to be a safe haven for children who were otherwise abused, neglected, or abandoned. When a child is placed in foster care, they are placed in the care of trusted adults until they are either adopted or age out of the system. Though background checks are conducted and safeguards put
Continue Reading
THIS PAGE IS DEDICATED TO OUR SEXUAL ABUSE PRACTICE. CLICK HERE TO LEARN ABOUT OUR BUSINESS PRACTICE.