Sexual abuse is a crime that leaves lasting impacts on the survivors. Whether the abuse or assault was a one-time or recurrent event, happened in childhood or adulthood, these crimes reach far beyond physical trauma.
From suffering emotional distress to struggling with interpersonal relationships, seeking justice can be a step toward healing. At Rosenfeld Injury Lawyers, we understand the sensitivity of these cases and the courage it takes to come forward.
We’re dedicated to supporting sexual abuse survivors throughout California by providing legal counsel and fighting for their rights.
WE ARE ONLY ACCEPTING SEXUAL ABUSE CASES INVOLVING INSTITUTIONS.
IF YOU HAVE A MATTER INVOLVING A RELATIVE OR ACQUAINTANCE, PLEASE CONTACT YOUR LOCAL BAR ASSOCIATION
Why Choose Rosenfeld Injury Lawyers
At Rosenfeld Injury Lawyers, we’re dedicated to seeking the highest compensation for our clients who are survivors of sexual assault crimes and sexual abuse. Our legal team has the compassion and experience to handle these cases with the care and tenacity they deserve. We have a proven track record of achieving large settlements for our clients.
Hotel sexual assault case
Coach grooming and abuse
Cruise ship rape settlement
Negligent security assault
Child sexual abuse lawsuit
Therapist sexual abuse settlement
We’ll thoroughly investigate the sexual assault claim and ensure that the settlement we pursue is substantial enough to cover medical expenses, lost wages, mental health services, pain and suffering, and anything else. We take a comprehensive approach to ensure that survivors get compensation for the immediate and long-term impacts of sexual violence.
Understanding Sexual Abuse and Assault
What makes sexual abuse and assault cases challenging is that not everyone truly understands what constitutes sex crimes and abuse. Sexual abuse and assault are any criminal acts that involve non-consensual sexual conduct and behavior. This assault encompasses various acts that are all considered sexual crimes.
Whether it’s inappropriate and unwanted sexual contact to rape, they all fall under the umbrella of sexual abuse and assault. At the root of all these crimes is the lack of consent. Without consent, personal boundaries and bodily autonomy are violated.
Consent needs to be freely given, ongoing, and with a clear mind. Any “consent” gained through manipulation or coercion is not considered consent. An example of this is obtaining “consent” from someone intoxicated who otherwise wouldn’t be making that decision. This expands to minors who are legally not able to give consent and those with cognitive impairments.
In many instances of sexual abuse and assault, there are significant power imbalances. Power imbalances can exist in many ways. It can be between an adult and child, a caregiver and a dependent, an employer and employee, someone in an authority position and someone who’s not, or anyone who holds any form of power over another.
This manipulation of power makes it harder for victims to come forward because they might be scared or not even realize what’s happening is sexual abuse. Regardless of the abuser and their tactics, survivors need to know it’s never their fault.
Common Forms of Sexual Abuse
Sexual abuse and assault come in many forms. Knowing what the most common forms are is important to grasping what’s happened and taking the step to seek justice:
- Sexual Assault: Sexual touching or fondling is unwanted and lacks consent.
- Sexual Harassment: Unwelcomed sexual advances, verbal or physical sexual conduct, or request for sexual favors. Harassment commonly happens in the workplace or educational settings.
- Rape: Non-consensual intercourse of any kind, no matter the degree of force the abuser uses.
- Childhood Sexual Abuse: Any sexual conduct with a minor, including exposure, touching, exploitation, and rape.
- Voyeurism: Watching someone nude or disrobing without their consent for them to watch.
- Incest: Sexual acts between family members brought about by an abuse of power and trust.
- Digital Sexual Abuse: This is a newer concept under sex crimes, but it involves the non-consensual sharing of videos and pictures of someone in an intimate setting. This act is often referred to as “revenge porn.”
- Drug-Facilitated Sexual Assault: Using alcohol or drugs to incapacitate someone before committing sexual abuse.
- Statutory Rape: Sexual activity with a minor, even if they say they consented. This attempted rape usually happens with teenagers who say they consent, but legally, they can’t.
- Sexual Exploitation: Manipulating or coercing someone into any sexual act, usually for some financial gain.
It doesn’t matter what type of sexual abuse or assault someone suffers through. Each one, no matter how minor it might seem in comparison to others, will leave a lasting impact on the survivor. Working with experienced California sexual abuse lawyers is important to bring abusers to justice and recover compensation.
Institutions Where Sexual Abuse Is Most Likely to Occur
At Rosenfeld Injury Lawyers, we work cases for survivors of abuse and assault in various settings. No matter where it occurred, we’ll be by your side. We fight cases involving sexual assault in the following institutions:
Workplace
We represent clients who’ve been sexually harassed and abused in their place of work by a supervisor, colleague, another company member, or a client.
Inpatient Treatment Facilities
Rehab centers, mental health facilities, and hospitals where patients may be vulnerable to abuse by staff.
Prisons and Correctional Facilities
Abuse within the criminal justice system, including prisons, juvenile detention centers, and correctional facilities.
Foster Care
Situations involving foster parents or caregivers who exploit their position to abuse children. Our legal team has the experience to take on child abuse cases in California.
Daycare Facilities
Short- and long-term care facilities where children or minors are sexually abused by those entrusted with their care.
Educational Facilities
Schools, camps, and other educational facilities where teachers, coaches, or staff may abuse their authority and perpetrate school sexual abuse.
Religious Institutions
Clergy sexual abuse is one of the most underreported sexual assault case—churches, after-school programs, and camps where clergy or leaders may exploit their positions to abuse others.
Nursing Homes
Elder sexual abuse is common in nursing homes, and our lawyers will be there to defend survivors against nursing home caregivers and other residents.
Sports Clubs
Athletes are often victims of sexual abuse due to power imbalance. We have experience fighting for athletes abused by coaches, teammates, or team doctors.
Military Institutions
Abuse within the armed forces, affecting both enlisted officers and civilians. Our sexual abuse attorneys have defended several service members who have been abused while serving their country.
Hotels and Short-Term Rentals
Transient environments like the hospitality industry can be a breeding ground for the sexual abuse of guests or staff.
Shelters
Homeless or domestic shelters where those in charge may exploit their power over vulnerable individuals.
Steps to Take If You Are a Victim of Sexual Assault
If you’ve experienced sexual abuse, coming forward can be scary but critical in seeking justice. When you’re ready, here are some steps to take when you’re ready:
- Stay Safe: If you can, remove yourself from the situation and find somewhere safe to stay.
- Receive Medical Treatment: Whether your injuries are visible or not, seeing a physician is vital to your well-being, as well as evidence when you’re ready to pursue a case.
- Report the Abuse: Think about reporting the sexual assault or abuse to your local police department. You can also contact the California Coalition Against Sexual Assault via their hotline (1-800-656-HOPE) for additional guidance and support. Consider reaching out to the National Sexual Assault Hotline at 1-800-656-HOPE (4673) for immediate support.
- Document Everything: Write down as many details as possible about the abuse. This information could include the date(s), time(s), locations, potential witnesses, and anything else that’s relevant.
- Preserve Evidence: If you can, try not to wash or get rid of any clothing to have the evidence when you’re ready to file a claim.
- Seek Support: Talk to people you trust about the abuse and contact support groups to help you emotionally through this trying time.
- Hire a Sexual Abuse Lawyer: Work with an attorney with the experience and compassion to fight for your rights.
The process to follow after a sexual assault can be overwhelming, but you’re not alone. There are several support resources for sexual assault victims in California, and the California sexual abuse attorneys at Rosenfeld Injury Lawyers will be there to protect your interest every step of the way.
Compensation for Sexual Abuse Victims
Seeking compensation is one of the many steps to healing for sexual assault victims. We’ve successfully fought for compensation for our clients, including:
- Medical Expenses: Costs for immediate medical care, ongoing treatment, and future medical needs related to the abuse.
- Therapy Expenses: Counseling costs and psychological services needed to cope with the trauma.
- Lost Wages: If the assault affected your ability to work.
- Pain and Suffering: Compensation for lost income during your recovery period.
- Loss of Enjoyment of Life: When the abuse negatively impacts your quality of life, you may be entitled to compensation for this loss.
- Punitive Damages: Awarded to punish the perpetrator and deter future misconduct.
The amount of your settlement will vary depending on factors such as:
- The nature and severity of the abuse
- The strength of the evidence
- The duration of the abuse
- The impact on the survivor’s life
- The degree of negligence by any institutions that were involved
At Rosenfeld Injury Lawyers, we understand what it takes to help a sexual abuse victim get the compensation they’re owed. We have several successful cases of sexual abuse claims under our belt:
Liability in Sexual Abuse Cases
Liability in sexual abuse cases goes beyond the perpetrator. In some instances, the institution where the abuse happened can be held liable, too. This act is known as institutional liability. Institutions can be held liable on grounds such as:
- Failure to Report: The institution knows or suspects abuse but doesn’t report the abuse to law enforcement.
- Failure to Train: The institution doesn’t provide adequate or any training on recognizing the signs of sexual abuse.
- Negligent Hiring: The institution fails to conduct background checks or ignores red flags during the hiring process.
- Inadequate Supervision: The institution doesn’t monitor employees and volunteers properly.
- Negligent Retention: The institution keeps a suspected abuser despite knowledge of abuse claims or abusive behavior.
When it comes to holding institutions liable, several legal principles come into play:
- Negligence: Failing to use reasonable care to prevent abuse or other harm.
- Vicarious Liability: Holding the institution responsible for its employee’s actions.
- Title IX: A federal law that requires schools to address and educate employees to prevent sexual harassment and abuse.
- Duty of Care: The legal obligation of institutions to protect anyone under their supervision and care.
How to Prove a Sexual Abuse Case
For a sexual assault victim, going through the process to prove to a judge that the abuse occurred can be intimidating. We’ll work to prove sexual abuse or assault happened with a comprehensive approach:
- Gathering evidence
- Establishing a timeline leading up to the abuse, the abuse, and afterward
- Proving negligence or intentional misconduct
- Demonstrating the link between the abuse and the harm suffered
- Gathering expert testimony
- Investigating institutional practices, if necessary
The team at Rosenfeld Injury Lawyers works closely with legal experts and investigators to build the strongest case possible while still handling your case with care and discretion.
How Our California Sexual Abuse Attorneys Can Help
We strive to provide the best support possible to sexual abuse victims in California. We can help by:
- Providing a safe and confidential environment to share your story
- Giving clear and honest advice about your case
- Conducting a thorough investigation
- Handling all the communication with opposing counsel and insurance companies
- Working with other experts to strengthen your abuse case
- Negotiating for the settlement you deserve
- Fighting for your rights in court, if it comes to that
The Time Limits for Filing a Claim in California
Not all sexual abuse survivors are ready to come forward right after the abuse or don’t realize what happened to them is sexual abuse for years. The statute of limitations in California depends on whether the victim was a child or an adult.
In California, adults can file a civil claim within ten years of the last sexual assault or within three years of the date when the survivor discovered the abuse. Survivors of childhood sexual abuse are allowed to file civil lawsuits until they turn 40 years old.
Contact Our California Sexual Abuse Lawyers Today!
Whether you’ve dealt with sexual abuse as a child or an adult, choosing the right law firm to help you in your pursuit of justice will make all the difference. At Rosenfeld Injury Lawyers, we’re committed to helping sexual abuse survivors heal by helping them seek justice and compensation for what happened to them. Our comprehensive and compassionate approach, combined with our experience with sexual abuse cases in California, makes us the right team for your case.
Contact us today at (888) 424-5757 for your confidential and free consultation.
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