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CALIFORNIA SCHOOL ABUSE SURVIVORS
HOLD SEXUAL PREDATORS IN CALIFORNIA SCHOOLS ACCOUNTABLE AND SAY “No More” TO CHILD SEX ABUSE
California laws now allow victims of sexual abuse in public schools more time to seek justice against their abusers. California passed Assembly Bill 218, which extends the age limits to file a claim for sexual abuse to 40 years old AND opens a “look back” window that completely removes the statute of limitations on civil sexual abuse cases for three years. During this window, even old and expired cases can be brought forward and revived. If you survived sexual abuse in a California public school, you may get a second chance at justice for your abuse. Connect with No More Abuse USA today to see if you may be eligible to file a claim for your abuse.
TALK TO US TODAY, KNOW YOUR RIGHTS, AND SAY “NO MORE” TO SEXUAL ABUSE
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HIDDEN CASES OF SEXUAL ABUSE IN CALIFORNIA SCHOOLS
Unfortunately, it’s not unheard of for public schools to hide cases of sexual abuse within their walls and keep abuse reports from local authorities. Between 2012 and 2016, Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD) has paid over 300 million over sexual abuse lawsuits, and the numbers continue to go.
In many cases, reports of teachers and educators molesting children are kept secret for decades on end, victims left silenced and afraid to speak up. By the time the abuse case comes into the light and victims try to pursue legal action against their abusers, the school, and further investigate the case, state time limits have long since expired. Statute of limitations on sexual abuse are proving to be far too short for sexual abuse victims and leave little to no options for survivors to pursue justice.
Finally, California listened to the voices of sexual abuse victims and advocates and changed California’s statute of limitations on sexual abuse, extending the time limits for victims to file claims for past abuse case. On January 1, 2020, Assembly Bill 218, a bill that lengthened the time limits and opportunities for sexual abuse victims to file civil claims for abuse, officially became law.
CALIFORNIA STATUTE OF LIMITATIONS FOR SEXUAL ABUSE CASES
ASSEMBLY BILL 218 PROVIDES NEW OPPORTUNITIES FOR SEXUAL ABUSE SURVIVORS IN CALIFORNIA:
- AB 218 extends the age limit to file a civil claim for sexual abuse from 26 years old to 40 years old.
- California’s new statute of limitations extend the age of discovery limit from three years to five years. The age of discovery pertains to the age an abuse survivor discovered physiological or psychological disorders or injuries due to sexual abuse.
- AB 218 opens three-year “look back” window to file past sexual abuse claims, no matter how long ago the abuse happened. This allows past sexual abuse survivors whose claims expired under the previous statute of limitations to revive old claims and pursue recovery for their abuse.
Basically, AB 218 allows survivors of sexual abuse, whether that be in a public school or another institution, a second chance to file claims against their abuser and hold them accountable. By filing a claim, abuse survivors can pursue civil compensation for their abuse and potentially recover damages, or monetary compensation awarded by a court, for their injuries.
Public school sexual abuse survivors in California have already started to pursue their abusers in court under AB218. Four former high school students filed lawsuits against San Diego Unified School District for sexual abuse at the hands of Martin Teachworth, a physics teacher at La Jolla High School.
If you survived sexual abuse as a child in a California public school, you may have a second chance to pursue compensation and hold your abuser accountable for what they did to you.
CALIFORNIA UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT ABUSE
California school districts have faced numerous lawsuits over the decades for sexual abuse claims. In the last few years, districts like San Diego, San Francisco, and Los Angeles Unified School Districts have faced mounting claims of public school employees molesting students.
- In February 2020 four sexual abuse survivors filed a lawsuit against San Diego Unified School District for covering up sexual abuse by Martin Teachworth, a retired physics teacher from La Jolla High School.
- South San Francisco Unified School District was sued in 2018 for failing to protect students from Joseph Toy, a middle school teacher who faced 56 criminal accounts stemming from sexually abusing children.
- In 2018, 16 current and former students of the Los Angeles Unified School District received $22 million in settlements for allegations of sexual abuse at the hands of two coaches.
WHAT’S CONSIDERED SEXUAL ABUSE IN A SCHOOL SETTING?
In a public school setting, sexual abuse can be hard to detect because it is either not reported or victims don’t recognize it as sexual abuse. During their school years, children are not of a legal age to grant consent to any type of sexual activity by law. So, any sexual interaction with a child is considered sexual abuse. RAIIN, the nation’s largest anti-sexual violence organization, identifies sexual abuse towards students and children could come in these forms:
- EXHIBITIONISM, OR EXPOSING ONESELF TO A STUDENT OR CHILD
- FONDLING, GROPING, OR OTHER INAPPROPRIATE TOUCHING
- MASTURBATION IN THE PRESENCE OF A STUDENT OR CHILD OR FORCING THE STUDENT OR CHILD TO MASTURBATE
- SEXUALLY EXPLICIT PHONE CALLS, TEXT MESSAGES, OR DIGITAL INTERACTION BETWEEN THE TEACHER/EDUCATIONAL PROFESSIONAL AND THE STUDENT OR CHILD
- ASKING FOR SEXUALLY EXPLICIT PICTURES FROM A STUDENT
- SEX OF ANY KIND WITH A STUDENT OR CHILD, INCLUDING VAGINAL, ORAL, OR ANAL
- ANY SEXUAL CONDUCT THAT IS HARMFUL TO A STUDENT OR CHILD’S MENTAL, EMOTIONAL, OR PHYSICAL WELFARE.
WHO COULD BE AN ABUSER IN A PUBLIC SCHOOL?
Usually teachers and educators tend to be the main sexual predators in cases of school child sexual abuse. However, often that is not the case. Other school employees or individuals associated with a school that may abuse children include:
- EDUCATORS
- TEACHERS
- SCHOOL ADMINISTRATORS
- COUNSELORS
- COACHES
- NURSES
- MAINTENANCE WORKERS
- JANITORS
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HOW CAN NO MORE ABUSE USA HELP ME?
When you confront your abuse and decide to pursue legal action against your abuser and the school that employed them, it can be a frightening step. Consulting with an experienced sexual abuse attorney is recommended as you start building your claim, and No More Abuse USA can connect you to some of the top-rated sexual abuse lawyers in the country to help defend your case.
- An experienced sexual abuse attorney will know how to approach and apply California’s new statute of limitations to your case. Because Assembly Bill 218 is relatively new, an attorney will know how best to defend your case using the parameters of the new law.
- For older survivors of school abuse it can be hard to build a substantial case. Sometimes evidence is lost over time and survivors do not know how best to defend their rights. When you hire No More Abuse USA’s attorneys, we can help gather evidence and investigate your claim, so you do not have to worry about pieces being missing or left vulnerable.
- Best of all, when you hire No More Abuse USA’s attorneys, you pay nothing out of pocket. We operate on a contingent-fee basis, which means we do not get paid until we win or settle your case. That fee then comes out of the amount awarded to you by the court.
California: SAY “No More” TO SEXUAL ABUSE
INSTITUTIONS THAT HID PREDATORS’ ACTIONS CAN BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE FOR ABUSE
At No More Abuse USA, our mission is to fight for you in your time of need and be a voice for change nationwide. If you survived sexual abuse in a school setting in California, you’re not alone or without options for help. Call us today to learn more about your options for action and recovery.
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GET COUNSEL FROM TRUSTED LEGAL PROFESSIONALS
GET COMPENSATION FOR FINANCIAL BURDENS CAUSED BY SEXUAL ABUSE
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