Separate from criminal law, sexual abuse civil law dictates a person’s ability to seek justice and compensation for physical and emotional injuries resulting from sexual violence.
Below is a basic breakdown of the laws governing sexual abuse and assault in California. Note: if you or a loved one is being abused or has been assaulted, get to safety and contact law enforcement immediately.
There are several different forms of sexual misconduct. Some common terms include:
Sexual misconduct in California might also involve intentionally distributing a private and intimate photograph, film, video, or recording – one that exposes an intimate body part of another person or shows the other person engaging in a sexual act – without that person’s consent.
No matter the conduct, if another person harmed you in a sexual manner, all responsible persons must be held accountable. An experienced attorney can help you seek justice and compensation for your medical expenses, pain and suffering, and more.
The defendants in a sexual abuse civil lawsuit might include:
Hiring an experienced attorney can ensure that everyone involved is held accountable for the abuse. In addition, your claim may be different or may have a much shorter time limit to file. Rely on your own attorney to advise you.
Victims of sexual abuse and/or assault may seek compensatory damages, which compensate them for financial losses related to the abuse. These losses might include:
Compensatory damages may also include “pain and suffering,” which refers to the physical and emotional distress that resulted from the abuse. During the initial consultation, an experienced lawyer will define and discuss possible compensatory damages.
In a small number of lawsuits, plaintiffs also recover punitive damages. These rarely awarded damages are meant to punish the defendant for particularly heinous intentional or reckless behavior.
As each case is different, the damages will depend on the unique facts of that case. The first step is to speak with an experienced California sexual abuse attorney.
Filing a lawsuit cannot change the devastating situation that occurred, but it can help a person seek compensation for medical bills and other resulting damages.
California’s statute of limitations gives victims a certain time limit to file a lawsuit against those responsible for the sexual assault or abuse.
For sexual harassment in the workplace, there are separate time limits for filing a job discrimination complaint with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) and the Department of Fair Employment and Housing (DFEH). It is important to contact these entities immediately if you are being harassed.
Recently, California Governor Gavin Newsom signed a law that gives victims of childhood sexual assault until the age of 40 to file suit against their attackers. Taking effect next year (2020), the law also extends the discovery date from three years to five years. The bill provides a window of three years to revive past claims that expired due to the previous statute of limitations.
Time limits may vary depending on the particular circumstances of your case. Once you are safe, you should contact an experienced California sexual abuse attorney to advise you on the particular time limits applying to your case. If a governmental entity may be responsible in part for your injuries, a six-month time limit applies to file a governmental claim against that entity.
If you or a loved one is the victim of sexual assault or abuse, our team can help. After contacting the proper authorities and ensuring your safety, we welcome you to contact CaseyGerry for assistance understanding California sexual assault laws.
