California Child Sexual Abuse Lawyer

At Panish | Shea | Ravipudi LLP, we are proud to represent survivors of child sexual abuse in their pursuit to hold perpetrators and institutions accountable for these heinous crimes in California. We are highly experienced and compassionate sexual abuse and assault attorneys who have been handling these cases for decades.

We understand what you are going through and how difficult it can be to come forward. We are here to help. For a free consultation with one of our attorneys, simply call (310) 477-1700.

Let us be your voice and fighting advocate for justice.

Why Clients Trust Panish | Shea | Ravipudi LLP

• We have achieved life-changing case results for sexual abuse and assault survivors. We can take on any adversary or institution to demand justice for child sexual abuse on your behalf.
• Our team of top-rated California personal injury lawyers put survivors’ needs first. We will make sure you have everything you need and can protect your identity, if desired.
• Our child sexual abuse lawyers handle cases on a contingency fee basis, meaning you won’t pay your attorney a cent in legal fees unless we secure compensation for your case.

Our Case Results

In many cases, an institution or organization is responsible for allowing child sexual abuse to happen or continue.  This may be due to a failure in hiring, not investigating reports of abuse or inappropriate conduct, or even a cover up to avoid financial responsibility.  In these situations,  Panish | Shea | Ravipudi LLP can take on large corporations, agencies and entities to seek justice and financial compensation for our clients and hopefully prevent abuse from happening again to another person.

We have achieved many ground-breaking settlements and jury verdicts for child sexual abuse survivors in California, including:

• $380 million settlement with USA Gymnastics and the US Olympic and Paralympic Committee for survivors of sexual abuse by former sports doctor Larry Nassar.
• $135 million jury verdict in a childhood sexual abuse case against the Moreno Valley Unified School District for two former students who were sexually abused by their teacher.
• $122.5 million settlement to compensate 124 victims of Eric Uller who used his positions with the City of Santa Monica and the Santa Monica Police Activities League to sexually abuse hundreds of teen boys from the 1980s through the early 2000s. PSR’s leadership role assisted in the negotiation of a global resolution and firm attorneys were instrumental in spearheading the first Santa Monica Police Activities League lawsuit under CCP 340.1.
• $26 million jury verdict from the Pasadena Unified School District for a special education student who was sexually assaulted in school by three classmates.
• $13 million jury verdict for a young child who was sexually abused while in the care of the EōS Fitness’ Kids Club in Palm Springs, California.

Our law firm has obtained more $10 million case results than any personal injury law firm in California history. We are prepared to take cases all the way to trial anywhere in our state, if necessary, to secure the case results that our clients need.

How an Attorney Can Help

A child sexual abuse lawyer in California can take over your case and remove the legal burden from your shoulders. You can focus on what matters most – healing and moving forward from this traumatic event– while your attorney handles complex legal matters for you.

A lawyer can provide many invaluable services, such as:

• Investigating the sexual abuse incident
• Giving you sound legal advice and answers to your questions
• Gathering evidence
• Filing your claim against one or more parties
• Hiring experts as necessary to strengthen your case
• Interviewing witnesses
• Gathering documents and records
• Representing you in court if your case goes to trial

Most importantly, your attorney will work closely with you to make sure you have everything you need, such as mental and emotional support services, to get through this difficult time. If you wish to remain anonymous throughout your case to prevent additional trauma, we will protect your identity. Our lawyers at PSR will work tirelessly on your behalf to ensure your success both during and after your lawsuit.

We Have Decades of Experience Handling Child Sexual Abuse Cases

Our Firm Partner Spencer Lucas oversees the sexual abuse practice at Panish | Shea | Ravipudi LLP. He currently serves as co-liaison counsel in Southern California Clergy matters. Spencer has been a member of the Firm since 2007 and has successfully recovered over $600 million for his clients. In addition, many of the firm’s other attorneys have obtained significant results in child sex abuse cases, including at trial.

Spencer and our team of attorneys can help you seek justice against any party for a case of child sex abuse in California, including:

• Boy Scouts of America
• Boys and Girls Clubs of America
• Childcare providers
• Daycare centers
• Foster care agencies
• Government agencies
• Healthcare professionals and facilities
• Juvenile detention facilities
• Property owners
• Religious institutions
• Schools and educational institutions
• The individual perpetrator(s)
• The military
• Youth camps
• Youth organizations

We have the experience, personnel, and resources to secure the best possible results for all types of child sexual abuse cases in California. If you do not see your type of case on this list, contact us to arrange a free case consultation about your specific circumstances. We will listen to your story and we will believe you.

What Is Child Sexual Abuse?

Child sexual abuse refers to engaging in any type of sexual contact with a person under the age of 18 years old, as this is the legal age of consent for sexual activity in California. The state has many laws that prohibit sex crimes involving minors.

All of the following are examples of child sexual abuse crimes:

• Child molestation
• Child pornography
• Child sex trafficking
• Exposing a child to sexual acts
• Fondling or inappropriate touching
• Incest
• Indecent exposure
• Lewd or lascivious acts
• Masturbation in the presence of a child
• Online sex crimes
• Oral copulation
• Oral, anal or vaginal penetration
• Rape or attempted rape
• Sexual exploitation
• Sodomy
• Statutory rape

Any adult 18 or older who engages in sexual activity with a child under the age of 18 in California has committed the crime of child sexual abuse. A perpetrator could face criminal charges in addition to civil liability for this offense.

Who Can Be Held Liable for Child Sexual Abuse in California?

An individual has the right to file a civil claim against one or multiple parties for a case of childhood sexual abuse in California. A civil claim aims to hold someone accountable for the harm and losses caused to the plaintiff. Many different parties could be held liable, or financially responsible, for the sexual abuse of a minor.

Examples include:

• School districts and universities: when schools fail to adequately protect students with proper sexual abuse prevention methods, they can be held liable for harm suffered by victims. Schools are also vicariously liable for sex crimes perpetrated by adult teachers and staff members.
• Religious institutions: sexual predators have cast a shadow over the Catholic Church for many decades. In many cases, perpetrators are long-time abusers who were not disciplined by the diocese. Religious institutions can be held liable for failing to protect their parishioners.
• Youth organizations: programs such as the Boy Scouts of America, youth sports, daycare centers and after-school programs have a responsibility to protect participants from sexual abuse by staff, leaders and volunteers. Failing to do so could lead to a lawsuit against the corporation.

As your attorneys, PSR will evaluate your case to determine all liable parties. We can help you hold the individual perpetrator as well as an institution responsible for the traumatic crime that was committed against you or your child. We understand the laws that are in place to protect children from sexual abuse and how to take legal action when they are broken.

What Types of Financial Compensation Are Available?

Child sexual abuse can inflict a wide range of harm on a victim, including physical injuries, significant emotional distress and long-lasting psychological trauma. Filing a civil claim for childhood sexual abuse in California could result in financial compensation for all of the economic and noneconomic losses suffered by the victim.

Available compensation may include:

• Past and future medical expenses
• Therapies, counseling or psychiatric care
• Prescription medications, such as for depression or anxiety
• Lost wages and lost capacity to earn in the future
• Pain and suffering
• Emotional distress and mental anguish
• Post-traumatic stress disorder
• Reduced self-esteem or negative self-image
• Loss of enjoyment of life
• Punitive damages, in some cases

Although no amount of money can reverse the harm suffered by a survivor of child sexual abuse, collecting just financial compensation from the liable parties can make it easier to move forward from this traumatic experience. Discuss how much your case might be worth with an attorney at PSR for more information.

What Is the Statute of Limitations on a Child Sex Abuse Case in California?

Recently, California’s statute of limitations (the deadline on filing a civil lawsuit for sexual abuse) was amended by Assembly Bill 452 to eliminate the time limit on claims for abuse that occurred on or after January 1, 2024, against a minor under the age of 18.

Previously, child sexual abuse survivors had until their 40th birthday or within 5 years of discovering a psychological injury was caused by sexual abuse to file. This statute of limitations still applies to childhood sexual abuse cases that occurred before January 1, 2024.

Contact Us Today for a Free and Confidential Consultation

Child sexual abuse is an unimaginable violation of a child’s innocence, trust and well-being. If you are an adult survivor of childhood sex abuse or your child is a victim of this crime in California, you do not have to seek justice alone. The attorneys at Panish | Shea | Ravipudi LLP are here to help you hold someone accountable and seek maximum financial compensation for your injuries.

Contact us to begin your case with a free one-on-one consultation. Call (310) 477-1700 to speak to a knowledgeable sexual abuse attorney today.