Maison Law stands with survivors of sexual abuse at California detention centers, advocating for your legal rights. While a lawsuit can’t completely undo the harm or criminally penalize offenders, we’re dedicated to using all legal avenues to help you. Contact us today for a free consultation to explore all available options to get the maximum financial support available to you under California law.
How Long Do You Have to File a Sexual Abuse Claim in California?
Even as a former inmate of Camp Joseph Scott, which was closed down in 2019, you still have the legal right in California to file a claim against those responsible for subjecting you and any other inmate to sexual abuse.
In terms of the length of time you have to file a claim, which is legally known as the “statute of limitations”, there are a couple laws in place that sets this deadline:
- Assembly Bill 218 – Known as the “Child Victims Act”, AB 218 sets the deadline to file a claim for childhood sexual abuse or assault at either:
- Until you turn 40 years of age
- 5 years after discovering injury or damage from the abuse
Obviously, the purpose of this statute is to provide you and any other survivor of sexual abuse or assault the time you need to file a claim. Still, it’s important to talk to our team first, so you can get a better idea of the strength of your case and any other legal challenges you may face.
Legal Process For Filing a Sexual Abuse Claim in California
Despite protection from the law and support from our team, filing a claim for sexual abuse or assault against Camp Scott or anyone else demands courage. However, at Maison Law, we’ll do everything we can to support and validate you through the entire process. While every situation is different, the general outline of the claims process in these types of cases includes:
- Filing a lawsuit in civil court against Camp Scott, Los Angeles County, and anyone else involved.
Our team can provide you with all of the information and what to expect during your free initial consultation, but generally, it’s important to have a few things at your disposal before diving into the claims process:
- Medical records
- Incident reports
- Other documents related to your abuse
- Witness statements
With initial evidence, we can help you gather more information and documentation as your case progresses. Once you decide you want to proceed, we’ll file your Complaint in court. Successful claims can allow you to potentially recover the following:
- Medical expenses – Covering the costs of treatment, ongoing care, and therapy necessitated by the endured sexual abuse.
- Mental anguish and ongoing care – Covering expenses related to therapy and care addressing the psychological trauma inflicted.
- Emotional distress – Designed to address the emotional distress and associated costs stemming from the abuse.
Pain and suffering – These damages are designed to cover the physical pain and mental suffering you experienced as a result of the abuse.
- Loss of companionship or enjoyment of life – These damages are designed to cover the effect the abuse has had and will continue to have on your ability to build relationships with loved ones and the overall impact on your quality of life.
- Punitive damages – Additional awards that aim to penalize institutions for gross or negligent care, serving as a deterrent against future misconduct.
How Maison Law Can Help You With a Sexual Abuse Claim
Filing a sexual abuse claim requires great courage. We’re committed to providing legal support, making a difficult process easier for you. By standing up for your rights, you not only get the financial support you deserve but also play a role in preventing future sexual abuse in detention centers, holding both perpetrators and the juvenile detention system accountable.
Your case’s result depends on your individual circumstances and how the abuse affected you. Proving that the foster agency was negligent or intentionally at fault is crucial, and our team has a great of experience in in helping with that:
- Case investigation – Our legal team is dedicated to thoroughly examining your case. We will carefully collect and analyze evidence related to the abuse or assault, including medical records, eyewitness accounts, and surveillance footage. The goal is to clearly establish that abuse has occurred.
- Legal guidance – With our extensive experience as juvenile detention center sexual abuse lawyers, we can evaluate your case and offer comprehensive advice to you and your family. Whether it involves legal proceedings or bringing the abuse to light, we will guide you through the best approach.
- Court representation – Our experienced team of lawyers also have a wealth of experience in representing survivors of juvenile sexual abuse in civil court. With a strong track record, we present cases using evidence and strong legal arguments to show both the occurrence of abuse and the detention center and anyone else’s liability.
- Protection of your rights – Navigating the legal system in these cases can be complex, but our lawyers are here to support you at every step. We make sure that your rights are protected and fought for throughout the legal process.
More than anything else, we strive to make sure that you’re treated fairly in the process. Better yet, we work on a contingency-fee basis, meaning we charge you nothing up front for our services. Rather, we take a percentage of any result we get for you in a claim. In the end, our ultimate goal is your satisfaction.
Dedicated California Juvenile Detention Center Sexual Abuse Lawyers
At Maison Law, our commitment is to offer you a tailored approach that suits your unique situation. When addressing sexual abuse in juvenile detention centers, we prioritize providing you with the utmost respect and care. No one should have to endure sexual abuse, and if it has happened to you or someone you know, we’re serious about holding those responsible within the system accountable. To set up a free, no-obligation consultation to learn more about your options, contact us today.
