San Francisco School Sexual Abuse Lawyer

Maison Law stands with survivors of sexual abuse at California schools, 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.

What’s the Deadline to File a Sexual Abuse Claim Against a San Francisco School?

No matter where it happens, sexual abuse is an extremely traumatic and damaging situation for you or any other survivor. Even though your physical injuries may heal over time, it also involves the suppression of memories and emotional trauma from the abuse. California law tries to take this into account when establishing the deadline for filing sexual abuse claims–legally known as the “statute of limitations.”

Under the law, survivors of sexual abuse have the following time frame to file a claim, depending on the circumstances:

• Assembly Bill 218 – Child Victims Act – AB 218, also called the Child Victims Act, lets people file claims until they turn 40 or within 5 years of discovering abuse, whichever comes first.
  
  
• Assembly Bill 2777 – Sexual Abuse and Cover-Up Accountability Act – AB 2777 allows claims for concealed sexual abuse or assault since January 1, 2009. Survivors can file until December 31, 2026, if the time limit expired or if the abuse happened after turning 18 and details were hidden.
  
  
• Assembly Bill 452 – Justice For Survivors Act – AB 452, known as the Justice For Survivors Act, removes the time limit for filing claims related to sexual abuse after January 1, 2024.
  
  

So, depending on when your abuse occurred at your San Francisco school, you may either have until you turn 40 years old to file a claim, or if it happens to your child in the future, there may be no deadline to file a claim.

Even with these extensions in place, fully pursuing your legal options means standing up in court against your abuser and the particular school. This, in turn, requires a great deal of courage. Maison Law and our experienced team can utilize our knowledge to assist you during this challenging process.

Do You Need a Lawyer to File a Sexual Abuse Claim Against a San Francisco School?

While it’s not a must according to California law, having our team can really boost your chances, especially in tough cases like sexual abuse. At Maison Law, we’re dedicated to our clients, especially in cases involving abuse in schools. Here’s what we do:

• Give legal advice – Our experienced lawyers, who know a lot about sexual abuse cases in schools, look at your situation and offer practical advice. Whether it’s dealing with legal options or bringing abuse to light, we guide you on the best steps to take.
  
  
• Get evidence – Knowing how important evidence is, our legal team helps you gather the right info to make your case stronger. We collect statements from witnesses and important documents like medical records and incident reports to build a solid case for court.
  
  
• Go to court for you – With our experienced team, we’ve handled many cases for survivors of juvenile sexual abuse in civil court. We present strong cases with good legal arguments, proving that abuse happened and holding the detention center and others accountable.
  
  
• Protect your rights – Dealing with the legal system can be tricky, but our lawyers are there for you every step of the way. We make sure your rights are looked after during the whole legal process.
  
  

One of the most difficult aspects of any sexual abuse case is that it’s very difficult for you or anyone else to recover. Still, our team focuses on building a strong case for you and taking away the stress that comes with any lawsuit. Since many of these incidents might have happened when you were younger and it’s tough to remember everything, we make sure you have everything you need for a solid claim.

Claims Process in a Sexual Abuse Case Against a San Francisco School

As a parent of a child at a San Francisco school–or yourself while you were a student–suffering sexual abuse is unthinkable. A school’s main goal, aside from educating their students, should be to keep them safe. Unfortunately, sexual abuse is an ongoing concern throughout many school systems in California.

Once you decide to move forward with the legal process, we can guide you through everything, starting with filing a Complaint in civil court. From there, the claims process usually includes the following phases:

• Discovery – This involves formal requests for evidence, documents, and written responses to questions. It also includes taking depositions from key witnesses and parties involved.
  
  
• Negotiations – Both parties often engage in negotiations throughout the case. As the trial date nears, mediation, facilitated by an impartial third-party mediator, is commonly conducted to explore the possibility of reaching a settlement. Our team will actively advocate for your interests during these negotiation sessions.
  
  
• Trial – If an agreement cannot be reached, the matter proceeds to trial. During this phase, we present your case by introducing evidence and calling witnesses, and the jury ultimately renders a decision.
  
  

What Damages Can You Get?

The question as to what you can recover in a sexual abuse claim against a San Francisco school is heavily dependent on the circumstances of your case. Still, there are certain general damages that are available in every one of these claims:

• Medical expenses – Covers the costs of treatment, ongoing care, and therapy necessitated by the endured sexual abuse.
  
  
• Loss of quality of life or companionship – Pertains to the impact the abuse has had and will continue to have on your ability to build relationships with loved ones and the overall quality of life.
  
  
• Pain and suffering – Covers the physical pain and mental suffering endured due to the abuse.
  
  
• Emotional distress – Addresses the emotional distress resulting from the abuse, covering associated costs.
  
  
• Mental anguish – Includes expenses related to therapy and care focused on dealing with the psychological trauma inflicted.
  
  
• Punitive damages – Additional awards aimed at penalizing the school for gross or negligent care, meant to discourage future misconduct.
  
  

What you can recover depends on the specifics of your case and the evidence you can present. Our team’s experience and approach will help you gather important evidence and make a strong claim against your San Francisco school.

Turn to Maison Law For Help With a Sexual Abuse Claim Against a San Francisco School

For survivors of sexual abuse in California, the legal process can be crucial for reclaiming and progressing in life. The enduring effects of being sexually abused at a San Francisco school can linger, shaping your experiences.

Recognizing the challenges faced by you and other survivors, Maison Law is here to assist in moving forward. Our dedicated team of California school sexual abuse lawyers is ready to explain your legal rights and guide you in holding your abusers accountable. Contact us today to set up a free, no-obligation consultation to get started.