Sexual Abuse Lawyer in California
If you have survived sexual abuse or assault, you deserve to be believed, respected, and in control of what happens next. A civil claim is separate from any criminal case — you do not need a police report or a conviction — and it can hold an abuser, and any institution that failed to protect you, accountable. We handle these California cases with dignity, discretion, and a trauma-informed approach, always at your pace. Se habla español.
You deserve to be heard
Start with a quick, confidential case review — about two minutes, no cost, no obligation.
A civil path that centers you
A civil claim is separate from any criminal case and focuses on your recovery and accountability rather than punishment by the state. You decide how much to share and when, and we protect your privacy at every step — including, where available, the ability to proceed without your name in the public record. You do not need a police report or a conviction. Our role is to carry the legal burden so you do not have to face it alone. There is no pressure and no judgment here. Se habla español.
Holding institutions accountable in California
Abuse is often enabled by the schools, employers, religious organizations, youth programs, or facilities that failed to protect the people in their care. When an institution ignored warning signs, hired or kept a known abuser, or covered up misconduct, it may share responsibility for the harm. We investigate those failures carefully and confidentially, and pursue accountability from everyone responsible — the abuser and the institution alike.
How we handle your case, at your pace
You set the pace; we handle the rest with care. We keep everything confidential, explain your options in plain language, and protect your privacy throughout. Deadlines for these claims can differ from an ordinary case, and some situations have extended or revived windows — so a claim that might seem too late may still be possible. We work on a contingency basis for clients we represent, which means no fee unless we recover, and the initial conversation is always free and private.
How we can help in California
- Your Rights As A Survivor
- Confidentiality And Privacy
- Civil Claim Vs Criminal Case
- Childhood Sexual Abuse
- Institutional Abuse And Accountability
- Negligent Hiring Supervision And Cover Ups
- Filing Deadlines And Revival Windows
- Compensation And Support
Dealing with the institution
Your rights and deadlines in California
In California, a survivor has the right to pursue a civil claim regardless of whether a criminal case is ever filed or results in a conviction. Filing deadlines for these claims can differ from an ordinary injury case, and California has expanded or revived filing windows for survivors in certain circumstances — so a claim that might seem too late may still be possible. California courts can also allow qualifying survivors to proceed with privacy protections. Because these rules are specific and change, a confidential conversation is the best way to learn what applies to you.
- Filing deadlines (statute of limitations)
- Comparative fault in California
- Claims against a government agency
- Evidence that builds your claim
California injury law: deadlines, fault and caps
California injury law shapes your case in a few specific ways worth knowing early.
- Filing deadline: You generally have two years from the date of the injury to file — and only about six months to put a government entity on notice before you can sue.
- Fault: California follows pure comparative negligence, so you can still recover even if you were partly — or mostly — at fault, with your recovery reduced by your share of the blame.
- Damage caps: An ordinary California injury case has no cap on damages; medical-malpractice claims are the main exception.
- Uninsured drivers: California sets minimum auto-insurance limits and uninsured/underinsured-motorist rules that affect what coverage is available.
Free tools and guides
- Sexual Abuse FAQs
- Free downloadable guides
- Checklists
- Calculators & estimators
- Side-by-side comparisons
- Questions & answers
Articles
Frequently asked questions
Do I need to have reported it to the police to have a claim?
No. A civil claim is separate from any criminal case, and you do not need to have filed a police report — or to have a conviction — to pursue one. Whether or not you reported it, and however much time has passed, it is worth a confidential conversation about your options.
It happened a long time ago. Is it too late?
Maybe not. Deadlines for survivor claims can differ from an ordinary case, and some situations have extended or revived filing windows — meaning a claim that seems too late may still be possible. Please do not assume the door is closed without a confidential conversation.
Can I keep my identity private?
Protecting your privacy is a priority, and in many situations survivors can pursue a claim while keeping their identity out of the public record, such as by proceeding under a pseudonym. What is available depends on your state and circumstances, and we can explain it in a confidential conversation.
Ready to talk, whenever you are
The case review takes about two minutes. It's free and confidential, with no obligation.