California Sexual Abuse Attorney

Sexual abuse is a profoundly personal and traumatic crime that inflicts enduring and everlasting harm on its victims. The pain caused by sexual abuse can be overwhelming, but you do not have to face it alone. At Panish | Shea | Ravipudi LLP, we provide aggressive legal advocacy for survivors of sexual abuse and assault throughout California. Our team of experienced sexual abuse attorneys will fight for your rights and be with you every step of the way. Contact us today for a free and confidential case consultation.

Why Choose Us?

• We have represented hundreds of sexual abuse and assault survivors in their fight for justice. Our attorneys have decades of experience in this practice area.
• Firm partner, Spencer Lucas, oversees our sexual abuse practice and currently serves as co-liaison counsel in Southern California Clergy matters. Many of the firm’s other attorneys have obtained significant results in sex abuse cases, including at trial.
• Our California sexual abuse attorneys handle all cases on a contingency fee basis. This means we will never charge any attorney’s fees unless we secure compensation on your behalf.

Our Sexual Abuse and Assault Case Results

At Panish | Shea | Ravipudi LLP, we fight for our clients to ensure that they obtain the justice and financial compensation that they deserve.

Our past case results speak for themselves:

• $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.
• $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 in a childhood sexual abuse case in Los Angeles County for a student who was sexually assaulted at school by three of her 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.

We have won more personal injury verdicts and settlements over $10 million than any personal injury law firm in California history. When results matter, choose Panish | Shea |Ravipudi LLP..

How Can a Sexual Abuse Attorney in California Help You?

As a survivor of sexual abuse, you do not have to take on the legal process alone. We understand how difficult it can be to come forward and how daunting the legal process may seem.  At Panish | Shea | Ravipudi, LLP, our attorneys are here to put you at ease, explain your options, and develop a plan to get justice for you and your family. Should you pursue a claim, an experienced lawyer can handle every aspect of your claim while you focus on what matters most.

An attorney can:

• Provide tailored legal advice, guidance, and information about your situation.
• Protect your privacy during legal proceedings to minimize additional trauma.
• Investigate and gather evidence to support your case.
• Retain highly qualified experts to advocate on your behalf.
• File a civil lawsuit against the perpetrator or an institution.
• Negotiate a fair and just settlement.
• Represent you during a sexual abuse trial anywhere in California, if necessary.

At Panish | Shea | Ravipudi, LLP, we can help you navigate the legal system, act as your advocates, connect you to therapists and support services, collaborate with law enforcement to ensure that your rights are protected, and fight for maximum compensation for your past and future losses. As your sexual abuse attorneys, will do what it takes to help you during this difficult time.

Types of Cases We Accept in California

For decades, the attorneys of Panish | Shea | Ravipudi LLP have represented clients in a wide variety of sexual abuse and assault cases.  Perpetrators of sexual abuse seek situations where they have authority and access to vulnerable populations.

We can take cases involving any of the following:

• Boy Scouts of America
• Churches and religious institutions
• Daycare centers
• Foster care agencies
• Health treatment centers
• Juvenile detention facilities
• Massage spas
• Nursing homes
• Online or virtual spaces
• Schools and universities
• Sports associations
• The military
• Uber or Lyft
• Workplaces
• Youth organizations

Do not hesitate to contact us about any type of sexual abuse case in California. Our lawyers will listen to you, believe you and provide personalized guidance moving forward.

What Is Sexual Abuse?

Sexual abuse refers to any sexual encounter with a person against his or her will or without consent. According to California Penal Code Section 243.4, “Any person who touches an intimate part of another person while that person is unlawfully restrained by the accused or an accomplice, and if the touching is against the will of the person touched and is for the purpose of sexual arousal, sexual gratification, or sexual abuse, is guilty of sexual battery.”

Sexual abuse and assault can involve many different wrongful acts, including:

• Attempted rape
• Child pornography
• Child sexual abuse
• Forced sexual intercourse (rape)
• Inappropriate fondling or groping
• Online sexual abuse
• Sex trafficking
• Sexual exploitation
• Statutory rape
• Touching of the private parts
• Unwanted sexual advances

In California, any sexual activity with a child who is under the legal age of consent is against the law. The age of consent is 18 years old. It is illegal for someone 18 or older to engage in sexual activity with a minor, even if the activity is consensual. Sexual abuse in California can lead to a criminal conviction as well as a civil lawsuit against the perpetrator.

What Are Your Legal Options as a Sexual Abuse Survivor in California?

If you have been sexually abused or assaulted in California, you have rights in both the criminal and civil justice systems. You can cooperate with law enforcement to investigate the matter and potentially bring charges against the perpetrator. A criminal conviction can help provide justice by sentencing the perpetrator to jail or prison time, registration on the state’s Sex Offender List, and other penalties.

You can also file a civil claim to seek financial compensation for the injuries and harm caused by the sexual abuse. Filing a claim against the perpetrator and institution that failed to protect you from sex crimes can hold them accountable. In many cases, institutions such as schools and religious organizations can be held responsible for negligent hiring or supervision, failing to promptly address sexual misconduct complaints, and protecting abusers rather than the abused.

Financial Compensation Available

Survivors of sexual abuse in California who pursue civil lawsuits may be eligible for various types of financial compensation, also known as damages.

Three main types of damages are available:

• Economic damages: quantifiable, financial losses associated with the sexual abuse, such as medical bills, prescription medications, counseling, therapy, lost wages, lost capacity to earn and transportation.

• Noneconomic damages: intangible losses suffered by the victim, also known as pain and suffering, which may include physical pain, emotional distress, mental anguish, psychological trauma, depression, anxiety, loss of enjoyment of life, loss of consortium and long-term mental health damage.

• Punitive damages: an additional award that is not meant to reimburse a victim for his or her losses but to punish a defendant for egregious acts of wrongdoing. In California, a plaintiff can obtain punitive damages if there is clear and convincing evidence that the defendant acted with fraud, malice or oppression.

It is crucial to consult with an attorney about the potential value of your sexual abuse case before accepting a fast insurance settlement. Your case may be worth significantly more than what an insurance company initially offers you.

What Is the Statute of Limitations?

A statute of limitations is a law that enforces a strict time limit on the ability to file a civil lawsuit for sexual abuse.

In California, the amount of time a survivor has to bring a civil claim for sex abuse depends on the circumstances:

• For sex abuse that occurred on or after January 1, 2024, and when the survivor was a minor, there is no statute of limitations. (CCP 340.1 as amended by AB 452.)

• For sex abuse that occurred before January 1, 2024, and when the survivor was a minor, the statute of limitations is the survivor’s 40th birthday or 5 years from the date of discovering that a psychological injury was caused by sex abuse, whichever is later. (CCP 340.1.)

• For sex abuse that occurred when the survivor was 18 or older, the statute of limitations is 10 years from the date of the abuse or 3 years from the date of discovery, whichever is later. (CCP 340.16.)

Under the recently updated California laws, sexual abuse survivors can take their time and come forward with their claims when they feel comfortable. However, taking legal action as soon as possible can lead to a stronger claim, as more evidence may be available.

Contact Our Experienced California Sexual Abuse Lawyer Today

Do not give up hope as a victim of sexual abuse, assault, misconduct or violence in California. Help is available at Panish | Shea | Ravipudi LLP. Our attorneys can hold one or more parties accountable so that you can achieve some measure of justice and closure. Taking legal action can help you move forward and prevent similar crimes from being committed against others in the future. We will be there for you every step of the way.

Contact us today at (310) 477-1700 or send us a secure message online and we will get back to you as soon as possible to discuss your case in detail. We offer free and confidential initial consultations at no obligation to hire us.