$6.3M
Riverside County sexual abuse case.
Personal Injury
California Sexual Abuse Lawyer
Sexual abuse can be pursued in civil court even if no one was ever charged, and recent California laws have extended the time to file, and for some survivors removed the deadline altogether. Wilshire Law Firm represents survivors of childhood and adult sexual abuse across California in confidential civil claims against abusers and the schools, churches, youth programs, medical providers and employers that enabled them. You decide whether and how to move forward, and your first conversation is private. Talk to a legal professional 24/7 — no fees unless you get paid.
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Key Takeaways
- Childhood sexual abuse on or after January 1, 2024: there is no deadline to file a civil claim (Code Civ. Proc. §340.1(a), (p)).
- Childhood sexual abuse before 2024: generally until age 40, or within five years of discovering the psychological injury the abuse caused, whichever is later.
- Sexual assault of an adult: generally 10 years from the last act, or three years from discovering the resulting injury, whichever is later (Code Civ. Proc. §340.16(a)).
- Some expired adult claims have been revived, with limited exceptions: assaults on or after January 1, 2009 can be filed until December 31, 2026 (§340.16(b)(3)), and claims involving a private entity’s cover-up can be filed from January 1, 2026 through December 31, 2027 (§340.16(e)).
- Childhood sexual assault claims against a public school or other public entity do not require a government claim first (Code Civ. Proc. §340.1(q); Gov. Code §905(m)).
Understanding Your Sexual Abuse Case
Explore essential resources on your rights, your options, and what to expect — everything you need to navigate the legal process, all in one place.
- Childhood sexual abuse by family members, coaches, teachers, clergy or other trusted adults
- School sexual abuse by teachers, staff or students a school failed to supervise
- Institutional abuse in churches, youth programs, foster care and residential facilities
- Abuse by doctors and other medical providers
- Sex trafficking
- Sexual assault and harassment at work
- Assault by rideshare drivers and others a company hired or contracted
A civil case is separate from any criminal case. It seeks accountability and compensation rather than a prison sentence, and it is decided by a preponderance of the evidence, meaning whether something is more likely true than not, instead of proof beyond a reasonable doubt.
Most cases follow the same path: a confidential conversation; an investigation into the abuser, any institution involved and what it knew; filing the complaint; exchanging records and testimony; and resolution by settlement or trial. Survivors who are 40 or older when they file a childhood abuse claim go through one added step: their attorney and a licensed mental health practitioner each sign a certificate of merit, and the court reviews it before the defendant is served (Code Civ. Proc. §340.1(e)–(h)).
Many survivors were abused by someone an organization hired, supervised or gave access to children or patients. An institution can be civilly liable when its own negligence allowed the abuse: hiring without screening, ignoring warning signs, failing to supervise, keeping someone on after complaints or failing to report suspected abuse. Evidence often comes from the institution's own files, including prior complaints, personnel records and internal investigations, which is why we move early to preserve them.
Where an institution covered up the abuse of a minor, the law allows up to three times the damages against the defendant found to have covered it up (Code Civ. Proc. §340.1(b)). Other claims against public entities, including some adult claims, may still require a government claim within strict deadlines.
Results for survivors we have represented include settlements of $6,200,000, $4,000,000 and $3,000,000 in sexual abuse cases. We do not identify the survivors we represent. Past results do not guarantee a similar outcome.
Meet Our Sexual Abuse Attorneys
Nationally Recognized Powerhouse, Fighting for the Justice You Deserve
Our award-winning attorneys have recovered billions for clients while taking on insurance companies and major corporations.
Learn more about the team
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Colin M. Jones, Esq.Senior Partner and Senior Trial Attorney, Chair of the Personal Injury Litigation Department
Jennifer P. Burkes, Esq.Senior Partner & Strategic Advisor, Personal Injury Litigation Department
Mary Lee Caruso, Esq.Senior Partner
Ryan Casey, Esq.Senior Partner and Trial Attorney
Tae-Yoon Kim, Esq.Senior Partner
Philip Andonian, Esq.Partner and Trial Attorney
Alivia E. Abreu, Esq.Partner
Shervin G. Ghanoongooi, Esq.Partner
Christopher Goodroe, Esq.Partner
Nathan A. Guest, Esq.Partner and Trial Attorney
Brian M. Jacobson, Esq.Partner
Ariella Perry, Esq.PartnerRecent wins
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$4.0M
Lancaster sexual abuse case.
$3.0M
Riverside County sexual abuse case.
$2.5M
Los Angeles County sexual abuse case.
$2.5M
Los Angeles County sexual abuse case.
$1.3M
Los Angeles County sexual abuse case.
*Past results do not guarantee similar outcomes. Each case is unique and evaluated on its own facts.
Do I Have a Civil Claim for Sexual Abuse?
Most survivors who reach out have more options than they expect. A civil claim generally needs abuse that caused you harm, someone legally responsible (the abuser, and often an organization that hired, supervised or protected them) and a claim filed within the time the law allows. You do not need a police report, a conviction or physical evidence to talk with us; your account is where an investigation begins. Time limits depend on your age when the abuse happened and when it happened, so it is worth checking even if many years have passed.
Start Your Free Sexual Abuse Case Review
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Record-breaking results
Winners of #1 Settlements in California
Our attorneys have recovered billions of dollars, including some of the biggest settlements in California.
17#1 Settlements in California, 2022–2024*
TopVerdict #1TopVerdict.com #1 settlements
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#1 Truck v. Pedestrian Accident Settlement
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#1 Multi-Vehicle Accident Settlement
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#1 Equipment Malfunction Settlement
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#1 Car v. Stationary Object Collision Settlement
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#1 Bus v. Passenger Accident Settlement
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#1 Whistleblower Retaliation Settlement
2023
#1 Underinsured Motorist Settlement
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#1 Slip & Fall Accident Settlement
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#1 Negligent Security Settlement
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#1 Ladder Accident Settlement
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#1 Hotel Premises Liability Settlement
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#1 Car v. Car Collision Settlement
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#1 Bicycle Accident Settlement
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#1 Pregnancy Discrimination Settlement
2022
#1 Age/Disability Discrimination Settlement
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#1 Wrongful Termination Settlement
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#1 Meal & Rest Breaks Settlement
2022
*#1 settlements in California have been awarded by TopVerdict.com. Past results do not guarantee similar outcomes.
Sexual Abuse FAQs
Our Most Frequently Asked Questions
We've answered the most common ones below. If yours isn't here, call us — we're available 24/7.
It depends on your age when the abuse happened and when it happened.
- Abused as a child on or after January 1, 2024: no deadline.
- Abused as a child before 2024: generally until your 40th birthday, or within five years of discovering that a psychological injury you have as an adult was caused by the abuse, whichever is later. Claims after age 40 carry added requirements, but they can still be possible.
- Assaulted as an adult: generally within 10 years of the last act, or three years from discovering the resulting injury, whichever is later.
- Revived adult claims: for assaults on or after January 1, 2009 that would otherwise be too late, until December 31, 2026; for claims involving a private entity's cover-up, through December 31, 2027.
These rules have exceptions, so have your dates checked even if you believe it is too late (Code Civ. Proc. §§340.1, 340.16).
Yes. A civil claim does not depend on a criminal case. Many survivors never reported to police, and many reports never led to charges. A civil case is decided on whether the evidence shows the abuse more likely than not happened, and it can also be brought against an institution whose negligence allowed it.
Your conversations with us are confidential. In court, survivors can often proceed under a pseudonym such as Jane Doe or John Doe, and sensitive records can be protected from public view. We explain the specific protections available in your case before anything is filed.
Survivors can generally recover the cost of therapy and medical care, past and future; lost income and reduced earning capacity; and compensation for emotional distress and the lasting effects of the abuse. Punitive damages are possible when there is clear and convincing evidence of malice, oppression or fraud (Civ. Code §3294). The amount depends on the facts, the harm and who is responsible.
Nothing up front. Wilshire Law Firm works on contingency, so there are no fees unless you get paid. Your first conversation is free and confidential.
Go at your own pace. If you are in crisis or want to talk with someone now, the National Sexual Assault Hotline is available at 800-656-4673. When you are ready, it can help to write down what you remember, including dates, places and names; keep messages, photos and records; and gather any counseling or medical records you have. Do not confront the institution involved or sign anything it gives you before getting advice. A confidential conversation with a legal professional can tell you whether a deadline applies before you decide anything.