How to File a Claim if Your Child Was a Victim of Sexual Abuse

Sexual abuse takes place in many different places away from the home, including:

• Sexual abuse in schools
• Sexual abuse by teachers
• Sexual abuse by coaches
• Sexual abuse by students
• Sexual abuse in youth organizations
• Sexual abuse in religious organizations

When sexual abuse of your child does occur, you need an experienced sexual abuse lawyer on your side.

At Taylor & Ring, we have substantial experience representing adults and children who have been victims of sexual assault and abuse. Some of our recoveries include:

• A $102 million verdict for two students sexually abused and groomed by their band teacher at a middle school.
• A $45.4 million jury award for a minor who was assaulted by as many as 15 different men between 2010 and 2012. This was the #8 award in the State of California for the year.
• An $8 million settlement for a 15-year-old girl sexually abused and kidnapped by her teacher at San Gabriel Mission High School. This was the largest individual settlement agreement for a sexual abuse case in the Archdiocese’s history.

We always treat our clients with respect and the utmost discretion. Our attorneys provide a safe space for you and your child to discuss your needs and your fears.

What are the signs your child is suffering sexual abuse?

At Taylor & Ring, we work with child psychologists and sexual abuse professionals who understand and treat the signs of sexual abuse in minors. Sexual assault and abuse include various types of physical harm and emotional trauma. Many children require years of help to regain their confidence and self-esteem. Some children may never fully recover.

According to Psychology Today, “The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) estimates that one in four girls and one in 13 boys will experience sexual abuse by the time they reach 18.”

Younger children

Some of the physical signs of sexual abuse of young children include bleeding, bruising, or irritation of genital areas, blood on underwear or sheets, and sexually transmitted diseases (STDs).

Emotional signs of sexual abuse include:

• Bed-wetting and toilet accidents by children who are already toilet-trained
• Thumb-sucking and resisting separation from their parents
• Adult-like sexual behaviors, knowledge, and language
• Being upset when removing clothing for bath, bedtime, diapering, or using the toilet
• Sleeping difficulties, including nightmares
• Not wanting to talk or talking about having secrets
• Having money, gifts, or treats without reason
• Fears of certain people/places
• Withdrawal
• Lack of interest in school and social activities
• Eating changes

Older children and teens

Physical signs of sexual abuse include STIs (sexually transmitted infections), pregnancy, and unexplained bruises. Emotional signs of sexual abuse in older children include:

• Poor hygiene
• Substance abuse
• Sexual promiscuity
• Running away from home
• Self-harm
• Anxiety and depression
• Negative body images
• Attempts at suicide
• Fear of relationships/intimacy
• Compulsive dieting/eating

Sexual abuse also includes sexual grooming, sexual exploitation, and child trafficking.

It is not just minors who suffer sexual abuse. Children 18 and older can suffer sexual abuse in high schools, universities, and other post-secondary schools.

What remedies can parents and guardians use to protect their children in California?

Domestic violence restraining orders

Parents and guardians can file requests for domestic violence restraining orders to protect their children. These orders normally protect children from other family members, people who live in the child’s home, or people involved in a relationship with the minor. A judge can order that the abuser stay away from the child’s home and the child for a specific amount of time. The order can include other conditions, such as child support. Generally, parents and guardians can seek to renew restraining orders.

Personal injury claims

Parents and guardians can also file civil lawsuits against the people and organizations (the people/organizations that we describe above) that fail to protect their children from sexual abuse. The main grounds for filing a civil lawsuit are the following:

• A person or organization has a duty to protect your child from sexual abuse.
• That person/organization fails to implement policies and procedures to prevent sexual abuse.
• That person/organization fails to respond to sexual abuse when it occurs, such as conducting investigations, disciplining or firing sexual abusers, and helping to address your child’s physical and emotional disorders.
• That person/organization fails to notify you that your child is the subject of sexual abuse.
• Your child suffers physical, emotional, and/or psychological harm because of sexual abuse.

At Taylor & Ring, we help you and your child in the following ways:

• We help ensure that your child sees the physicians, therapists, and other healthcare providers they need to see to show what physical, emotional, and psychological injuries they have now and the medical care they will need as they grow older.
• We work with child psychologists and forensic specialists to show what type of sexual abuse your child suffered and to help your child express their feelings.
• Our legal team works with investigators and the police and formally questions everyone with knowledge of the sexual abuse to understand what happened and why the sexual abuse of your child should never have occurred.
• Our lawyers show who is responsible and why they are responsible.

We demand compensation for the following from the responsible defendants:

• Payment of all your child’s medical bills. These expenses include any forensic exams to confirm that a sexual assault has taken place, emergency department care, hospitalizations, surgeries, and physical rehabilitation. Medical bills also include the cost of psychiatric and psychological counseling, which can last a lifetime.
• Your child’s physical pain and emotional suffering. This includes every pain, twinge of discomfort, moment of anxiety, depression, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
• Your lost income and expense to care for your child.
• If your child had the ability to earn an income, your child may be entitled to compensation for their loss of income.

If the conduct of the organization responsible for the sexual abuse of your child acted maliciously or wantonly, we seek punitive damages.

Filing a sexual abuse claim on behalf of your child or encouraging your child to file their own sexual abuse claim is important for several reasons.

• A sexual abuse claim compensates your child for their damages, including expenses like medical bills, as well as their pain and suffering
• A sexual abuse claim holds the wrongdoers accountable
• A verdict or settlement helps prevent other children from suffering sexual abuse by the same people or organizations

At Taylor & Ring, we provide caring and skilled legal representation. Please call our office or complete our contact form to schedule a free consultation.