The Reform School For Juvenile Offenders, also known as the Reform School for Juvenile Boys, the Fred C. Nelles School, and the Whittier State School, operated from 1891 until 2004. The facility was operated by the California Youth Authority, which now forms a part of the California Department of Corrections. The facility housed youth incarcerated for different crimes. Ultimately, the reform facility was closed because of the reduction of juveniles being housed on the premises.
Although the facility has been closed for about twenty years, former detained youth continue to suffer the consequences of their detention and being subjected to abuse – including physical and sexual abuse. If you were abused during your time at the Reform School for Boys, it is important that you seek legal assistance as soon as possible. Based on the details surrounding the abuse and the harm suffered, formerly detained youth could have grounds to file lawsuits against the state. If you are ready to explore the legal options available to you, please do not hesitate to reach out to the experts here at the Normandie Law Firm.
Our team here at the Normandie Law Firm has decades of experience in juvenile hall and juvenile detention facility physical and sexual abuse cases. Our legal team is not afraid to take on any negligent entity to fight for the rights of victims and help them get justice for the harm that they suffered. If you are ready to explore the legal options available to you, please do not hesitate to reach out to our legal team as soon as possible. Our abuse experts are ready to guide you every step of the way.
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Abuse at Fred C. Nelles Youth Correctional Facility
In general, the conditions at juvenile hall facilities contribute to the abuse that detained youth may suffer. The abuse may occur at the hands of staff or other youth. This may occur in front others in the dining area, dormitories, cells, showers, or in private in closets, offices, etc. Physical abuse may include kicking, punching, throwing against walls/floors, pinning down, chocking, etc. Sexual abuse may include rape, attempted rape, sodomy, forced kissing, touching, groping, forcing the victim to perform any sexual act, making sexual comments/jokes, etc.
Both physical abuse and sexual abuse can have lasting physical, mental, and emotional consequences on victims. Sure, this can vary based on the type of abuse suffered.
For example, in cases of physical abuse, victims could suffer traumatic brain injuries, concussions, facial injuries, broken nose, broken jaw, neck injuries, back injuries, broken ribs, internal bleeding, and more. Physical abuse can sometimes lead to mental and emotional harm, especially if the abuse was recurring.
In cases of sexual abuse, victims could suffer from unwanted pregnancy, injuries to genitals, injuries to reproductive organs, other physical injuries from struggles during the abuse, sexually transmitted infections, etc. In general, sexual abuse is more likely to result in mental and emotional harm, including but not limited to post-traumatic stress, anxiety, panic, depression, etc. In addition, victims of sexual abuse may be at higher risk of self-harm and substance abuse. It is also important to note that victims of sexual abuse often suffer from repressed memories, so they might experience the physical, mental, and emotional harm without actually knowing the cause of it.
Can I File a Lawsuit against the California Department of Corrections?
In the past, the detention center was operated by the California Youth Authority, although now the agency responsible for operating these facilities is the California Department of Corrections. The state agency has a duty to ensure that all facilities are safe for detained youth. Of course, the agency has the duty to ensure that youth is safe during their detention period – this means that they have to ensure that facility staff and other youth do not pose a risk of injury. In other words, all prospective staff has to be subject to background checks and training. Once hired, there should be random background checks as well as continuous training and effective supervision. To ensure that youth do not pose a risk to each other, there must be appropriate security measures, including enough staff, enough guards, surveillance cameras, clear reporting protocols, and immediate investigation/action when reports arise, for instance.
Unfortunately, these agencies often ignore the abuse that occurs within their facilities. They allow staff to abuse youth just like they allow abuse between detained youth to continue. When these facilities fail to take action to stop or prevent abuse, then can be held liable for all resulting harm and can be sued.
What if the facility has already closed down? Fred C. Nelles School has been closed since 2004. This does not mean that victims can no longer take any action. In fact, even when these facilities are permanently closed down, victims could still pursue claims against the entity/agency that operated them. This means that you could still have the right to sue.
For more information about your right to pursue a lawsuit, please do not hesitate to reach out to our legal team as soon as possible. Our Fred C. Nelles School abuse lawyers are ready to guide you every step of the way.
Can I Recover Compensation for My Fred C. Nelles School Abuse Claim?
Yes, based on the details surrounding your claim, you could be entitled to receive compensation. Although every claim is different, claimants could be entitled to receive compensation for some of the following:
- Medical expenses
- Lost income
- Pain and suffering
- Punitive damages
- Treble damages
- Legal fees
What can I recover? Juvenile hall sex abuse and physical abuse claims can be worth anywhere from $500,000 to $5 million – and sometimes even more. When victims come together to pursue class action claims, values can reach the $20 million mark.
Here at our law firm, our experts are fully committed to getting our clients – the victims of physical and sexual abuse at juvenile halls and reform schools – the highest recovery available for their claims. Our team is ready to go above it all to fight for your right to the maximum payout available, whether it is through a settlement or through a verdict in trial. For more information about the possible value of your claim, please do not hesitate to contact our team at your earliest convenience.
How Long Do I Have to Sue?
All claims are subject to a statute of limitations. A statute of limitations determines the total length of time that claimants have to file their claims. When claimants fail to file their claims on time, they run the risk of losing the right to sue entirely. So, how long do you have to sue? In general, minors who suffer physical abuse have only two years after turning eighteen to file their claims. Minors who suffer sexual abuse have twenty-two years after turning eighteen to file their claims (so they can sue until the age of forty). However, claims involving government entities are usually subject to a short six-month deadline. Although you may still have the right to file a claim for abuse that occurred prior to the closure of the facility in 2004, we understand that you may be unsure if you still have time to sue. To ensure that you have a thorough understanding of the deadline that applies to your claim, contact us today.
Contact the Normandie Law Firm Today
If you suffered physical abuse or sexual abuse during the time you spent at the Fred C. Nelles School or the Reform School for Boys, it is important that you seek legal assistance with the experts here at our law firm as soon as possible. Our team here at the Normandie Law Firm has decades of experience and is ready to provide you with the guidance that you need to sue the state for the physical abuse or sexual abuse suffered. If you are ready to speak with our legal team, contact us today.
We are committed to getting victims justice for the physical and sexual abuse that they suffered. To remain as accessible as possible, we offer free case evaluations, which include free consultations and free second opinions. During these free legal services, our team will be available to answer all your questions and address all your concerns – and to essentially guide you every step of the way. If you would like to schedule a free case evaluation, contact us today.
We offer a Zero-Fee Guarantee, meaning that our clients will not have to pay any upfront legal fees for any of our legal services. Our team also works on a strict contingency structure, so you will not be required to pay anything if your claim is not successful. If you do not win, you will not be responsible for any legal costs.
If you are ready to discuss your claim with our experts, contact us today.
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