Big Brothers Big Sisters of America was founded in 1904 for the purpose of matching kids (“Littles”) with adult volunteers (“Bigs”). As one of the nation’s largest youth mentoring programs, Big Brothers Big Sisters has had a positive impact on the lives of many young people. But youth programs can also attract sexual predators, who take advantage of children who are emotionally and physically vulnerable. A mentoring program is especially prone to sexual abuse, since the kids rely heavily on the adults for validation and emotional support. Their innocent trust can be easily manipulated in order to coerce them into sexual acts. As a result, Big Brother / Big Sister sexual assault cases are more common than most people think. In fact, the program’s Board of Directors knew as early as the 1980s that they had a serious problem on their hands regarding Bigs sexually abusing Littles. In spite of that, they did little to prevent such incidents or report abusers to the authorities.
Victims who are taken advantage of in these programs deserve justice for the abuse they’ve endured. If you or your child was sexually abused by a Big Brother or Big Sister, you may be eligible to sue the program and receive monetary compensation. Additionally, you may be able to sue the school district if the abuse occurred through a school mentoring program. However, there are specific rules pertaining to each type of legal action, which you can learn about from an experienced child sex abuse attorney.
For more information on filing a lawsuit against Big Brothers Big Sisters of America, contact Normandie Law Firm and speak to a youth program sexual assault lawyer.
History of Sex Abuse among Big Brothers and Big Sisters
When Big Brothers Big Sisters began in the early 1900s, there were no screening procedures to check the backgrounds of volunteers. As you can imagine, this led to countless incidents of sexual molestation, rape, and other types of abuse between Bigs and Littles. The organization was aware of the problem but failed to take actions like background checks on mentors for many years.
Childhood survivors of sexual abuse by Big Brothers or Big Sisters have spoken out in recent years and filed lawsuits for their emotional trauma. One such case involved Big Brothers mentor, Antonio Cardenas, who is now serving 35 years for child sex abuse. His victim has sued the organization for $5 million, alleging that their lack of action led to him being sexually abused by Cardenas for almost 5 years. Sadly, this is just one of many victims who placed their trust in the mentor that was supposed to look out for them.
If you or your child was a victim of Big Brother / Big Sister sexual abuse, help is available to assist you with the recovery process. Please give us a call and speak to one of our youth program sexual abuse attorneys.
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School Mentoring Programs by Big Brothers and Big Sisters
The School-Based Mentoring program allows Bigs and Littles to connect at the child’s school, usually in the classroom or on the playground. This extra time with their Big provides confidence and inspiration for kids who are struggling with issues like bullying and poor grades. Most kids are happy when they come back from time with their mentors, but others are sad, confused, or angry as a result of sexual abuse. Teachers and school employees must keep an eye out for these signs and step in if they suspect a case of molestation, rape, or any other type of sexual abuse.
Liability in Big Brothers Big Sisters Sexual Abuse Lawsuits
Youth mentoring programs have a duty to keep kids safe and ensure that they are protected from sexual abuse. As stated above, Big Brothers Big Sisters has a history of concealing sexual abuse within their ranks. Minors who are victimized by a program mentor may be able to sue for damages if they can prove the following elements:
- Duty of Care
Big Brothers Big Sisters had a duty of care to them as a program participant.
- Breach of Duty
The program breached that duty of care through negligence, such as improper screening of Bigs, hiding abuse incidents, or not reporting sexual abuse allegations to the police.
- Causation
As a result of negligence by Big Brothers Big Sisters, the victim endured sexual abuse.
- Damages
The harm caused to the victim has led to physical and/or mental injuries, making them eligible for monetary compensation.
Minors in the School-Based Mentoring program may also have a case against their school district. Teachers, like youth program employees, are mandatory reporters, meaning they must report all incidents of sexual abuse to the authorities. Even if there is no physical evidence of the crime, they must report all accusations of abuse or suspected cases of abuse. Thus, if school authorities knew about or suspected abuse between a Big and Little, but did nothing about it, they may be liable in a lawsuit for damages.
Understanding liability and how it factors into your sexual abuse case is essential to recovering the damages you deserve. Contact a Big Brother/ Big Sister sexual abuse lawyer to learn more about the parties that are responsible for the harm you’ve suffered.
Suing for Childhood Sexual Abuse as an Adult
In 2019, the California Legislature passed Assembly Bill 218, which increases the amount of time victims have to seek monetary damages from their abusers. This led to a surge of injury claims from survivors of child sex abuse, who were previously barred from filing a lawsuit. Now, California adults up to the age of 40 can sue for sexual abuse that occurred when they were children. Additionally, there is a 3-year window for claims that were previously expired. That means you may be able to file a claim, even if you were previously barred from doing so. However, the 3-year look back window expires on December 31, 2022, so you must contact a lawyer immediately to protect your right to compensation.
Another significant development is the trebling of damages if the organization attempted to hide or falsify reports of child sexual abuse. If, for example, Big Brothers Big Sisters deliberately covered up allegations of rape or molestation, the victim can be awarded three times what they would have received in a lawsuit. This has led to significant increases in awards for sex abuse victims, but skilled legal representation is needed in cases against national organizations like Big Brothers Big Sisters of America.
To learn more about the damages you can receive in a lawsuit against Big Brothers Big Sisters, speak with the lawyers of Normandie right away.
Free Second Opinion
Child sex abuse cases are undoubtedly complicated, and winning compensation takes time and patience. However, plaintiffs should not have to deal with unreasonable delays or lack of communication from their lawyer. There may be other issues in your case that speak to your attorney’s lack of experience. Lawyers can also be lazy or greedy, and as a result, some cases are ignored until they’re eventually dismissed for lack of action.
If you’re unhappy with your current lawyer, the best thing to do is seek advice from an experienced personal injury attorney. That’s exactly what we can do for you during a free second opinion consultation. We can address all your concerns, including:
- I can’t ever seem to get in touch with my attorney
- I think my case is worth more than what my lawyer is saying.
- Why is it taking so long to settle my case?
- The settlement negotiations went nowhere and I’m pretty sure it was my attorney’s fault.
It’s never too late to switch lawyers in the state of California, but there are consequences to firing your lawyer in the middle of a case. We will educate you on these terms and help you reach a decision that’s in your best interest. If you decide to switch over to our law firm, we’ll take care of the transfer process so there’s nothing for you to worry about.
Don’t hesitate to call us if you’re worried about the way your case is being handled. Our second opinions are completely free no matter what you decide, so there’s no risk in scheduling a consultation with one of our attorneys.
Speak with a Youth Organization Sex Abuse Attorney
Big Brothers Big Sisters and other youth programs have many benefits for disadvantaged children, including better self-esteem and improved performance at school. Thankfully, most Littles end up with caring and inspirational mentors, who provide them with love and guidance. But some children are targeted by abusers, who exploit them for sexual gratification. There is no easy solution to this problem, but preventative measures and recognizing the signs of abuse are two of the most effective methods. That’s why it’s so important for organizations and schools to keep an eye out for inappropriate relations between Bigs and Littles. When the responsible adults fail in these duties, they are liable for any physical and mental injuries that are sustained by the victim.
If you or your child suffered sexual abuse from a Big Brother or Big Sister, moving forward from your experience will be difficult. However, taking legal action can be a big step forward, while providing you with the funds needed for your recovery. But you must start an injury claim as soon as possible to ensure that you receive the compensation you deserve. As for legal fees, there’s no need to worry about that since we work on contingency. With our Zero fee guarantee, all our payments are deferred until you receive your settlement. And if we don’t win your case, you won’t be responsible for any of our fees.
Contact Normandie Law Firm and speak to one of our youth program sexual abuse attorneys. We are ready to guide you every step of the way and help you achieve the justice you’re entitled to.
Other Pages on Our Website Related to This Topic
Sexual Abuse in After School Programs Lawsuit Attorney
WINGS for Kids – Sexual Assault, Rape, Molestation Abuse Lawyer
After-School All-Stars – Sexual Assault, Rape, Molestation Abuse Lawyer
