For several decades, MacLaren Hall served as a residential group home for foster children in the Los Angeles area. Unfortunately, the facility repeatedly failed the children they were supposed to protect, which was known to various county agencies, including the Los Angeles County Department of Children and Family Services. In June 2022, the agency was sued by 12 former MacLaren Hall residents, who suffered horrible acts of sexual abuse during their stay at the group home.
Were you one of many children who were sexually abused by a staff member, or another adult associated with MacLaren Hall? If so, you may have grounds for a sexual assault lawsuit, which will compensate you for the physical and emotional harm you’ve suffered. It’s likely that you have spoken with a lawyer already, who is in charge of fighting for your rights. The problem is, it’s been far too long since you’ve heard back from them. In fact, it’s difficult to get in touch with them at all, and you are frustrated by the lack of progress in your case.
Sadly, this is a common problem among litigants once they sign the dotted line on their contract. By now, you may be asking yourself, “What can I do if I’m unhappy with the lawyer that’s representing me? Can I switch my lawyer or is it too late?”
Regardless of where you are in the legal process, please take some time to speak with a sex abuse lawsuit attorney at our law firm. Legal options are available to you, but making the right choice requires extensive knowledge of the law, which we can provide you with here at Normandie Law Firm. Contact us right away for a free case evaluation.
Can I Change the Lawyer I have for my MacLaren Hall Sex Abuse Case?
Yes, you can change your legal representative at any point, no matter how far along you are with your lawsuit. In fact, this happens more often than most people think. Of course, switching law firms in the middle of a case is a big decision that comes with various consequences. However, staying with an attorney that views sexual abuse claims as a numbers game can be dangerous to your case.
The truth is, all lawyers get busy with a caseload that’s difficult to manage. However, attorneys have an ethical duty to respond to their client’s calls, emails, and other forms of communication in a timely manner. For the injury victim that’s desperate for answers or reassurance, a few days can seem like a lifetime. That’s why we make it a point at our practice to respond to clients within 1 or 2 business days. If your lawyer is taking longer than that to get back to you, it may indicate serious problems regarding their experience, organizational skills, or ability to care about you as more than “just another case.”
Our Recent Verdicts and Settlements
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$54 Million
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What are my Rights if my Lawyer won’t Return my Calls?
You may be fed up with your lawyer, but what can you do if your MacLaren Hall lawsuit is suffering due to a lack of communication from your attorney? A few options are available to you, including:
- Mail or email a detailed letter to your attorney, indicating the issues you are having. Sometimes, this is enough to get your lawyer’s attention and get them to invest more time in your case. To ensure the best possible results, draft your letter when you are feeling calm and collected so that you can keep things as professional as possible. If you plan on mailing the letter, try to use priority mail service so that you have confirmation when the delivery is completed.
- Go to the State Bar of California’s website and download the forms for a formal complaint against your attorney. Communication issues are not necessarily a violation of the Bar’s code of conduct, so you will need to show that your lawyer’s untimely responses are damaging to your case. This can be quite challenging to prove, so don’t hesitate to contact us if you need help with a California State Bar complaint.
- Frankly, finding a new lawyer may be the best option, especially if your problems go beyond untimely responses to your phone calls. Of course, this is still a big decision when you have a pending sexual assault claim. A free second opinion with one of our attorneys can help you choose the best course of action.
Which comes First – Finding a New Lawyer or Firing the Old One?
There’s no right or wrong answer to this question, but we recommend finding a new lawyer before you do anything else. You would think that your lawyer will be understanding and professional when you announce that you’re moving on, but that’s not always the case. It may be petty and immature, but lawyers are people too, and some of them may lash out when they are rejected by a client. One issue we see quite often is law firms holding case files hostage by making all sorts of excuses as to why the information can’t be released. As your new attorney needs your case file to proceed with your claim, this can be quite upsetting to deal with.
At our office, we handle the entire transfer process from start to finish when a client decides to continue their claim with us. This makes the whole situation less personal for both the client and attorney, and as a result, your lawyer is more likely to cooperate with the necessary procedures. To decide if switching your lawyer is in your best interest, please call us to schedule a free second opinion.
Should I Switch my Lawyer?
No matter how bad things are between you and your lawyer, changing your attorney mid-case is not a simple task. There are many issues you must think about in order to make a decision that you won’t regret in the long run. However, finding new representation is probably for the best if you’re having the following problems:
- Your lawyer takes more than 2 business days to respond to your questions, or at the very least, acknowledge that they received your call, email, etc.
- You’ve discovered that your lawyer has missed an important deadline, which is likely to cause problems with your case.
- Your lawyer is taking too long to settle your claim, and you are not satisfied with their explanation as to why there are such lengthy delays.
- The court has sent you a notice saying that your case may be dismissed due to inactivity by your attorney.
- Your lawyer has asked the court for an extension more than once, and you’re starting to get suspicious about their ability to win your case.
This is not a complete list of all the red flags you should pay attention to. For a detailed review of your case by one of our legal experts, please schedule a free consultation.
Frequently Asked Questions about MacLaren Hall Sex Abuse Lawsuits
Regardless of what stage you’re at with your lawsuit, you probably have the same questions on your mind as most of the victims who have stopped by to speak with us. Below is some information that may be helpful to you, especially if you’re having trouble getting answers from your attorney.
What is the value of my settlement as a victim of child sexual abuse?
The value of your lawsuit is based on many circumstances that are unique to the abuse you’ve suffered while staying at Maclaren Hall. The difference in age between you and your abuser, the specific acts that were inflicted on you, negligence by DCFS that led to you being abused – these are just some of the factors we will need to examine. If we had to give a range of case values based on our many years of experience, we would say that child sexual abuse settlements are worth anywhere from $1 million to over $7.5 million.
However, these are just estimates at the end of the day. The value of your own MacLaren Hall sexual assault case may be lower or higher than the amounts we’ve mentioned here. Consulting an experienced child sex abuse lawyer is the best way to determine what your lawsuit is worth.
What is the average amount of time to settle a MacLaren Hall sexual assault lawsuit?
We understand the importance of achieving a settlement for your case as soon as possible. It’s our goal as legal advocates to recover your payment within 6 to 8 months. However, we are also in charge of fighting for the full value of your losses, and that process can take 12 to 18 months. We are upfront with our clients about the fact that cases are incredibly complex when they involve child sexual abuse and government agencies, like the LA County DCFS. Based on the complications that may arise, 2 or more years may be needed to fully resolve your lawsuit.
How long do I have to pursue a legal case?
As a child sex abuse survivor, California law allows you 22 years after turning 18, or up until the age of 40, to file a lawsuit against the at fault parties. Or, if you don’t become aware of the abuse until a later time, you can pursue a compensation claim within 5 years from the date of discovery. Under Assembly Bill-218, you can choose the latter of these dates, which gives you as much time as possible to sue for a case of child sexual assault. You may still have questions regarding the statute of limitations for these cases, which we can assist you with during a private meeting at our office.
Free Legal Services for MacLaren Hall Sex Abuse Victims
Trusting that your attorney cares about you as a human being is critical when you are seeking justice as a sexual abuse victim. That personal connection is lost when a lawyer is incompetent or apathetic and is not able to provide the level of service their client deserves. That’s one thing you won’t have to worry about here at Normandie, where you’re not just a client – you’re family. That’s why we are zealous in our commitment to bringing you maximum payment for your injuries, no matter how long it takes.
As for the cost of hiring us, injury victims are not responsible for legal fees at our law firm. Our expenses are covered by the defendant, which is paid out to us along with your settlement. In essence, we don’t make a penny unless we win your case, which is our promise to you under the Zero fee guarantee.
We know the legal process hasn’t been easy for you, but please take the chance of reaching out to us and learning about the ways we can assist you. To explore your rights and legal options with a MacLaren Hall sex abuse attorney, contact us at your earliest convenience.
Other Pages on Our Website Related to This Topic
Should I get a New Lawyer for my MacLaren Hall Sexual Abuse Case?
Filing Deadline – MacLaren Hall Sexual Abuse Lawsuit Case
Maclaren Hall Sexual Abuse Class Action Lawsuit Information
