Were you abused sexually by a probation officer or some other employee at Contra Costa Juvenile Hall? If so, you may have grounds for a lawsuit against your abuser and the Contra Costa Probation Department for failing to protect you while you were in their facility.
Contra Costa Juvenile Hall, also known as John A. Davis Juvenile Hall, is a youth detention center that opened in 2005. It is a maximum security unit for up to 290 inmates, who are separated into 10 housing units based on their age, gender, offense, and mental / physical health needs. CCC Juvenile Hall can be a scary place to navigate if you are a youth offender. But you expect the adults in charge to keep you safe and help you make the best of your time while you are the facility.
Tragically, many of these counselors, teachers, administrators, and other staff members are actually the ones hurting the kids, typically through physical and sexual abuse. Sexual assault against minors is one of the biggest problems facing any program that services children, and in reality, there is no way to stop these incidents altogether. But there are many things juvenile hall administrators and county agencies can do once they are aware of sexually inappropriate conduct between their workers and juvenile inmates. They can also take actions to prevent these individuals from entering the facility in the first place, just so they can sexually abuse children who are in need of extra care and attention.
If you are an abuse victim or the loved one of a child that was sexually abused, please contact the Contra Costa Juvenile Hall abuse lawyers at our office. We understand that you may be reluctant to put your faith in the justice system after what you’ve gone through. However, we do not work for the Contra Costa Probation Department; our loyalty is to you and all the other victims that suffered due to negligence by county officials. For a free consultation with a juvenile hall sexual assault lawsuit attorney, give us a call at your earliest convenience.
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Sexual Abuse against Children at Contra Costa Juvenile Hall
Rape, attempted rape, oral sex, inappropriate touching, sending pornography, and exchanging nude pics are just some of the ways children are abused while staying at a California juvenile hall. These incidents are shockingly common, and the culture of child sexual exploitation has been alive and well in the youth detention system for many years. We know of cases that go back to the 1970s and have spoken to many adults who are still angry and ashamed over the abuse.
Some of our clients were forcibly raped or sodomized, or blackmailed by a juvenile hall staff member to engage in sexual conduct. However, many of them were slowly groomed by their abuser, who showered them with attention and praise. Typically, there would be a period of befriending the child and cultivating a strong emotional bond. Eventually, there would be conversations of a sexual nature, followed by inappropriate touching, like groping her breasts and genitals.
At this point, the victim feels trapped, as they are emotionally involved with the adult that’s taking advantage of them. They may convince themselves that it’s not a big deal, and in fact, it’s necessary to put up with these advance in order to get through their sentence. As they get older and realize how they were used, it becomes difficult to manage their guilt, shame, and disgust. That’s why so many of the victims that come to us are adult survivors of sexual abuse against children.
Please know that what happened to you is child sexual assault under California law. As someone under the age of consent (18 years old), you cannot give informed consent to sexual interactions of any kind. Thus, an adult that interacts with the child for the purpose of sexual gratification – even if there is no physical contact – can be sued for sexual abuse of a minor.
In addition, you can sue the county of Contra Costa if they failed to exercise reasonable care, which could have kept you safe from such a traumatizing event. We will talk more about your right to sue for sex abuse at a juvenile hall in the upcoming section. However, it would be in your best interest to contact a Contra Costa Juvenile Hall abuse attorney, who can provide you with tailored advice based on your own circumstances.
Who can I Sue if I was Sexually Abused at Contra Costa Juvenile Hall?
A lawsuit for juvenile hall sexual abuse can be filed against the agency that’s in charge of the facility where you were assaulted. That means you can file a Contra Costa Juvenile Hall assault lawsuit against the County of Contra Costa, and not just the person that sexually abused you.
Essentially, these cases almost always involve some degree of negligence by officials that are in charge of the juvenile detention center. By the time there is a major lawsuit – quite often, a class action – it’s revealed that the agency had a long list of complaints against a particular individual. If they conduct an investigation into the matter, the resulting evidence is frequently concealed and not handed over to the authorities. This means one of two things: the employee is allowed to continue abusing the victim and other children, or they are quietly transferred to a new juvenile hall.
Either way, the problem is far from being solved, and it’s clear that the offender is enabled and empowered, while the underage victims are left to suffer. This is why most lawsuits for sexual assault at Contra Costa Juvenile Hall are filed against the county, which is ultimately responsible for the care and protection of these children. To learn more about your right to sue for sexual abuse at a juvenile hall, contact the child sexual assault lawyers of Normandie Law Firm.
How can I File a Contra Costa Juvenile Hall Sexual Abuse Class Action Lawsuit?
If you want to file a class action lawsuit against Contra Costa Juvenile Hall, all you have to do is contact a Contra Costa Juvenile Hall class action lawsuit attorney. We can help you join an existing lawsuit or guide you through the process of initiating a class action claim with the court system.
However, we would like the opportunity to sit down with you and go over the ins and outs of filing a lawsuit with other victims. There are many advantages to a sexual abuse class action lawsuit, like having a stronger case due to the number of plaintiffs making similar accusations against the defendant. But there are disadvantages as well, including how long these lawsuits can take and the lack of control you may have over important decisions, like whether or not to settle your case.
Due to the various issues that must be examined, we recommend that you speak with a lawyer who can sue Contra Costa Juvenile Hall for incidents of sexual abuse.
Statute of Limitations for a Contra Costa Juvenile Hall Sexual Abuse Lawsuit
In California, you have up until the age of 40, or 22 years from the time you turn 18 to file a lawsuit if you were sexually assaulted at Contra Costa Juvenile Hall. The previous laws gave victims up to 8 years after turning the age of consent (26 years old). Then, in 2019, Assembly Bill 218 was passed, which greatly enhanced the legal rights of those who were subjected to sexual abuse as children.
The statute of limitations for a juvenile hall sex abuse lawsuit is very generous in California, and more changes to the laws are expected in the next few years. That’s why it’s essential to stay on top of the requirements for a lawsuit by contacting a Contra Costa Juvenile Hall sexual abuse attorney.
I’m Older than 40 – Is it too Late to File a Juvenile Hall Sexual Abuse Lawsuit?
You can still file a childhood sexual abuse lawsuit even if you are past 40 years old if you discover that your current mental and/or physical health condition is related to the abuse you suffered at Contra Costa Juvenile Hall. Under California’s discovery rule, you have 5 years to file a lawsuit from the date of discovering the psychological or physical damage from sexual abuse as a child.
The discovery rule can be used in various situations to extend the amount of time you have for a lawsuit. In sexual abuse cases, for example, it’s commonly known that children repress memories of abuse and later recover those memories with help from a therapist. Even when the memories resurface throughout their lives, the victim suppresses them and does their best to move forward as if nothing happened. This can cause all sorts of problems, usually in the form of mental health illnesses like substance abuse, depression, eating disorders, suicidal thoughts, and attachment disorders.
Essentially, the discovery rule allows you to file a juvenile hall sexual abuse lawsuit at any age, as long as you are within 5 years from when you reasonably realized the effects of sexual assault as a minor. While we have attempted to provide a simplified explanation of the discovery rule, this is frankly a very complex legal concept that you are likely to have questions about. The Contra Costa Juvenile Hall sexual abuse lawyers of Normandie can meet with you and provide answers to any questions you have during a free consultation.
Average Value of a Contra Costa Juvenile Hall Sexual Assault Settlement
A Contra Costa Juvenile Hall sexual abuse lawsuit is worth around $1,500,000 to $5,000,000, which we are basing on previous settlements and verdicts for childhood sexual assault claims. Of course, each case is made up of many details that are unique to the victim and the abuse they suffered. That’s why it’s in your best interest to speak with a Contra Costa Juvenile Hall sexual molestation lawyer if you are interested in finding out the value of your case.
One of our attorneys can also educate you on the damages you are entitled to as someone that was sexually abused at Contra Costa Juvenile Hall. Possible monetary damages in a sexual abuse against minors lawsuit includes:
- Pain and suffering
- Emotional distress
- Medical expenses
- Loss of wages / lost earning potential
- Loss of consortium
- Legal fees
- Treble damages
What is the Expected Timeline to Settle these Cases?
The process of settling a Contra Costa Juvenile Hall sexual abuse lawsuit is around 1 to 2 years, depending on the available evidence and the county’s cooperation in working towards a settlement. If there are unexpected complications or the injuries to the victim are especially complex, it may take 3 or more years to settle a juvenile hall sexual assault lawsuit. Claims that take the longest are the ones that go to trial, but this is uncommon with sexual abuse lawsuits, which are settled out of court 95% of the time.
If you are initiating or joining a class action lawsuit with others who were sexually abused at Contra Costa Juvenile Hall, it will probably take 2 to 3 years before a settlement is reached. These lawsuits have additional procedures compared to a personal injury lawsuit, which is why they typically take longer to settle. Most likely, you will reach a settlement through negotiations with the defendant. However, if a trial is required, resolving a Contra Costa Juvenile Hall sexual abuse class action lawsuit can take over 3 years.
If you would like a detailed explanation on how long it may take to settle your lawsuit, call us to speak with a Contra Costa Juvenile Hall sexual assault lawyer.
Contact a California Sexual Abuse Lawsuit Attorney
Justice should be available to all abuse victims, not just the one that can afford to pay for an attorney. We believe that legal services should be free to child abuse victims, which is why we provide a Zero Fee Guarantee. This is a policy where the cost of representing you is billed to the defendant and paid at the end of your case. As our payment is contingent on winning your case, we make $0 if you don’t receive compensation from a Contra Costa Juvenile Hall abuse lawsuit.
To learn more about your rights and legal options, please reach out to us for a free case evaluation. If you have a lawsuit that’s already in progress, we are happy to offer you a free second opinion. As you can see, we are prepared to assist you, no matter where you are with your case. All you have to do is contact our law firm and ask to speak with a childhood sexual assault lawyer.
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