Were you or a member of your family sexually abused by an instructor or another employee at a dance school for children? Whether you sign up for hip hop or ballet classes, you go into the experience with high hopes of learning from a caring and experienced teacher. Sadly, some of these instructors are sexual predators that take these jobs specifically for the purpose of abusing children. Even worse, most of these individuals convince the child that they are somehow at fault. Or, they exploit the emotional connection they have with the student to keep them from going to their parents or the police.
In many cases, the school that employs the teacher is aware of what’s going on, at least to some degree. Yet, many of them fail to take appropriate action, like contacting the authorities and the parents / guardians of the minor that is being abused. As a result, the instructor continues the pattern of molestation and other kinds of sexual abuse month after month, year after year.
Whether you are a survivor of child sexual abuse or the parent of a child that was victimized, it’s important to learn about the legal actions that are available to you. You may have the option of filing a lawsuit against the abuser, as well as the dance school. Damages from a dance class sexual abuse lawsuit can include pain and suffering, emotional distress, medical expenses, lost income, and the cost of hiring a sexual abuse lawsuit lawyer.
For more information on suing for sexual abuse by a dance instructor, contact our office today.
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Suing for Sexual Abuse at a Dance Studio
Dance studios, like any other business, have a duty of care to the people on their premises. This includes protecting them from incidents like assault and battery and sexual assault. Normally, this is done by installing security equipment and making sure there are safety protocols in place that must be followed by staff members at all times.
However, the degree of responsibility is much higher when you are a dance studio that has ballet, tap, jazz, and other classes for kids. Along with securing the property, you also have to keep an eye out for inappropriate conduct between students and teachers. For example, maybe you notice that a teacher is spending time away from the studio with a student, and it’s not clear where they go or what they do. Or, you see that a child is acting out and exhibiting behaviors that are unusual for them, especially when they are around a specific instructor. These and other signs of sexual abuse must be investigated and reported to the proper authorities. This is not optional, by the way; it is a legal requirement under California’s mandatory reporting laws.
In a lot of cases, dance school staff, owners, and administrators are aware of allegations against one or more of their instructors. These complaints may be brought to them by students, parents, or other teachers that witness or suspect a sexual relationship. However, many of these schools are reluctant to look any further into the accusations. Even if they come across evidence of child sexual abuse, their goal is to keep the story from getting out, rather than doing all they can to protect the victim.
It is not unusual for these teachers to keep their jobs for decades at the same dance studio. That’s why one victim coming forward is usually a sign that there are many others who have been sexually assaulted by the same instructor. And though the teacher is clearly the criminal, there is no denying that the school failed in its duty of care to the students.
As a student who was sexually assaulted by a dance school instructor, you have the right to seek justice from the criminal and civil courts. If you would like more information on lawsuits for sexual abuse during childhood, please reach out to us at your earliest convenience.
Deadline to Sue for Sexual Abuse by a Dancing Instructor
Lawsuits for child sexual assault must be filed by one of two deadlines:
- The victim’s 40th birthday, or 22 years after turning 18 years old
- Within 5 years of realizing an injury (emotional or physical) that was caused by sexual assault and/or exploitation
It’s worth nothing that most claims for the molestation of a minor are based on emotional injuries, i.e., psychological damage that results in mental health issues. These problems are caused by a child’s tendency to suppress incidents of abuse rather than talk to someone or go to the police. Staying quiet about the abuse is particularly common if the abuse was committed by someone they respect and care about, like a teacher or dance instructor.
For many of the clients that come to us, it takes many years to acknowledge what happened and realize how their lives were affected by rape, sexual grooming, and other forms of child sexual abuse. If you are in this position, perhaps you are under the impression that it’s too late to sue the dance school because you are older than 40. However, California law provides you with 5 years from the date of discovering an abuse-related injury if you wish to go ahead with a lawsuit.
The discovery rule can be quite complicated and difficult to understand, so we strongly recommend that you speak to a sexual assault attorney to verify how long you have for a lawsuit.
Average Value of a Statutory Rape Lawsuit
Lawsuits for having sex with a minor or engaging in some form of sexual contact can have values ranging from $1,500,000 to $5,000,000. The actual amount depends on many factors that are specific to each client. These include the injuries that resulted from the abuse, the number of incidents and type of abuse, and negligence by the people in charge at the dance studio.
The range that we quoted above is an estimate, so it’s not an accurate indicator of how much your own lawsuit will settle for. In rare instances, a case will go to trial due to an inability for both sides to agree on the amount of compensation. This is why we focus on settlements versus jury verdicts, which can start at around $400,000 and go all the way up to $10,000,000.
Ultimately, how much you can receive from a lawsuit is a subject you will need to discuss with a dance class sexual abuse lawyer.
Contact Normandie Law Firm
It’s unconscionable for a dance teacher or any other person in a position of authority to take advantage of a student for sexual gratification. But we know these incidents happen quite often, and those who are victimized have significant struggles throughout their life. Money from a lawsuit can’t take the scars caused by sexual assault. But holding the abuser accountable and obtaining compensation towards your pain and suffering can help you move forward in a positive direction.
If you decide to go ahead with a dance class sexual abuse lawsuit, you will not be charged for the cost of legal representation. The Zero Fee Guarantee ensures that all legal fees are charged to the party at fault. So, you pay nothing upfront, and the only way we get paid is by winning your case and securing the funds you are entitled to.
We are happy to provide you with a free consultation, where you can learn about your rights and legal options. Contact us today to discuss your case with a dancing instructor sexual assault lawyer.
Other Pages on Our Website Related to This Topic
Ballet Instructor Sexual Assault – Child Sex Abuse Lawyers
Anaheim Dance Instructed Arrested After Reports Of Sexual Assault Of Minors
MMA Instructor Sexual Assault Attorney
