Victims of sexual abuse by a juvenile hall staff member have the right to pursue a lawsuit for monetary damages. A lawsuit can be filed against the perpetrator of the assault, as well as the individuals / entities that allowed the employee to sexually abuse you. However, the legal process involved is extremely difficult to navigate for the average person. Thus, it’s in your best interest to obtain representation from a lawyer who can sue Del Norte Juvenile Hall for incidents of child sexual assault.
Del Norte Juvenile Hall, also known as Del Norte Juvenile Detention Center, is located at 1115 Williams Dr, Crescent City, CA 95531. According to the County of Del Norte’s website, the facility seeks to provide “detained youth with rehabilitative, educational, nutritional, and mental health services.” Clearly, we can all agree that child abuse does not fit in with the Del Norte Juvenile Hall’s objectives. Yet, sexual abuse of minors occurs at an alarming rate at youth detention centers throughout California.
If you or your child suffered at the hands of a sexual abuser, it’s essential to explore the legal actions that are available to you. Under California law, these victims can seek monetary compensation, such as medical expenses, pain and suffering, and emotional distress, even if they were sexually assaulted at Del Norte Juvenile Hall many years ago. For a detailed explanation of your rights and legal options, please contact the Del Norte Juvenile Hall sexual abuse lawyers at Normandie Law Firm.
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Del Norte Juvenile Hall Abuse Incidents
Del Norte Juvenile Hall has a long history of mismanagement, including understaffing and lack of supervision of youth inmates. Frankly, this is not an isolated issue, as poorly run facilities and neglect are rampant in youth detention centers throughout California.
Sexual abuse by medical staff, a counselor, probation officer, and other employees of the juvenile justice system is very common at juvenile halls. The truth is, child molesters intentionally seek employment in these places in order to find vulnerable kids that they can abuse. This is easy to do at juvenile halls, where children are at the mercy of the adults who are supposed to care for them. It’s easy enough to threaten the victim with additional time, beatings, and other forms of retaliation if they file a complaint.
Many youths also feel like the abuse is their fault; this usually happens when the abuser grooms the child into sexual activity. As an example, a girl at a juvenile hall is befriended by a social worker, who she is able to open up to emotionally. She believes that the social worker truly cares about her, but in reality, a sexual predator who gradually works up to sexual abuse, like groping her breasts. Other acts of inappropriate touching follow, but at this point, she is afraid to betray the person who has become her friend.
The longer a victim in this position keeps their silence, the more they are likely to feel that they allowed the abuse to happen. As they get older, they struggle with feelings of guilt, disgust, and self-hatred, which results in mental health issues, like commitment problems, sleep disorders, and self-harming behaviors.
No matter the circumstance, please know that what happened to you was not your fault. California law makes it very clear that sexual relations between adults and children (individual under 18 years old) is child sexual abuse. If you were sexually abused while you were detained at Del Norte Juvenile Hal, you have the right to file a lawsuit against your abuser, and possibly, the county of Del Norte. To discuss your case with a Del Norte Juvenile Hall sexual assault lawyer, contact our office.
Your Right to Sue Del Norte County for Juvenile Hall Sexual Abuse
Those who were sexually abused at Del Norte Juvenile Hall have the right to seek compensation from the person that took advantage of them. But most of these lawsuits name other defendants, like juvenile hall administrators and the government entity in charge of the facility. Del Norte Juvenile Detention Center is owned and managed by the county of Del Norte, which can also be sued by a victim of juvenile hall sexual assault.
Del Norte Juvenile Hall abuse lawyers at our law firm typically come across shocking acts of negligence and misconduct by these officials. Instead of investigating complaints of sexual abuse, many of them find ways to “make the problem go away.” This can be done by bribing or threatening the victim, destroying records of Del Norte Juvenile Hall assault cases, and transferring the offender to another department within the county. In essence, they are enabling the abuser while putting countless children in harm’s way.
Not taking direct and decisive actions against a sexual abuser is a criminal act, as well as grounds for a child sexual lawsuit. A Del Norte Juvenile Hall sexual molestation lawyer can provide you with a detailed explanation of your rights and help you decide if filing a lawsuit is right for you.
Can I File a Del Norte Juvenile Hall Sexual Abuse Class Action Lawsuit?
Yes, you have the right to file a Del Norte Juvenile Hall sexual abuse class action lawsuit if you are interested in joining a legal action with other former and current inmates. Filing with a group of victims has many advantages, including a wider body of evidence and reduced ability by the defendant to refute accusation of sexual assault. However, these lawsuits involve detailed and complicated procedures, which you should leave in the hands of a Del Norte Juvenile Hall class action lawsuit attorney.
An attorney at our office will also advise you of all your available legal options, like filing a personal injury claim on your own. This may be the right choice for claimants with unique circumstances, particularly complex injuries (psychological or physical) due to what they went through at Del Norte Juvenile Hall.
Regardless of which road you choose, we are here to fight for your rights and the compensation you deserve. Reach out to us at your earliest convenience to schedule a free consultation if you are interested in filing a Del Norte Juvenile Hall sexual abuse lawsuit.
How Much is the Average Settlement for these Cases?
The average payout for a Del Norte Juvenile Hall sexual assault case is around $1,500,000 to $3,500,000, with some lawsuits resulting in settlements of $5,000,000 and above. The average value of a juvenile hall sexual abuse class action lawsuit is anywhere from $10,000,000 to 1 billion or more, depending on the number of victims, their degree of pain and suffering, and many other factors.
As you may have guessed, the harm sustained by the victim is the biggest issue when it comes to how much you can receive from a sexual assault claim. With these cases, injuries are largely based on psychological issues, though some victims have physical injuries from being assaulted by a staff member at Del Norte Juvenile Hall. But there are many other elements that contribute to the amount of compensation for sexual abuse victims, including acts of negligence by the juvenile hall administrators and government agencies.
At the end of the day, calculating what someone is entitled to from a Del Norte Juvenile Hall sexual abuse lawsuit is a complicated process that requires help from a seasoned personal injury attorney. If you would like to discuss the value of your sexual assault lawsuit with one of our attorneys, don’t hesitate to give us a call.
How Long is the Process to Settle a Lawsuit for Sexual Abuse?
If we go by the timeline for these lawsuits in California, we would say it takes 1 to 2 years to reach a settlement for a juvenile hall sex abuse claim. If the process of submitting a claim and negotiating a settlement is relatively straightforward, it takes 6 to 12 months to settle a Del Norte Juvenile Hall sexual abuse lawsuit. However, the vast majority of claims are quite complicated, and the process of suing the government involves complex legal procedures compared to lawsuits against private entities. That’s why we anticipate anywhere from 1 to 3 years when it comes to a sexual abuse lawsuit.
Though it’s possible that your case will go to trial, this only happens in a handful of cases. If we had to give an estimate, we would say that less than 5% of all sexual abuse cases are tried in court. In the rare event that your case proceeds to a trial, a ruling from the jury can take over 3 years, depending on the court’s schedule and the length of your trial.
It’s always our goal to settle a juvenile hall sexual assault lawsuit through private negotiations with the defendant. However, cases of sexual abuse against a minor take considerably longer to resolve compared to other personal injury lawsuits. With that in mind, we are upfront with clients about the fact that it can take 12 months or longer to reach a settlement, even if you have a strong and solid case. A Del Norte Juvenile Hall sexual abuse attorney at our law firm can help you get a better sense of the settlement process during a free consultation.
Statute of Limitations to File a Del Norte Juvenile Hall Sexual Abuse Claim
From the time you turn 18 years old, you have 22 years, i.e., up until the age of 40, to file a sexual abuse lawsuit against Del Norte Juvenile Hall.
The statute of limitations was extended in 2019 in order to give adult survivors as much time as possible to come forward and demand justice from those who failed to protect them. Thus, even if you were abused 10 or 20 years ago, you still have the chance to file a Del Norte Juvenile Hall sexual assault lawsuit. However, the amount of time you have for a childhood sexual abuse claim is not always based on a specific timeline. In the following section, we will talk about the discovery rule, which provides victims with the right to file a lawsuit past the age of 40.
I’m Older than 40; Is it too Late to File a Juvenile Hall Sexual Abuse Lawsuit?
No, it may not be too late to file a Del Norte Juvenile Hall sexual assault lawsuit if you meet the requirements for a lawsuit under the 5-year discovery rule.
The discovery rule is a legal concept that recognizes complex injuries that are not realized by the victim right away. For example, a child that is sexually abused is likely to repress memories of the incidents as a defense mechanism. The struggle to compartmentalize their trauma leads to all sorts of mental health issues, like substance abuse, PSTD, and depression. But it can take the victim many years to seek help for these conditions, and this is when they realize the connection between sexual abuse at Del Norte Juvenile Hall and what they are currently experiencing.
From this point of “discovery,” an adult survivor of child sexual assault has 5 years to sue the liable entities or individuals. As you can imagine, this is a significant legal exemption to the statute of limitations for cases of sexual abuse at a juvenile hall. Thanks to the 5-year discovery rule, you are not bound by a specific age if you are seeking justice for the abuse you endured at Del Norte Juvenile Hall. However, you will need to prove the realization of sexual abuse at a later age according to the requirements of the California court system. For assistance from a childhood sexual assault lawyer, call the offices of Normandie Law Firm.
Consult a Del Norte Juvenile Hall Abuse Attorney
Living with the consequence of child sexual abuse is a lifelong struggle, but you don’t have to live in fear and silence, nor should you be burdened with the cost of recovering from what was done to you. That’s why we are dedicated to the rights of those who were sexually abused at Del Norte Juvenile Hall. Our attorneys are ready to take immediate action on your case and ensure that you are fairly compensated by the responsible parties.
Aside from obtaining your compensation award, we aim to protect your finances throughout the legal process. We provide all clients with a Zero Fee Guarantee, so they will never pay out of pocket to hire a child sexual abuse lawsuit attorney. Legal fees are paid by the defendant along with your settlement check, so in essence, we only get paid if you get paid.
With nothing to lose, we hope you’ll take the chance of contacting us for a free case evaluation or free second opinion on a lawsuit that’s already in progress.
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