In June of 2022, twelve former residents of MacLaren Hall, a residential home for foster care children, sued the County of Los Angeles for the abuse they suffered while living at the facility. Allegations include physical and sexual abuse, which was perpetrated on children as young as 5 years old. The children that were brave enough to report these incidents were punished by MacLaren Hall employees as retaliation for “snitching.”
MacLaren Hall was officially closed in 2003 after a successful class action lawsuit by the American Civil Liberties Union. However, the disturbing stories of sexual assault, beatings, and other abuse endured by these children have been a problem in foster care group homes for many years now. That’s why it’s essential for adult survivors to come forward and demand justice from the system that has failed them. If you’re reading this article, chances are that you or someone you know was victimized by counselors, social workers, and other staff members at MacLaren Hall.
If you’ve filed a lawsuit on your own or joined a class action claim, you are probably anxious to resolve your case and receive the funds you are entitled to. However, there’s no denying that the legal process can take longer than expected. Thus, it’s important for attorneys to maintain open and consistent communication with their clients. If you have stopped hearing back from your lawyer or find that their answers are vague and evasive when you do get a hold of them, you may have the following questions on your mind:
- How long will it take to get my settlement check if I filed a lawsuit against MacLaren Hall?
- Why is it taking so long to receive my settlement check on the MacLaren Hall sexual abuse settlement?
- What can I do if my lawyer is taking too long to settle my case? Can I switch lawyers?
In all honesty, there is no guarantee on how long it will take to settle a case of childhood sexual assault. However, there are projected timelines that we can provide you with, which will give you a sense of how long it may take to receive your check from a MacLaren Hall sexual abuse claim. As we can only offer general information, please give us a call if you’d like to discuss your case with a sexual abuse lawsuit lawyer at our office.
Our Recent Verdicts and Settlements
$2.5 Million
$600,000
$1.5 Million
$54 Million
$525,000
$1.2 Million
How Long Does It Take to Settle These Cases?
At the end of the day, recovering payment from a foster care sex abuse claim can take anywhere from several months to 1 or more years. Sometimes, the defendant is eager to avoid negative media attention and offers a fair settlement within the first 6 months. But it can often take longer to negotiate a payment for these cases – possibly 12 to 18 months based on the legal actions we will need to take. If a settlement cannot be reached between you and the defendant, we will need to schedule a trial date. There’s still a possibility of settling your case at this point, but if a trial is the only option, two or more years may be required to bring you compensation from a foster care sexual assault lawsuit.
Factors that are Involved in the Settlement Process
Now that you have a sense of how long it may take to recover your payment, let’s look at some of the factors that can affect the timeline to settle a case for sexual abuse incidents at MacLaren Hall:
- The availability of medical records, i.e., is the patient currently undergoing medical treatment? For cases of severe physical and/or mental injuries from sexual assault, victims may need long-term or lifelong care, meaning we may need to fight for lifetime care costs for the client. This will significantly increase the value of a sex abuse case, which can add to the amount of time to reach a settlement.
- Is the client filing a personal injury lawsuit (filing a claim on their own) or joining a class action lawsuit? Due to the certification process for a class action, these lawsuits often take longer to resolve than personal injury cases.
- Are both sides cooperating in order to expedite the process as much as possible? Even small actions, like ignoring phone calls or emails can prolong the negotiation process and make it harder to settle a sexual abuse case.
- Will the case proceed to a trial, meaning that the defendant is unwilling to make a fair settlement offer? While most cases do not go to trial, the ones that do take longer than those that are settled out of court.
- If the legal team in charge of your case experienced enough to work through the complications in your case? Lack of knowledge, time, and resources at law firms can lead to inaction on a childhood sex abuse lawsuit, thereby prolonging the victim’s pain and agony.
This is not a complete list of the elements that may be at play if you’re waiting to get paid from a MacLaren Hall sexual abuse lawsuit. If you’d like to learn more about the legal process to settle these cases, contact us to schedule a free case evaluation.
How Soon can I get my Check once my Case is Settled?
This is another question that many sex abuse victims have for us, which is understandable since the case isn’t really over for them until they have the check in their hands. In most cases, it takes around 6 weeks to get your settlement check once the negotiation process is finalized. But this is not a rule of thumb, as there are some exceptions that can add to the amount of time it will take to issue your check.
Once your check is issued by the defendant’s insurance company, there are some other issues that will affect how soon we can distribute your settlement award. These include how long it takes for the check to arrive in the mail, the time needed to go over and sign the necessary releases, and the required time for the bank to clear your check. As this is a simplistic description of how you will be paid from a MacLaren Hall settlement, we strongly recommend a free consultation with one of our attorneys. That way, we can provide you with a thorough explanation of how long it will take to receive your settlement check if you were abused while staying at MacLaren Hall.
New Lawyer Needed for MacLaren Hall Sexual Abuse Case
There are many elements that impact the total amount of time to settle these cases, including the expertise and dedication of the law firm that’s representing you. Many law firms are quick to sign clients for high-profile cases like MacLaren Hall. But do they have the staffing and resources, as well as the experience to negotiate the highest possible settlement for their clients? Can they provide the time and attention that’s needed by someone that’s dealing with the trauma of childhood sex abuse? These are just some of the issues that can impact how long it will take to get your check from a MacLaren Hall sexual abuse settlement.
Perhaps it’s occurred to you that you may be better off with a new lawyer. But how can you tell if this is the best way to recover compensation from your case as soon as possible? Keep reading to learn how we can help you with this dilemma here at Normandie Law Firm.
Free Second Opinion from a Lawyer Experienced in Foster Care Sex Abuse Lawsuits
If you have questions or issues that are not being addressed by your attorney, it may be time to seek a second opinion from another lawyer. We typically associate second opinions with doctors when we’re not sure about a treatment plan or diagnosis. However, legal experts can also provide this service for people who need to learn about their rights and legal options. For example, maybe you’d like to learn if switching your lawyer will help you get the resolution you need and deserve from a lawsuit against MacLaren Hall.
Whether a new attorney is the right choice for you depends on various issues that are unique to your circumstances. That’s why we urge you to give us a call and schedule a free second opinion if you have an active claim for sexual abuse at MacLaren Hall.
Normandie Law Firm is Here for You
Whether you’ve filed a lawsuit already, or you’re just starting out on the journey to recovery as a sexual assault victim, our lawyers are here for you 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. We’ve spent decades fighting for the rights of sexual abuse victims and obtaining the compensation they deserve from public school systems, juvenile detention facilities, and foster care agencies. You can depend on us to take immediate action on your case and fight tirelessly to achieve justice for you and your loved ones.
Here at Normandie, victims are never charged for the cost of legal representation. That responsibility falls on the party you are suing, which means we don’t make a cent unless you receive payment from a successful lawsuit. That’s our promise to you under the Zero Fee Guarantee, so there’s never any risk to your finances when you choose our law firm to represent you.
If you have any questions or concerns about your case, contact us to speak with a MacLaren Hall sexual abuse lawsuit attorney.
Other Pages on Our Website Related to This Topic
Can I Switch my Lawyer if I have an Active MacLaren Hall Sexual Abuse Case
Should I get a New Lawyer for my MacLaren Hall Sexual Abuse Case
Filing Deadline – MacLaren Hall Sexual Abuse Lawsuit Case
