In June 2022, a lawsuit was filed against the Los Angeles County for alleged sexual abuse at MacLaren Hall. According to the lawsuit, victims that were as young as 5-years-old were taken out of their beds during the night and abused by employees. Some victims claims that their reports were ignored and that they suffered additional physical abuse after reporting sexual abuse.
This lawsuit comes many years after MacLaren Hall shut down in response to a class action lawsuit. The lawsuit was led by the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) of Southern California. It alleged that the county failed to properly care for the children at MacLaren Hall. After being able to evade complaints of neglect and abuse within the walls of MacLaren Hall, the county was finally held accountable for something – forcing them to close the foster care home.
Unfortunately, kids in foster care often are victims of sexual abuse. Did you suffer sexual abuse at MacLaren Hall? Did you suffer sexual abuse at another foster home? If so, you could have grounds to file a lawsuit. You might have many questions, including questions about the time that you have to file your lawsuit. If so, do not hesitate to contact the experts here at our law firm immediately. Our lawyers are ready to provide you with the guidance that you need to win.
Here at the Normandie Law Firm, our lawyers are ready to provide you with the guidance that you need to start or continue your MacLaren Hall sexual abuse lawsuit. Our lawyers have decades of experience handling sexual abuse cases and are ready to fight for your rights and to get you the settlement that you are owed. If you are ready to discuss your legal options with the experts here at our law firm, contact us today.
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A Brief History of MacLaren Hall
McLarren Hall opened in the 1940s as a place to house unwanted/abandoned and abused children. MacLaren Hall was supposed to house children without criminal backgrounds, as it was supposed to be a type of haven. However, overcrowding at juvenile halls resulted in the county actually housing children with criminal backgrounds at MacLaren Hall. According to many accounts of those housed at MacLaren Hall, the home was run like a prison. At it’s peak, MacLaren Hall housed over 4,000 children. After the ACLU lawsuit, MacLaren Hall shut down. Today, it is used as offices for county workers and was renamed the MacLaren Children’s Center.
Can I File a Lawsuit?
Yes – if you suffered sexual abuse at MacLaren Hall, you could have grounds to file a lawsuit. Unfortunately, many victims of sexual assault do not take any legal action for a number of reasons. They might be afraid of taking on the county, or they just might be afraid of filing a lawsuit. It is also possible that they might be unsure of their right to sue.
All claims are subject to deadlines. Some victims mistakenly think that they can no longer file a lawsuit because many years have passed since the abuse. Even if many years have passed since the sexual abuse occurred, you could have the right to file a lawsuit.
What is a Statute of Limitations?
All claims – including child sex abuse claims – are subject to a statute of limitations. A statute of limitations determines the total length of time that claimants have to file their claims. If claims are not filed on time, victims can lose their right to sue entirely. Because of this, it is essential that anyone who is considering filing a lawsuit after sustaining harm in sexual abuse incidents or other incidents seeks legal assistance immediately and files their claim on time.
How Long Do I Have to Join the MacLaren Hall Sexual Abuse Lawsuit?
This is a very important question. Understanding the total length of time that you have to file your lawsuit is absolutely essential, as Under previous law, victims of childhood sexual abuse had either 8 years after becoming a legal adult or 3 years after discovering the psychological harm caused by the abuse to file their lawsuits – whichever was later.
In October 2019, however, AB 218 was signed into law. This California law extends the statute of limitations for childhood sexual abuse victims. More specifically, under this law, victims of childhood sexual abuse can file lawsuits within the following timeframes:
- Up to 22 years after reaching the age of majority (until age 40)
- Up to 5 years after discovering the psychological harm that occurred due to the abuse (once the victim is an adult)
Now, you might be wondering which is the deadline that applies. Do you have up to age 40 or 5 years after discovering the harm resulting from the sexual abuse? The answer is simple – whichever is later.
What if the statute of limitations has already passed for my claim? AB 218 created a three-year window for claims that had previously expired. More specifically, for claims that were barred as of January 1 2020 the filing period is extended 3 years.
What Does This All Mean?
If you were housed at MacLaren Hall and suffered sexual abuse, you could still have the right to file a lawsuit. It doesn’t matter if the abuse happened years ago – you can still have the right to sue. If you are still unsure of whether you can still file a lawsuit, simply reach out to the experts here at our law firm at your earliest convenience. Our lawyers are ready to evaluate your claim and help you determine whether you still have the right to file a lawsuit.
Contact the Normandie Law Firm Today
If you are interested in learning more about the time that you have to file your MacLaren Hall sexual abuse lawsuit, it is essential that you contact the experts here at our law firm immediately. Our lawyers are more than ready to handle your claim and help you recover the settlement that you are owed. Here at our law firm, we want to make things as easy as possible for you and all of our potential clients; therefore, we offer free legal services. Our free legal services include free consultations and free second opinions. During these free legal services, our lawyers will be available to answer all your questions, address all your concerns, and provide you with all the information that you might need to begin or even continue your claim. If you would like to benefit from these free legal services, contact us today.
We are very proud to offer a Zero-Fee guarantee, so that you will never have to worry about having to pay upfront legal fees. In addition, we work on contingency; this means that you will not be required to pay anything until after winning your claim. If you do not win, you will not be required to pay anything whatsoever.
Contact us today if you are ready to speak with our lawyers.
Other Pages on Our Website Related to This Topic
Sexual Abuse in After School Programs Lawsuit Attorney
How Long Does It Take to Settle a MacLaren Hall Sexual Assault Case?
WINGS for Kids – Sexual Assault, Rape, Molestation Abuse Lawyer
