Did you suffer physical abuse, sexual abuse, or rape at Imperial County Juvenile Hall? If so, you may have the right to file a lawsuit against the county for the harm suffered as a result. For more information about the legal options available to you, please do not hesitate to reach out to the experts here at our law firm as soon as possible. Here at the Normandie Law Firm, our legal team is ready to provide you with the guidance that you need to fight for your rights and get justice. Our experts have the experience necessary to handle your claim effectively and secure the maximum payout available.
Abuse at the Juvenile Hall
The Imperial County Juvenile Hall is located at 324 Applestill Rd, El Centro, CA 92243. It is operated by Imperial County Probation Department (a government entity). Unfortunately, abuse is common throughout juvenile halls in California. There is different types of abuse that could happen, including physical abuse and sexual abuse.
- Physical abuse: this can look different in every incident. Physical abuse may include being kicked, thrown, pushed, punched, jumped, waterboarded, burned with cigarettes/lighters, scratched, choked, etc.
- Sexual abuse: similarly, sexual abuse can look different. It may include attempted rape, rape, sodomy, forcing the victim to perform any sexual act (including touching/penetrating, or oral sex on the attacker), touching, groping, fondling, kissing, making inappropriate comments/jokes, etc.
Although physical and sexual abuse can occur independently, they can also occur at the same time. Regardless, both physical and sexual abuse can result in extensive harm to victims.
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The Harm Caused by Physical and Sexual Abuse in Juvenile Halls
Victims of abuse in juvenile halls are likely to experience significant harm. What is worse is that they have nowhere to go – and they are forced to live in close quarters with their abusers. Victims may suffer the following:
- Traumatic brain injuries
- Concussions
- Facial injuries (including broken nose and broken teeth)
- Neck injuries
- Back injuries
- Knee injuries
- Hip injuries
- Pelvic injuries
- Fractures and sprains
- Lacerations
- Burn injuries
- Scrapes and bruises
- Sexually transmitted infections
- Unwanted pregnancies
- Injuries to reproductive organs
- Injuries to genitals
- Mental and emotional harm, including post-traumatic stress disorder, anxiety, panic, fear, etc.
Minors in juvenile halls are among the most vulnerable. The adults within these facilities (guards, counselors, other staff, etc.) are supposed to keep juveniles safe while they are detailed. Instead, they actually contribute to the harm that they suffer. In some cases, the abuse actually occurs at the hands of other juveniles detained in the facility; still, staff failed to do anything to prevent the abuse.
If you or a member of your family suffered any harm due to any sort of abuse that occurred at a juvenile hall – whether it was Imperial County Juvenile Hall or any other juvenile hall in the county – it is important that you seek legal assistance at your earliest convenience to learn more about your right to sue.
Can I Sue for Abuse Suffered at Juvenile Hall?
Yes, you could have the right to sue for harm caused by physical abuse and sexual abuse at the Imperial County Juvenile Hall. The owners/operators of juvenile halls have a duty to keep detained youth safe. The county has to subject staff to background checks, appropriate training, supervision, and have the necessary policies in place for suspected incidents of abuse to be reported to. Of course, the county also has a duty to take reports of abuse seriously and investigate them – and take action to protect detained youth if abuse is confirmed.
When it comes to abuse at the hands of other youth, things are a bit different. The county must have adequate security and supervision on the premises. When there are any issues with detained youth, staff must quickly take action; this can mean separating the youth or increasing security, for instance. Failing to take any action could actually contribute to the abuse.
In other words, when the establishment fails to keep juveniles safe from harm at the hands of staff or other detained youth, they can be liable for all harm suffered and can be sued.
In addition, it is also important to note that abuse in prison and juvenile hall can be considered a civil rights violation. More specifically, the Eighth Amendment protects against cruel and unusual punishment; this covers both physical and sexual abuse. This means that victims can actually file civil rights lawsuits as well.
For more information about your right to file a lawsuit for the physical abuse or sexual abuse that you suffered while you were detained at Imperial County Juvenile Hall, contact us today.
Can I Recover Compensation for Abuse at Juvenile Hall?
Yes, if you pursue a lawsuit, you could be entitled to receive compensation for the harm that you suffered as a minor at a juvenile hall. This can include medical costs, lost income, pain and suffering, punitive damages, and legal fees, for instance. The total amount of compensation awarded will be strictly based on the details surrounding the claim, like the type of abuse suffered, the type of injuries suffered, the extent/permanency of the injuries, the extent of mental and emotional harm suffered, etc. Although every claim is different, these claims can be worth anywhere from $500,000 to $3.5 million. In class action lawsuits involving multiple claimants, there can be multi-million-dollar settlements that can reach up to $25 million.
Here at our law firm, our team is ready to do whatever it takes to help our clients recover the maximum payout available for their claims. When you allow our team to handle your claim, you can trust that our experts will do whatever it takes to get you justice and get you the recovery that you are owed. For more information about the specific compensation available for your claim (including information about average case values of juvenile hall abuse lawsuits), contact us today.
How Long Do I Have to File My Claim?
All claims are subject to a statute of limitations (a deadline to sue) that determines the time that claimants have to file their claims. If claimants do not file their claims on time, they can lose their right to sue entirely. In general, the time that claimants have to file depends on the specific type of claim being filed.
For instance, for claims of child sex abuse, there is a 22-year statute of limitations (or until the victim reaches the age of 40); there is also a five-year discovery rule. For claims of assault and battery and other harm to minors, there is a 2-year statute of limitations which starts when the victim turns 18.
What about claims involving government entities? Since the Imperial County Juvenile Hall is owned/operated by the county, victims must file government claims. Government claims are subject to a much shorter statute of limitations – only 6 months. Claimants have 6 months to file their administrative claims; depending on the response, claimants will either have 6 months or 2 years to file lawsuits.
Of course, trying to determine the time that you have to file your claim can be confusing. To ensure that you have a thorough understanding of the exact time that you have to file your claim, we urge you to reach out to the experts here at our law firm as soon as possible. Our team will ensure that your claim is filed on time.
Contact Us Today
If you are ready to speak with a lawyer about the abuse that you suffered and your right to pursue your claim against Imperial County, contact the Normandie Law Firm today. Our team has decades of experience handling all sorts of claims and fighting for the rights of victims and their families. Our team is committed to helping victims of abuse at juvenile halls take on the county and recover the payout that they are owed. Our team is dedicated to remaining as accessible as possible, so we offer free legal services. These free legal services include free consultations and free second opinions, during which our experts will be available to answer all your questions and address all your concerns; our lawyers will provide you with all the information that you need to pursue your claim. These are available as part of our Zero-Fee Guarantee, which ensures that our clients will not be required to pay any upfront legal costs to speak with our lawyers. Since we work on contingency, our clients will not be required to pay anything unless their claims are successful.
If you are ready to discuss your legal options with our team, contact us today.
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