A woman has been arrested under allegations of a sexual relationship with a fifteen-year-old and possession of child pornography. The woman, identified as thirty-three-year old Sherry Bernal of Glendora, was arrested by the West Covina Police Department (WCPD) as part of an ongoing investigation with the Department of Homeland Security. According to the authorities, she will possibly be facing charges for arranging to meet with the minor for sex. The woman is a preschool teacher.
The investigation is ongoing. The authorities published her photograph. They are urging any other possible victims or anyone with information to come forward as soon as possible.
Was your child a victim of Bernal? Were you or your child sexually abused by a teacher? You could have the right to sue. If you are ready to explore the legal options available to you and learn more about your right to sue, contact us today. Here at the Normandie Law Firm, our lawyers have decades of experience handling all sorts of claims and are ready to help you.
Here at the Normandie Law Firm, our legal team is experienced in child sex abuse claims and is ready to get you and your family justice. No matter the specific type of abuse that occurred, our lawyers can provide you with the guidance that you need to pursue your claim. If you are ready to speak with our lawyers, contact us as soon as possible.
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What Does Child Sex Abuse Look Like?
This is not a simple question to address, as child sex abuse can look different from case to case. Child sex abuse is any sexual contact with a minor; a child can never consent to any sexual contact whatsoever. This contact includes but is not limited to the following:
- Rape
- Attempted rape
- Any penetration (including with objects)
- Fondling, groping, and any touching
- Kissing
- Exposing oneself to the minor (including masturbating in front of the minor)
- Showing the minor any explicit images (including photos or videos)
- Forcing the minor to touch the attacker in any way
- Making any sexual comments
The Lasting Effects of Child Sex Abuse
Without a doubt, victims of child sex abuse are likely to suffer significant harm. Although ever case is different, victims could suffer some of the following:
- Sexually transmitted infections
- Pregnancy (which can lead to dangerous health issues)
- Injuries to genitals and injuries to reproductive organs
- Fractures, sprains, and strains
- Lacerations
- Increased risk of self-harm (including suicide)
- Increased risk of drug use and drug addiction
- Menal and emotional suffering, including post-traumatic stress, depression, anxiety, fear, panic, etc.
Do I Have the Right to Sue?
Can I sue for child sex abuse? Yes – you could sue. Whether your child was the victim of child sex abuse or you were the victim when you were a child, you could have grounds to sue. Of course, you could hold the abuser accountable. However, under some circumstances, other parties/entities could also be found liable. In cases where the abuser is a teacher and the victim is a student, for example, the school and the school district could actually be liable and could be sued. This is usually on the basis of negligence, including negligent hiring, negligent supervising, negligent training, and more; in some cases, the entity might have even been aware of the abuse and failed to do anything about it or even covered up the sexual abuse.
For more information about your right to file for child sex abuse, please reach out to the lawyers here at our law firm as soon as possible. Our legal team is ready to guide you every step of the way to help you file your claim.
Can I Receive Compensation for My Child Sex Abuse Claim?
Yes – you could have the right to receive compensation. Although every claim is different, some of the compensation available for recovery could include the following:
- Medical expenses
- Lost earnings
- Pain and suffering
- Wrongful death benefits
- Punitive damages
- Treble damages
- Legal fees
For a more comprehensive break down of the compensation that you could be eligible to receive, contact us today. Our team is committed to helping our clients reach the maximum compensation available for their claims.
Common Questions about Compensation – Our team is often approached with questions about potential case values. Below we have address some of the most frequently asked questions.
How much are child sex abuse lawsuits worth? Case values are based on the specific details surrounding the incident. In general, these cases can be high-value cases that can be worth up to $1.5 million; some cases can reach up to $5 million. This is no guarantee about the value of your claim. The specific value of your claim will be strictly based on the facts (including the type of abuse that occurred, the injuries resulting from the abuse, etc.)
How long does it take to settle child sex abuse cases? Here at our law firm, we understand how difficult it can be to first make the decision to pursue a claim and then to have to wait throughout the legal process for the claim to resolve. Our team is committed to getting our clients a fair recovery within a reasonably length of time. Although we can settle these claims in under eight months, it can take two years or more to resolve these cases depending on the case.
The Statute of Limitations
All claims are subject to a statute of limitations or deadline to sue. If claimants do not file their claims on time, then they can lose their right to sue. How long do I have to file a child sex abuse claim? Under California law, victims of child sex abuse have until the age of forty or five years after discovering the abuse (whichever is later) to file their claims. This applies to claims filed directly by the victim. If you are a parent interested in filing a claim on your child’s behalf (while your child is still a minor), contact the experts here at our law firm as soon as possible to learn more about the timeline that applies to your claim.
Normandie Law Firm – Contact Us Today
As mentioned above, the authorities believe that there may be additional victims, especially considering that Bernal worked in close proximity to young children. If you or a loved one were victimized by Bernal or by another teacher, you might have grounds to sue. For more information about the legal options available to you, contact the experts here at our law firm today. The Normandie Law Firm is committed to fighting for the rights of victims of child sex abuse and helping them recover the settlement that they are owed.
Our team offers free consultations and free second opinions, which allow our team to provide you with all the information that you need to either start or continue your claim. These are available as part of our Zero-Fee Guarantee, so you will never have to pay any upfront legal costs. In addition, our team works on contingency, so I’ll clients will never be required to pay any legal fees unless their claims are successful.
Contact us today if you are ready to explore your right to file a lawsuit for child sex abuse.
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