Based on the details surrounding your specific situation and harm suffered at MacLaren Hall, you could have the right to file a claim, even if it has been many years since the incident. MacLaren Hall Children’s Center – often referred to simply as MacLaren Hall – operated from 1961 to 2003 in El Monte, California. MacLaren Hall was supposed to serve as an emergency home for children in foster care who had been removed either due to abuse or neglect and were awaiting placement.
Although the facility was intended to provide only temporary housing, most children spent a year or more in the facility. MacLaren Hall was constantly overcrowded. Although MacLaren Hall was supposed to only house children without criminal records (or a history of violence), conditions overcrowded conditions at juvenile halls ultimately caused McLaren Hall to open its doors to troubled youth, which resulted in the environment at the facility to change for the worse.
MacLaren Hall has often been described as a children’s prison because it was surrounded by barbed wire and lit by floodlights. Its outward appearance was a direct reflection of the conditions within the walls of the facility. The facility was associated with neglect and abuse long before it finally closed down. Children were abused physically, emotionally, and sexually. There have been reports of children being tied up, beaten, forced to sleep on floors, denied proper medical care, and even taken during the night to be raped.
As mentioned, MacLaren Hall closed in 2003 – this was due to a lawsuit claiming that the facility failed to provide the appropriate medical care and mental health care for children living in the facility and that staff was not appropriately trained. In 2022, almost two decades after the closure of the foster care facility, two separate lawsuits were filed for sexual abuse and other forms of abuse at MacLaren Hall. The first lawsuit was filed in May and included 12 victims; the second lawsuit was filed in June and included 31 victims.
Over the 40 years that MacLaren Hall was operational, over 20,000 children were housed at the facility. Only a handful of victims have come forward to pursue claims. If you or a member of your family suffered sexual abuse at MacLaren Hall during the time spent in foster care, you could have grounds to file a lawsuit and recover compensation. If you are interested in exploring the legal options available to you, contact us today.
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The Statute of Limitations for Child Sexual Abuse Cases
As of 2019, victims of child sexual assault have a longer time to sue. This is determined by the Child Victims Act. Under the Child Victims At, victims of child sexual assault have until the age of 40 to file a lawsuit. In addition, because victims of child sexual assault often may not realize the harm resulting from abuse until getting professional help, this law provides a 5-year discovery period. Therefore, victims have until the age of 40 or up to 5 years from discovering the harm caused by the abuse to file a lawsuit.
Do I Qualify to File a MacLaren Hall Sexual Assault Claim?
If you are 40 or younger, and you suffered sexual abuse while you were a minor housed at MacLaren Hall, you qualify to file a lawsuit and recover compensation. As of 2023, anyone born in or after 1983 could be eligible to file a sexual abuse claim against MacLaren Hall. In other words, if you are still under 40 years old and suffered abuse when you were a minor anywhere from 1983 to 2003 (which is when the facility closed), you qualify to file a sexual abuse claim.
What if I am Older than 40-Years-Old?
If you are older than 40, you may still have the right to sue under the discovery rule. As mentioned above, victims have until the age of 40 or up to 5 years from the discovery of the harm caused by the abuse to file a lawsuit – whichever comes later. This means that if you recently discovered the harm caused by the sexual abuse after you turned 40, you could still have the right to file a claim. For example, if counseling, therapy, or other mental health services unlocked a memory of sexual abuse or helped you figure out the extensive harm caused by the sexual abuse that you suffered as a minor, you have up to 5 years to pursue your claim.
What Should I Do?
If you believe that you have an eligible claim, you should seek legal assistance as soon as possible. You must find a lawyer with experience in foster care sexual abuse claims. Finding a qualified lawyer is the most important thing that you can do. Your lawyer will evaluate your claim, evaluate all the evidence that you have provided (this can be police reports, copies of reports of abuse, medical records, case files, etc.) to determine whether you have a case.
We understand that even thinking about filing a lawsuit for sexual assault against a government entity can be terrifying. We understand the trauma that you and countless other victims suffered at MacLaren Hall, so we are committed to making the legal process as simple as possible. Our experts here at the Normandie Law Firm are prepared to take care of everything and guide you every step of the way.
Can I Recover Compensation for my MacLaren Hall Sexual Abuse Claims?
Yes – you could potentially recover compensation for all medical costs, lost pay, pain and suffering, punitive damages, treble damages, and legal fees. Although every case is different, sexual abuse cases against the county for abuse that occurred at MacLaren Hall are valued at millions of dollars. Depending on the details surrounding your claim, you could be awarded compensation anywhere from $1.5 million to $5 million, for example. Any class action lawsuits that arise are likely to reach settlements of $20 million or more. For more information about what you could potentially recover if your MacLaren Hall sexual assault lawsuit is successful, contact us today.
The Normandie Law Firm Can Help You – Child Sex Abuse Lawyers
Sexual abuse in foster care has always been a major problem. For decades, the abuse at MacLaren Hall was largely ignored, and innocent children continued to suffer abuse at the hands of staff and even other children. Here at our law firm, we want to help you and your family get justice. To make the legal process accessible to all, we offer free legal services, including 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 ensure that you and all other claimants have access to all the information that they need to pursue their claims. Our Zero-Fee Guarantee ensures that our clients never have to worry about paying upfront legal fees for our legal services. In addition, since our team works on contingency, our clients will not have to pay anything if they do not win their claims. If you are ready to speak with a lawyer, contact us today.
Are You Facing Financial Difficulties? The trauma of childhood sexual abuse can affect every aspect of your life, including your ability to hold down a job. If you have found yourself in financial distress, you may be able to apply for a lawsuit loan against your settlement. This means that you could potentially get an advance on your settlement to provide you and your family with financial relief while your case settles. We may be able to help. For more information, contact us today and ask about a pre-settlement loan.
Other Pages on Our Website Related to This Topic
Can I Switch My Lawyer for a MacLaren Hall Sexual Abuse Lawsuit
Can I get a Pre-Settlement Loan on my MacLaren Hall Case
How Long will it Take to Get my Settlement from the MacLaren Hall Lawsuit
