Chad Miller, a high school teacher from Altadena, was arrested on several charges of sexual assault against a 16-year-old girl. Miller, who teaches at Canyon Oaks High School in Monrovia, started contacting the victim through a social medial app. From April to August of this year, he corresponded with her online and “met the victim in person and engaged in several illicit acts with her,” according to the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department.
The authorities have charged Miller with the following: sexual penetration of a minor, contact with a minor with intent to commit sex offenses, and oral copulation with a minor. His bail is currently set at $100,000, and his court hearing is scheduled for September 8
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While such incidents are shocking, they are quite common within the public school system, due to a number of issues that point to a school district’s negligence. In most cases, the child is groomed over several weeks or months, either in person or through social media. For teachers like Miller, they are even more successful at preying on students due to their trusted position in the community.
In fact, it’s Miller’s position as a staff member at Canyon Oaks High School that is of the greatest concern to authorities. They believe that more victims are out there, perhaps over a period of many years. Those with information about Chad Miller’s inappropriate conduct with minors are encouraged to call 909-477-2800 to speak with the Rancho Cucamonga Police Department Detective’s Bureau. Sexual abuse victims and their loved ones should also obtain legal advice from an experienced school sexual abuse lawyer. To schedule a free case evaluation with one of our attorneys, contact the offices of Normandie Law Firm.
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Can I File a Lawsuit against the School if I was Sexually Abused by a Teacher?
Yes, it’s possible to sue a school district for incidents of sexual abuse by a teacher. How is this possible? Generally, students are served by an entire school system, which involves many entities and individuals. These parties are responsible for protecting children from dangerous acts, including sexual assault. That’s why people who work directly with children are mandated by law to report incidents of, or suspicion of child sexual abuse. Schools have a further duty of care to conduct thorough background checks prior to hiring a teacher or any other staff member.
As a law firm with decades of experience in sex abuse lawsuits, we know that many school districts have prior knowledge of a teacher’s behavior, long before they are placed under arrest. It’s not unusual for victims to be ignored when they come forward, or for the abuser to keep their job and continue to molest other children year after year. In some cases, district officials go to great lengths to hide or destroy evidence of criminal or unethical conduct by their teachers.
These are all examples of how a school may be liable for incidents of child sexual assault. It’s outrageous to think that a school district would engage in such behavior, but we’ve seen it time and time again as legal advocates for school sexual abuse victims. That’s why we are passionate in our fight for justice on behalf of those who were sexually abused by Chad Miller or another employee at Canyon Oaks High School.
Average Value of a Child Sexual Abuse Lawsuit Settlement
Money is a sensitive topic when it comes to incidents involving children, and in all honesty, there’s no set amount of funds that will make up for what was done to a victim of sexual abuse by a teacher. That’s why it’s difficult to say what an average sexual abuse settlement is worth, especially when the victim is a minor. Victims that we represent typically receive around $450,000 to $2,500,000, though some cases have exceeded $5 million due to the extent of physical and emotional injuries, along with gross negligence by the responsible parties.
At the end of the day, the value of a sexual abuse during childhood lawsuit is different for each and every victim. For a discussion on the approximate value of your case, contact us and speak to a lawyer with experience in sexual abuse lawsuits against school districts.
How Long Does it Take to Receive Payment from these Cases?
Just as we’ve mentioned with case values, the timeline to resolve a sexual abuse injury claim will vary from case to case. But we can say for certain that lawsuits against school districts – particularly when they involve sexual abuse of a minor – are extremely complicated. This is not an accusation that any school district wants to be associated with, and as a result, 1 or more years is not an unusual amount of time to reach a settlement in these cases. The legal procedures that are required in order to seek compensation from a public or government entity add another layer of complexity. Some of these cases do end up in court, but over 90% of lawsuits are settled without the need for a trial. Nevertheless, it can sometimes take up to several years to resolve a sex abuse lawsuit against a public school district.
What is the Deadline to File a Sexual Abuse against a Student Lawsuit?
If you are legally an adult (18 years or older) at the time of the abuse, the statute of limitations for a sexual assault lawsuit is 10 years. But adult survivors of child sexual abuse have much longer to pursue a compensation claim. In essence, you can choose one of two dates in terms of how long you have for a school sexual abuse lawsuit: 1) up until the age of 40, or 22 years after turning the age of majority or 2) within 5 years of discovery, i.e. discovering the physical and/or emotional impact of sexual abuse. No matter how much you have to file a lawsuit, it’s best to take action on a claim right away. That way, you can resolve your case as fast as possible and obtain the necessary funds to move forward with your life.
Free Second Opinion Consultation
As personal injury lawyers, we know that relationships between clients and their attorneys are not always perfect. The legal process is long and arduous for many people, and personality clashes can happen from time to time. But this is not the same as disorganization, incompetence, lack of caring, or failing to respond to your calls or emails. These are more serious issues that can damage your case in the long run. If you are worried about your case and need advice from another attorney, don’t hesitate to give us a call. We are happy to offer you a free second opinion on your case if you have a pending claim for sexual abuse at a public school in California.
Free Legal Services at Normandie Law Firm
The path to recovery is different for each victim of sexual assault, and that’s why there’s no right or wrong answers on whether you should file a lawsuit if you were sexually abused by a teacher. However, there’s no way to make an informed decision without a full understanding of your rights and legal options. That’s why it’s essential to seek legal advice from a California sex abuse attorney as soon as possible.
Aside from advising you of the legal process, we will make sure that your finances are protected with the Zero Fee Guarantee. We provide you with free legal services from day one and wait to receive payment at the end of your case, when you are awarded compensation from a successful lawsuit. Since we only get paid by winning your case, you have nothing to lose by becoming one of our clients.
We look forward to fighting for your rights and bringing you justice from a sexual abuse claim against Monrovia USD or any other school district in California.
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