Alexander Turner, a trainer at two high schools in the San Fernando Valley – Van Nuys High School and Birmingham Community Charter School – has been charged with sexually assaulting 10 teenage girls. The victims, ranging in ages from 15 to 17, say that the assaults occurred between the years of 2017 and 2022.
The students were sent to Turner for rehabilitative services due to sports injuries, according to officials. On September 20, Turner was arrested, following a phone call from a victim, who claimed that she had been “inappropriately touched” by Turner. In a statement by the Los County District Attorney’s Office, the trainer is facing “six counts each of sexual penetration by use of force and sexual battery, four counts of sexual penetration of an unconscious person and one count each of forcible rape and forcible oral copulation.”
Anyone who has been assaulted by Turner, or has information about these cases is asked to contact the LAPD at 818-374-5415 or 877-527-3247. Sadly, this is just one of many incidents where a predator takes advantage of vulnerable minors. Far too many of these people are in our schools and various programs, where we expect our children to be safe. The truth is, these places are full of people that can sexually abuse children, such as teachers, teacher’s aides, coaches, tutors, and sports trainers.
In particular, sports trainers have easy access to children due to the fact that kids are sent to them for recovery purposes. Physical contact is required in settings where the minor is alone with the trainer for long periods of time. Thus, it’s easy for a sexual predator to take advantage of the situation and rape, molest, or commit some other type of sexual abuse. Considering the number of injured athletes that Turner may have treated for these schools, it’s likely that many more victims are out there. If you or your child was sexually assaulted by a trainer, coach, mentor, or any other trusted personnel, it’s essential to speak with an experienced child sex abuse attorney. Please give us a call and learn about your rights and legal options during a free case evaluation.
Acts of Sexual Abuse involving a Minor
Alexander Turner committed horrific acts of assault against the students who came to him for help, including the rape of a student that was unconscious. While forcible penetration and oral copulation are the most serious forms of sexual assault, these are not the only ways that students can be sexually abused. Sexual abuse of a minor includes the following acts:
- Fondling, groping, and kissing
- Flashing / exposing your genitals
- Masturbating in front a minor
- Communications, such as texts, phone calls, and DMs of a sexual nature.
- Showing a minor porn or other sexually graphic material.
- Bribing / manipulating a minor into any type of sexual act
These examples illustrate the many ways that someone can use a child for the purpose of sexual gratification. That’s why any incident or suspicion of sexually inappropriate interactions involving a student must be reported immediately to the authorities. Though we are still waiting for details, we know that abuse claims against Alexander Turner go back as far as 2017. It’s likely that there were cases even before then, considering that Turner is 64 years old.
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California’s Consent Laws
One issue that many people are confused about is consent, and what that means when it comes to a minor. In California, a minor is defined as someone under the age 18, i.e., the age of consent. By law, these individuals cannot consent to sexual activity, and the responsibility for setting clear boundaries is up to the adult, not the minor. Unfortunately, there is a tendency for sexual predators to defend themselves by saying that the victim was a willing participant. Sometimes, they even try to blame the child, saying that they made the first move.
However, the law makes it crystal clear that individuals under the age of 18 cannot make an informed choice to engage in sexual activity. Thus, a sports trainer or any other individual is breaking the law if they engage in sexual activity with a minor. That means even if you were not raped or forced into a sex act, you may have grounds for a lawsuit against an adult that took advantage of you in a sexual manner.
Who is Responsible in a Child Sexual Assault Case?
We mentioned in a previous section that all incidents of sexual abuse, or suspected abuse, must be reported to the police as soon as possible. This is a legal requirement under California’s mandated reporter laws, which requires anyone that works directly with children to report cases of child abuse and neglect to the proper authorities. Mandated reporters include all staff members at a school, those working for student sports programs, and various other organizations that service children. If these individuals fail to alert the police or try to hide evidence of a sexual assault, they are subject to a jail sentence of up to 6 months and a fine of up to $1,000.
Aside from criminal prosecution, these parties may be sued by the victim or their family members. In a lawsuit, the victim may be able to request:
- Cost of medical treatment
- Lost wages (for the victim or their parent / legal guardian)
- Pain and suffering
- Cost of mental health services
- Legal fees
- Punitive damages
Our lawyers have the skill and experience to go after the responsible parties and bring you maximum payment for your suffering. While money cannot make up for your physical and emotional trauma, it can provide you with a sense of justice and empowerment. The funds you receive will also assist you with your recovery needs, which can be substantial when you are struggling to move forward from a sexual assault.
Average Value of a Child Sexual Assault Lawsuit
Values for cases of student sexual assault vary widely, but there’s no doubt that these lawsuits generate high settlements. When forcible sex acts such as rape and oral sex are involved, the total amount of compensation may be over several million dollars. Based on our experience, as well as previous verdicts across the country, these cases are worth anywhere from $1.5 million to $10 million, depending on the type of assault, how long the abuse went on, and if there was an active cover up to protect the abuser or institution.
Another reason why these cases are so valuable is the trebling of damages under California’s Assembly Bill 218. If you can prove that an organization or individual deliberately covered up, hid, or destroyed information related to your sexual assault, you may be entitled to triple damages, or three times the amount of compensation you would normally be awarded. When you take that into account, it’s not surprising why many of these settlements exceed $2 million.
The challenging part is uncovering the necessary information and making sure there is strong evidence to back up your claims. That’s where we can be of help, with our many years of experience investigating sexual assault claims against schools, after school programs, sports teams, and many other entities.
How long do these Cases take to Settle?
The timeline to settle one of these cases ranges anywhere from several months to several years. Here at Normandie, our job is to investigate you or your child’s abuse, assemble a solid case, and submit a request for your damages as fast as possible. But this process can take months, especially for claims that go back many years.
It’s possible that your claim may be settled in 6 to 8 months if the liable party is willing to admit fault and offer you a fair settlement. However, we have tried enough of these cases to know that defendants like schools and sports programs can be quite resistant when it comes to claims of sexual assault. As a result, we caution all our clients that 12 or more months may be needed in order to settle their case. If the liable entities are especially stubborn, we may need a jury to rule on your case, which can take 2 or more years.
Please know that you will not be forgotten during this process, no matter how long it takes to recover your payment. You will never be left without answers, or find yourself calling us again and again for updates on your case. We are with you every step of the way, and we will not rest until you receive the compensation you deserve.
Statute of Limitations to File a Lawsuit
If you 18 years or older, you have 10 years from the last incident of abuse to file a lawsuit for sexual assault. However, the timeline is much longer if you are under the age of consent. These victims have up to the age of 40, or 5 years from discovering the effects of the abuse (post-traumatic stress, for ex.) to file a legal action against the responsible parties. As for which statute of limitations you should go by, the answer is: whichever date comes later. This generous timeline is the result of Assembly Bill 218, which was passed in 2019.
Under the bill, there is also a 3-year window for victims whose claims had previously expired under the old statute of limitations. This is particularly relevant in cases involving elderly abusers, like Alexander Turner, who may have been assaulting minors for several decades. Thus, even if you were previously unable to file a lawsuit, you may have the chance to do so under AB-218’s three year window. However, you must call us right away to verify your eligibility, as the 3-year provision expires on December 31, 2022.
Regardless of how long you have to file a lawsuit, please don’t delay in speaking with one of our attorneys. Predators, as well as the organizations that hire them, go to great lengths to hide or destroy evidence that can implicate them. Thus, it’s in your best interest to report your abuse to the authorities and seek help from a law firm that’s experienced in childhood sexual assault cases.
Free Second Opinion
Our law firm offers second opinions if you have a pending sexual assault case with another law firm. Many people who come to us for a second opinion have trouble getting in touch with their attorney or need clarification on certain issues. These issues may have to do with a settlement offer or the lack of progress in your case. We are happy to answer any question you have and advise you of your legal options if you are unhappy with your current lawyer. Your options include switching your lawyer to one of the experts at our office, but this is completely up to you. The consultation is 100% free no matter what you decide, so don’t hesitate to schedule a free second opinion.
Speak to a Lawyer Experienced in Child Sexual Abuse Cases
We believe that the students who came forward against Alexander Turner are just the tip of iceberg when it comes to the number of victims he has preyed on. Depending on Turner’s involvement in the San Fernando Valley school system, there may be cases that go back many years. If you are one of these victims, please know that our lawyers are here to advise you. We know how difficult it is to relive these memories, but coming forward and taking legal action may be the best thing you can do for yourself and your loved ones.
One issue that may be of concern to you is the cost of hiring an attorney, but here at Normandie, victims are not responsible for our expenses. With our Zero fee guarantee, our fees are paid by the parties you are suing, and that’s only if we recover your damages. If we lose your case, you won’t be responsible for any legal fees, no matter how much work went into your case. That means you have nothing to lose by giving us a call and taking some time to speak with our attorneys.
If you’re ready to learn more about the legal actions you can take, contact our office and schedule a free case review.
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