In June 2022, twelve former residents of MacLaren Hall sued Los Angeles County for the years of sexual abuse they suffered while they were in the foster care system. The foster care residential home close in 2003 following a class action settlement filed by the American Civil Liberties Union, but allegations of physical and sexual assault by staff members has been an on-going problem at MacLaren Hall for many years.
If you are one of the countless victims who was sexually abused at MacLaren Hall, you may be in the process of filing a compensation claim. However, you have found yourself with a lawyer that isn’t responsive to your questions and concerns. Perhaps you’ve had to make phone call after phone call or send numerous emails over a period of days or weeks before you finally hear back from them. Even worse, maybe you haven’t heard from them at all since you signed the contract to retain their services. Right now, you are probably frustrated and confused. You may be asking yourself, “If my lawyer is not getting back to me, what can I do? Can I get a new lawyer?”
As a survivor of child sexual abuse, you are entitled to the highest quality representation in a case against MacLaren Hall. Far too often, victims lose faith in the justice system due to a lawyer’s apathy or incompetence. If you are at this point, please take the chance of giving us a call and learning about the ways we can assist you. Our law firm is here for you every step of the way, and we will not give up in the fight to recover your settlement.
Help – my MacLaren Hall Sexual Abuse Lawyer is not Returning my Calls!
We’ve had more than our share of victims over the years who have called us to ask why it’s so hard to get in touch with their attorneys. We can’t speak for each individual attorney, but we know that there are law firms out there that care about case volume more than the interests of an injury victim. Many of these firms are extremely busy due to the volume of cases they handle.
However, that doesn’t excuse any lawyer from responding to their clients in a timely fashion. Whether it’s a phone call, text, or email, some form of contact or recognition of the client’s concerns must be made if an attorney is truly doing their job. Otherwise, the client is likely to give up on the legal process and the compensation they deserve for what they’ve endured. Lack of communication also indicates a lack of organization or experience, which are two things that are likely to hurt your case. In short, a lawyer is obligated to give each client the time and attention they deserve. In the next section, we will advise you of the steps you can take if your lawyer is not responding to you in a reasonable time frame.
Our Recent Verdicts and Settlements
$2.5 Million
$600,000
$1.5 Million
$54 Million
$525,000
$1.2 Million
What can I do if my Lawyer won’t get back to me?
Many claimants who are frustrated by the lack of communication from their law firm want to know if there are legal actions they can take against their lawyer. Below is a list of options you can consider:
- Send a formal letter / email that clearly expresses the problems you are having with them. If you are sending a physical letter, make a copy of it and try to use a priority mail service so that you have proof that the letter was received by your attorney. Keep the tone professional and free of personal accusations, which will give you the best chance of working things out with your attorney.
- File a complaint with the State Bar of California, which is the agency in charge of investigating professional conduct complaints between lawyers and their clients. Keep in mind, however, that you will need to submit evidence that’s based on a violation of the Bar’s Rules of Professional Conduct. Due to this requirement, it can be challenging for the average person to prove a conduct violation against an attorney.
- Find a new lawyer as soon as possible. This is actually the easiest solution in many cases, though you should always seek a second opinion before you make the switch. We are happy to provide you with a free second opinion consultation, which will allow you to make an informed choice.
Should I Switch my Lawyer?
No matter how unhappy you are with your current legal representative, it’s important to weigh the pros and cons of any decision that can affect the outcome of your case. To ensure that you are making the best possible choice, ask yourself the following questions:
- Are you unable to get a timely response from your lawyer whenever you call (as a general rule, you should get a response within 2 business days).
- Has your lawyer missed important deadlines, thereby putting your case at risk of dismissal?
- Is your lawyer continually delaying the legal process without providing you with a clear, legitimate reason?
- Have you received a notice from the courts advising you that your case may be dismissed due to inactivity?
- Do you feel like your lawyer is asking for an extension from the courts time and time again, but you don’t understand why?
These are not the only considerations that need to be examined, but they are the most common red flags that may indicate the need to change attorneys. The lawyers of Normandie are here for you if you want to discuss these issues and take the necessary steps to move your case in the right direction.
What should I do First – Find a New Lawyer or Fire the Old One?
You can go either way when it comes to this question, but as a general rule, it’s better to find a new lawyer before leaving your old one. The expectation is that you can end things civilly and ask for your case file so that you can hand it over to the lawyer who will eventually take over your claim. This should be a smooth and easy process, but some lawyers can make it hard for ex-clients to obtain this information. If they do hand your file over, you may find that it’s missing information, like certain medical records that are essential to proving your case. Yes, it’s unprofessional and petty, but it does happen with certain attorneys when a client is no longer interested in working with them.
When a client decides to switch their lawyer and continue their lawsuit with us, we take care of the transfer process from start to finish. We are happy to do the same for you in the event you choose one of our attorneys. In addition, we will do all this at no cost to you so that you won’t have to worry about any additional costs as you wait for your compensation award.
MacLaren Hall Sex Abuse Lawsuit FAQ’s
There are certain questions that just about every claimant has on their mind, no matter where they are in the legal process. That’s why we’ve assembled a list of the most frequently asked questions based on our experience with MacLaren Hall sex abuse victims. If you’d like to discuss any of these topics in detail, don’t hesitate to reach out to us.
How much time do I have to file my lawsuit?
Under the terms of Assembly Bill 218 (AB 218), adult survivors of child sexual assault have 22 years after turning 18 years old, or up to the age of 40, to sue their attacker and any other party that’s liable for their injuries. Alternatively, you have 5 years from discovering a physical and/or psychological effect from being sexually abused as a minor. Your statute of limitations depends on whichever date comes later, according to the terms of AB-218. Don’t worry if you’re not sure about the amount of time you have to file a lawsuit. We can address all your questions and concerns during a free consultation.
What is the value of an average MacLaren Hall sex abuse lawsuit settlement?
Because there are so many individual factors that determine what a lawsuit is worth, it’s challenging to come up with an average value for these cases. If we look at the child sexual abuse cases we’ve handled at our law firm, the majority of them were settled for around $1 million to $7.5 million. Of course, the strength of the available evidence, the severity of your injuries, and the sexual acts that were involved, along with many other elements, will ultimately dictate what you are entitled to from a MacLaren Hall sex abuse claim.
As there are many issues we will need to discuss before we can approximate a settlement value, please take some time to contact us and speak with one of our attorneys.
How long does it take to settle one of these cases?
The process of settling a sexual abuse claim can take two years or more, especially cases of child sexual abuse that occurred many years ago. We have had cases that were settled within 6 to 8 months, which is always our goal as advocates for child sex abuse victims. However, we know that most organizations are very resistant when it comes to accusations of child abuse, so it can be an uphill battle to negotiate a fair settlement on behalf of the victim. That’s why 12 to 18 months is a more realistic timeline to settle these cases, though if a settlement is not possible, we will go proceed with a lawsuit against Los Angeles County and any other entities that are liable for the abuse you’ve suffered. Depending on whether a trial is necessary, a lawsuit can take 2 or more years to resolve.
Contact the Child Sexual Abuse Lawyers of Normandie
We know how important it is to feel a personal connection to your attorney when you are seeking justice as a survivor of child sexual abuse. Here at Normandie, our clients are treated like family, not just case files and settlement values. Our lawyers are with you every step of the way, no matter how long it takes. That’s why we never ignore your phone calls and emails. Whether you have questions about your rights or doubts about the legal process, we will be here with the compassion and knowledge you need during this time.
Accessibility to legal services can be challenging for most people due to the costs associated with hiring an attorney. Our goal is to take that worry off your shoulders with the Zero fee guarantee. We will cover all the fees associated with your lawsuit so that you don’t have to worry about your finances. Once we win your case, our fees are covered by the party you are suing.
Don’t take the chance of staying with a law firm that doesn’t have your best interests at heart. Contact Normandie Law Firm and speak with one of our legal experts during a free second opinion consultation.
Other Pages on Our Website Related to This Topic
Filing Deadline – MacLaren Hall Sexual Abuse Lawsuit Case
How Much Time Do I Have to File a Lawsuit for MacLaren Hall Sexual Abuse
