Are you a victim of child sexual abuse by a staff member of South Lake Tahoe Juvenile Treatment Center, also known as the El Dorado Juvenile Treatment Center? If so, you may be eligible for a lawsuit against El Dorado County, along with the person that assaulted you. However, lawsuits for sexual abuse of minors are notoriously difficult, particularly when the liable party is a government entity. That’s why it’s essential to contact a childhood sexual assault lawyer as soon as possible.
So Lake Tahoe Juvenile Treatment Center is a youth detention facility with space for up to 40 inmates. The purpose of the program is to offer a variety of rehabilitative, educational, recreational, and mental health services for youths that are on the wrong track. There are plans to shut down South Lake Tahoe Juvenile Treatment Center in the near future, as the crime rate among teens has gone down significantly in the area. However, there’s no denying that hundreds of children stayed at the facility, and many of them were subjected to physical, emotional, and sexual abuse.
If you or your family member was sexually abused at South Lake Tahoe Juvenile Treatment Center, we can help you explore the available legal options during a free, confidential case review. Those who were abused by a probation officer, social worker, psychologist, or another juvenile hall employee have the right to seek monetary damages, such as pain and suffering, emotional distress, and medical expenses. To learn more about the option of filing a child sexual abuse lawsuit, contact us to speak with a South Lake Tahoe Juvenile sexual assault lawyer.
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Sexual Abuse of Minors at South Lake Tahoe Juvenile Treatment Center
It’s always shocking to come across news stories of sexual assault at government institutions that exist for the purpose of taking care of children. Yet, the culture of sexual abuse is deeply ingrained at many juvenile halls and camps in California, along with physical abuse and neglect.
The truth is, these places are targeted by sexual predators that see children as walking targets. They know that many youths at juvenile halls are in need of extra attention and guidance. Some of them simply want someone to help them survive on a day to day basis, and they are willing to pay the ultimate price for protection and extra privileges. These are the perfect conditions for a child molester, especially one that takes the time to groom their victims over an extended period of time.
Sexual grooming is at the center of many of these incidents, though children can certainly be forced into a sexual act by threats of physical force. In many cases, however, the abuser befriends the child over several weeks or months in order to give them a false sense of security. A probation officer, for example, establishes a friendship with a female inmate and slowly works up to inappropriate touching, like stroking her thighs or groping her breasts. Due to their emotional connection, the girl is afraid to betray his trust or face the possibility of retaliation by other inmates and staff members. She is also likely to blame herself for the abuse, as if she allowed it to happen.
Please be aware that any form of sexual conduct between minors and adults is child sexual abuse under California law. In addition, it’s always the adult that is at fault, as individuals under 18 years of age cannot give informed consent to any type of sexual activity. Thus, it’s the adult’s legal duty to act in a professional manner and set clear boundaries. The South Lake Tahoe Juvenile sexual abuse lawyers of Normandie are here if you have any questions about California’s child sexual abuse laws. To schedule a free case evaluation, contact our office at your earliest convenience.
Can I Sue El Dorado County for Sexual Abuse at South Lake Tahoe Juvenile Treatment Center?
Yes, you can sue the county of El Dorado if you were sexually assaulted at South Lake Tahoe Juvenile Treatment Center. Your right to seek compensation from the county depends on whether they had knowledge of your incident or knew about prior incidents of sexual misconduct by your abuser, but failed to take the necessary steps.
Through decades of experience with child sexual abuse lawsuits, our attorneys have come across gross acts of negligence by county and juvenile hall officials. These include intentional failure to investigate sex abuse complaints from inmates, failure to turn over evidence to the authorities, and transferring offending employees to another facility instead of removing them from the juvenile justice system altogether. Essentially, it’s a matter of protecting themselves and their workers instead of the children they are sworn to protect.
In addition to being illegal, failure to report and investigate juvenile hall inmate sexual assault is grounds for a lawsuit through the civil courts. If you would like to learn more about the process of filing a lawsuit against El Dorado County, please schedule a free case review with a South Lake Tahoe Juvenile sexual abuse attorney.
Legal Advice from a South Lake Tahoe Juvenile Class Action Lawsuit Attorney
In the past few years, sexual abuse lawsuits against county and state governments have been on the rise. When the claims involve large entities, like a juvenile justice program, it’s more than likely that there are dozens – if not hundreds or thousands of victims that may be interested in seeking justice.
Perhaps you are one of the many individuals who are interested in filing a South Lake Tahoe Juvenile sexual abuse class action lawsuit. To do so, simply give us a call and ask to speak with a class action lawyer for juvenile hall sexual abuse incidents. These are complicated legal actions with a long list of legal procedures, which you should not attempt without guidance from an attorney. A lawyer can also ensure that you understand the upsides, as well as the downsides of a South Lake Tahoe Juvenile sexual abuse class action lawsuit. This way, you can make a solid choice regarding your legal options instead of making a decision you’ll regret in the long run.
Whether you file a personal injury lawsuit or join a class action claim, our attorneys are here to fight for you if negligence by county officials allowed a staff member at So Lake Tahoe Juvenile Treatment Center to sexually abuse you. To initiate a claim or schedule a free second opinion on an existing lawsuit, please contact our law firm.
Average Case Value of a South Lake Tahoe Juvenile Sexual Abuse Lawsuit
Based on our record of settlements and verdicts, the average value of a South Lake Tahoe Juvenile sexual assault lawsuit is $1,500,000 to $5,000,000. Settlement values are based on the victim’s injuries, the degree of negligence by the defendant, and other issues that are specific to each and every case. And yes, there are South Lake Tahoe Juvenile sexual abuse claims that are settled for $500,000 or less, but the vast majority of these claims result in payouts of $1,000,000 or more.
The highest amounts are reserved for class action lawsuits, where $10,000,000 to $500,000,000 is not uncommon. But this is due to the fact that class actions involve many sexual abuse victims, possibly over a thousand. Cases that go to trial can also result in high payments, as the sympathy of juries typically lies with the victim, especially those who were minors at the time they were abused. However, settling a case out of court is usually in your best interest, as the trial process can add considerable time and expense, not to mention the additional stress and frustration.
Considering the importance of figuring out an appropriate settlement amount, please consider a free consultation with the South Lake Tahoe Juvenile abuse lawyers of Normandie.
How Long Does it Take to Settle a Lawsuit for Sexual Abuse at a Juvenile Hall?
A sexual abuse lawsuit where the victim is underage usually takes 1 to 2 years to settle. If the case goes to trial, it will take up to several years before the plaintiff is awarded compensation by a jury. A juvenile hall sexual abuse claim may be settled in 6 months or less if there are no unexpected delays and the defendant makes a reasonable settlement offer. Unfortunately, this doesn’t happen in a whole lot of cases, which is why the projected timeline to settle a South Lake Tahoe Juvenile sexual abuse lawsuit is 1 to 3 years.
The idea of taking a case to trial is intimidating to most people, and frankly, it’s not an ideal situation. If at all possible, we always attempt to reach a settlement, which is the quickest and least stressful method of resolving a civil lawsuit. On the other hand, failure to negotiate in good faith and using stall tactics to avoid payment are legitimate reasons to ask for a trial date. Even if a court hearing is scheduled, over 95% of cases are settled, so it’s unlikely that your case will head in this direction.
Don’t hesitate to contact us if you’d like more information on how long it takes to settle a South Lake Tahoe Juvenile abuse lawsuit for sexual assault.
Time Limit to File a So Lake Tahoe Juvenile Sexual Assault Lawsuit
The state of California has a 22-year statute of limitations for sexual abuse of a minor, starting from the victim’s 18th birthday. In other words, you have until the age of 40 to sue for incidents of sexual misconduct by an adult working for the juvenile justice system.
The previous statute of limitations gave victims considerably less time to file a lawsuit, but the passing of Assembly Bill-218 in 2019 changed all that. Since then, adult survivors of child sexual abuse have an opportunity to file a lawsuit for cases that go back 10 years or more. Furthermore, the law expanded the discovery rule, so that victims have 5 years from the date of discovery to demand justice through a sexual abuse lawsuit. Please keep reading to learn more about the time limit to file a South Lake Tahoe Juvenile abuse lawsuit under the terms of California’s discovery rule.
If I’m Past 40 Years Old, Can I Still File a Juvenile Hall Sex Abuse Lawsuit?
Yes, it’s possible to file a sexual abuse during childhood lawsuit if you meet the conditions of the 5-year discovery rule.
To put it simply, the discovery rule is based on the discovery or recognition of an injury associated with a specific incident, like sexual assault at a juvenile hall. Due to the trauma from these incidents, juvenile inmates often suppress their feelings of shame and disgust and try to move on with their lives. Sadly, not dealing with these emotions can lead to severe mental health issues, particularly PTSD, depression, and substance abuse. Victims only realize how these problems are tied to incidents of child sexual abuse when they receive treatment from a licensed therapist.
From the date of “discovering” the impact of sexual abuse, you have 5 years to file a lawsuit against the individuals and agencies that put you in danger. This is a crucial legal exemption for abuse victims, as it allows you to file a compensation claim at any age. Having said that, the 5-year discovery rule only applies in situations where the plaintiff can clearly show that the damage they suffered from sexual assault was not realized until they were over 40 years old.
To ensure that you have a solid case backed by evidence and sound legal arguments, please take some time to speak with a South Lake Tahoe Juvenile abuse attorney.
Contact Us to Speak with a South Lake Tahoe Juvenile Sexual Abuse Lawyer
Are you in need of legal advice from a lawyer who can sue South Lake Tahoe Juvenile Treatment Center for sexual abuse? Do you have a pending sexual assault lawsuit against a California juvenile hall and need a free second opinion from a seasoned attorney? Our legal team is here to help, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
Wherever you are in the legal process, we are happy to provide free legal services throughout your case. From the very first consultation, you’ll receive a Zero Fee Guarantee that ensures you won’t be responsible for attorney’s fees. It’s the defendant that’s responsible for paying us, and that only happens if we succeed in recovering your settlement award.
Since there is nothing to lose, we urge you to contact a South Lake Tahoe Juvenile sexual molestation lawyer for a free consultation on your rights and legal options.
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