The LA County District Attorney’s Office is investigating claims of sexual abuse by 2 probation officers, Thomas Jackson and Altovise Abner. Allegations against Jackson and Abner include molestation and rape, going back as far as the 1990s.
These cases hint at the possibility of criminal charges against staff members of the LA County Probation Department, which has recently been hit with a deluge of sexual abuse lawsuits. While it’s a hopeful sign in the right direction, the fact that it took this long is “unjustified,” according to Courtney Thom, an attorney representing some of the victims.
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Only now by the sheer virtue of the number of people who have been brave enough to come forward publicly is the pressure being placed on law enforcement to investigate,” said Thom.
We know for certain that at least 20 women have named Jackson as the person that assaulted them while they were detained at a LA County juvenile detention center. As for Abner, he is being investigated for multiple counts of sexual assault, including sexual groping of a 17 year old female in 2006. Furthermore, the women said they were threatened with loss of privileges and solitary confinement if they complained about the abuse. Under these conditions, it’s understandable why they kept the abuse to themselves.
Were you or a member of your family sexually abused by Thomas Jackson or Altovise Abner? Are you suffering from the effects of sexual abuse by another employee of the Los Angeles County Probation Department? The child sexual assault lawyers of Normandie Law Firm would like to advise you of your rights and legal options. Contact us today to explore the possibility of suing Los Angeles County for sexual abuse at a juvenile justice program.
Lawsuits against LA County for Sexual Abuse at Juvenile Halls
The history of unchecked sexual abuse at LA’s juvenile halls is disturbing, to say the least. As attorneys for sexual abuse victims, we’ve spoken with many people who complained about abuse at these facilities during the 1970s and 80s. Essentially, there is a dangerous and toxic culture of sexual abuse among juvenile hall staff members, and clearly, this problem did not happen overnight.
For many years, adult survivors were at a disadvantage when it came to filing charges against their abuser or suing the county probation department for negligence and misconduct. That all changed in 2019 when the California Legislature passed a series of groundbreaking laws on behalf of child sexual abuse victims.
Since then, around 3,800 plaintiffs have filed compensation claims against the county probation department. Almost half of these claims were made against specific employees, particularly probation officers. According to current estimates, it may cost the county as much as $3 billion to settle these lawsuits.
Negligence by the Los County Probation Department
While some of the victims stayed silent, there were plenty of inmates who were brave enough to file complaints. However, these complaints generally went nowhere since county officials were more interested in protecting their public image than they were in protecting underage inmates. This has been an on-going problem for many years in the juvenile justice system, not just in California, but throughout the entire country.
Clearly, it’s taken entirely too long for the county to wake up and push for official investigations on staff members who were repeatedly accused of sexual abuse against children. In spite of the Los Angeles District Attorney’s Office stepping in, it’s hard to whether any of these employees will face criminal sanctions. But current and former inmates can still seek justice through the civil courts with help from a juvenile hall abuse lawsuit attorney. That’s where we can be of help, so don’t hesitate to contact us and learn about the legal actions that are available to you.
How can I Join a Class Action Lawsuit against Los Angeles County?
If you’d like to be part of a class action lawsuit against LA County, please contact our office at your earliest convenience. As we previously mentioned, lawsuits have been filed by thousands of current and former inmates. Many of these individuals have joined together and formed class actions, which can be helpful when so many people are seeking justice from the same defendant.
However, there is no obligation for you to join a class action lawsuit, and for some claimants, it’s in their best interest to file a lawsuit on their own. A class action lawsuit lawyer can help you decide which option is right for you during a free consultation.
Average Value of a Juvenile Hall Sexual Abuse Case
The average case value for sexual abuse at a juvenile hall is $3,000,000 when the victim is subjected to sexual assault. This includes forcible acts like rape, but legally, any physical contact of a sexual nature between adults and minors is defined as sexual assault under California law. If the abuse more along the lines of solicitation, exchanging sexual content, and sexual harassment, the average settlement for a LA County sexual abuse lawsuit is around $1,500,000.
Please note that the amount of compensation from a child sexual assault lawsuit will vary significantly from one case to another. That’s why there is no singular dollar amount that works for each victim of sexual abuse by a probation officer or another LA County Probation Department employee. In reality, the range of settlements for a juvenile inmate sexual abuse claim is between $450,000 and $10,000,000, though higher amounts are possible depending on the degree of injury and negligence by county officials.
How Long Do these Lawsuits Take to Settle?
It takes anywhere from 1 to 2 years to settle a LA County Probation Department sexual abuse lawsuit. This may come as a surprise to you if you were under the impression that personal injury cases may be settled in just a few months. Unfortunately, lawsuits against government agencies are incredibly complicated, and the process of filing a claim and negotiating a settlement is quite extensive.
To settle your case as fast as possible, you should retain the services of a lawyer who is experienced with lawsuits against government entities. However, it’s likely that achieving a favorable settlement will take at least 12 months. Over 90% of these cases are settled without a trial, but if taking your case to court is necessary, a juvenile camp sexual abuse lawsuit can take 3 or more years to settle.
Time Limit to File a Child Sexual Abuse Lawsuit
The statute of limitations for sexual abuse against a minor is 22 years, starting from the victim’s 18th birthday. However, you can file a lawsuit beyond this limit if there is a delayed discovery of injuries that were caused by sexual abuse at a LA County youth detention center. Injuries include bodily harm and mental health issues resulting from emotional trauma.
Because many children suppress memories of traumatic events, they may live with the impact of sexual abuse for many years before they seek help from a therapist or doctor. This is when they finally open up about the abuse and realize how they were injured by a predatory adult. No matter how old they are at the time of discovery, they have 5 years to file a lawsuit against Los Angeles County according to the discovery rule for childhood sexual abuse.
If you would like to confirm how much time you have to sue for sexual abuse at a California juvenile hall, give us a call to speak with one of our attorneys.
Contact Our Law Firm
The deluge of investigations by the DA’s office is long overdue, and realistically, it’s possible that these cases will be dropped due to insufficient evidence. But justice through the courts is more than a mere possibility when you have the lawyers of Normandie by your side. We have a dedicated team of sexual abuse lawyers who have taken on various public entities, including school districts, the California Department of Social Services, and county probation departments throughout the state. Our law firm is more than ready to represent your interests and bring you the compensation you deserve.
We promise that you will never pay out of pocket if you decide to go ahead with a lawsuit. Under the Zero Fee Guarantee, all legal fees are paid by the County of Los Angeles. Since our payment is included in your settlement check, there is no cost to you whatsoever if we don’t win your case.
Contact us right away to receive a free case review from a juvenile hall sexual assault lawsuit attorney. For those of you with active lawsuits, please come and see us for a free second opinion. We look forward to meeting you and ensuring that justice is served if you were sexually abused at a Los Angeles County juvenile hall or camp program.
Other Pages on Our Website Related to This Topic
Juvenile Justice Correctional Complex Sexual Abuse Attorney
L.A. Camp Rockey Sexual Abuse Attorney
Juvenile Detention Center Sexual Abuse Attorney
