Sexual abuse is unfortunately common in hospitals and clinics, especially among psychiatric patients and children who are hospitalized for serious illnesses. Kedren Community Health Center Inc., better known as Kedren Health, is no exception to this rule. This community-based organization was founded after the Watts riots in South Los Angeles. The goal was to create a non-profit facility for the purpose of providing mental health, primary care, and family services for the underserved residents of South L.A. Sadly, Kedren Health has fallen short of these goals for many years due to understaffing and poor leadership, among other concerns.
Recently, our law firm received intelligence of sexual abuse at Kedren Community Health Center in the 1970s. We are investigating these claims, though we are certain that these are not isolated incidents. Accusations of sexual misconduct have been a long-standing problem at Kedren, and we believe that there are a multitude of victims who are unaware of their rights and legal options.
We know what a struggle it is for sexual assault victims to come forward, especially child victims of sexual abuse. But justice is absolutely possible, as we’ve seen from lawsuits against the Catholic Church, Michigan State University (by the victims of Larry Nassar), and most recently, the class action lawsuit filed by former foster care residents of MacLaren Hall. The attorneys of Normandie are with you every step of the way, and we will not rest until you are properly compensated by the responsible parties.
For a free consultation with one of our legal experts, contact our office as soon as possible.
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Kedren Health’s Liability in a Case of Sexual Assault
When you are sexually assaulted, you have the option to sue your attacker for monetary compensation. But you may also be wondering, “Can I sue Kedren Health since I was sexually assaulted on their property?”
You may have grounds to sue Kedren Community Health Center if they directly caused or contributed to your incident of sexual violence. This is referred to as negligence, meaning the organization failed in their duty of care to protect you from harm. As a patient or legitimate visitor on the premises, you have a right to expect that Kedren Health will take all reasonable measures to ensure your safety. For example, you expect that there are enough employees on staff to take care of all the patients. You also expect adequate security measures to help minimize the possibility of sexual assault.
Unfortunately, medical facilities often fall short in these areas, which can be very dangerous in areas like psychiatric units. In an investigation by the LA Times in 2019, it was revealed that Kedren Health had no after-hours psychiatrist to evaluate and monitor new patients. Thus, if someone was brought in late at night, they were put in whatever room was available until someone could evaluate them in the morning. This is clearly a case of negligence, and one that unfortunately led to an after-hours patient murdering his roommate. This, and other forms of negligence, can also lead to sexual assault, which we believe has been an on-going problem at Kedren Health for many years.
As a victim of sexual assault, you have the right to take legal action against the parties that put you in harm’s way. If you have any questions regarding your rights and legal options, call us right away to speak with one of our knowledgeable attorneys.
Factors that Affect the Value of a Sexual Abuse Lawsuit
The impact of sexual abuse cannot be underestimated, and most victims struggle with the effects for the rest of their lives. Clearly, victims deserve compensation, but how do we determine a dollar amount in a case of sexual assault? Calculating a case value requires us to examine many factors, including:
- The type of injuries sustained by the victim (physical and mental).
- The impact of those injuries on various areas of their life (health, school / job performance, personal relationships, etc.).
- The number of incidents and/or the number of days, months, or years that the abuse took place.
- Your age at the time you were sexually assaulted.
- Your physical / mental state during the abuse – especially relevant at Kedren Health, which has an in-house psychiatric unit.
- The strength of evidence to support our claim
- The level of negligence by Kedren Health, including attempts to conceal or cover up evidence of sexual assault.
Covering up sexual assault is an accusation that Kedren Health has dealt with in the past. In 2019, for example, the organization was investigated after the Los Angeles Times uncovered reports of horrifying violence within the psychiatric unit. One of these incidents involved one patient killing another, while a female patient reported that she was sexually assaulted in her room. Information is very limited in either of these cases, but we do know of lawsuits by former employees who were fired for reporting acts of negligence and misconduct. It seems that Kedren has a long and troubled history of denying violence within their facilities. Thus, it would not surprise us if they willfully engaged in a cover up to hide rape, molestation, and other types of sexual abuse on their property.
So, why does any of this matter, you ask? On January 1, 2020, California passed Assembly Bill-218, which greatly enhanced the rights of childhood sexual abuse victims. A critical aspect of this law is “treble damages” in cases where individuals or institutions willfully covered up or destroyed evidence of child sexual assault. This means if Kedren Health engaged in “a concerted effort to hide evidence relating to” your sexual abuse, you may be eligible to receive three times the value of your settlement award.
What is the Value of my Sexual Abuse Case against Kedren Health?
Based on our experience with former clients, these cases are worth around $1 million to $7.5 million, depending on the factors we mentioned in the previous section. Child abuse cases have the highest values, particularly when gross negligence is involved, as the victim may be awarded triple damages. But even adults can receive $500,000 to $1.5 million and above when the assault occurs on a commercial property. Medical centers, in particular, have the highest duty of care to ensure a patient’s safety. When they are lax in their duties and someone is sexually violated as a result, punitive damages may be awarded, which can greatly enhance a victim’s settlement award.
Statute of Limitations for Sexual Abuse Claims
It’s essential to file your sexual abuse lawsuit within the statute of limitations. Extensions are only granted in extreme circumstances, so if you miss the deadline to file your claim, you will most likely lose the chance to recover compensation from Kedren Health.
As an adult victim of sexual abuse (18 or over), you must take legal action within 10 years from the incident date, or the date of the last incident of sexual assault. If you were a minor at the time (under 18), the timeline is more generous thanks to California’s Assembly Bill 218. Under AB 218, survivors of childhood sexual abuse can seek monetary damages up until the age of 40. You can also file a claim within 5 years of discovery, meaning the date on which you found out you were abused or discovered a physical / psychological injury resulting from the abuse. The law allows you to pick the later of these two dates, thereby giving you as much time as possible to take legal action.
But that’s not all; AB-218 also has a three-year window for child sex abuse claims that were expired under the old statute of limitations (prior to January 1, 2020). That means you can bring a lawsuit for sexual assault at Kedren Health even if you were abused several decades ago. We know all this information can be quite confusing, so please give us a call if you are unsure about the amount of time you have left to file a lawsuit.
How long will it take to Settle my Case?
The amount of time that’s needed to resolve a sexual abuse lawsuit varies from case to case. Sometimes, a claim may be settled in just a few months, especially if there is strong evidence that the defendant will have a hard time refuting. But many cases take a lot longer, perhaps 12 to 18 months in order to achieve a settlement that’s in line with the client’s financial and emotional losses. The cases that proceed to a lawsuit take the longest to resolve, usually 2 or more years. A settlement is still possible at this point, usually through mediation. But if a trial is necessary, our lawyers are more than ready for the challenge of arguing your case.
Free Second Opinion
Things don’t always go smoothly between lawyers and clients, and some sexual abuse victims are left without the care and attention they deserve. If you have any questions or concerns about your case, you may benefit from a second opinion with the lawyers of Normandie. Some clients just need verification of what they’re being told by their attorney. But others find themselves stuck with an incompetent lawyer, which can hurt their case in the long run.
We can help you decide on the right course of action, which may involve switching your lawyer. This is a big decision, however, and there is no obligation to do anything that you’re not fully comfortable with. No matter what you decide, a second opinion from one of our attorneys is completely free of charge.
We Offer Free Legal Services
There are many reasons that keep sexual abuse victims from seeking the justice they deserve. There is, of course, the shame, guilt, and trauma that come from sexual violence. But finances are another issue that can hold someone back from speaking with an attorney. At Normandie, we’ve always operated on the principle that victims should not have to pay for qualify legal representation.
Our Zero fee guarantee means you pay nothing to retain us, nor will you pay a single penny throughout your entire case. We demand our legal fees from the defendant, which is paid along with your compensation award. In essence, the only way we get paid is if you get paid. If we don’t win your case, we eat the costs, and you walk away without any responsibility for our expenses.
Our lawyers are here to guide you through this difficult time and ensure that you are fairly compensated for your harm and suffering. Call Normandie Law Firm to speak with a Kedren Community sexual abuse attorney.
Other Pages on Our Website Related to This Topic
Kedren Community Health Center Sexual Assault Lawsuit Attorney
Filing Deadline – MacLaren Hall Sexual Abuse Lawsuit Case
Maclaren Hall Sexual Abuse Class Action Lawsuit Information
