Sexual Abuse
The deep emotional scars of sexual abuse often last a lifetime. California law permits adult survivors of sexual abuse to file suit anytime before their 26th birthday or within three years of the time they discover that their psychological injuries were caused by the abuse. A parent may bring a claim on behalf of a child.
These very difficult cases are further complicated by the fact that the abuser is often in a position of trust to the victim such as a teacher, coach, care giver, clergy, therapist, doctor, or family member. In many cases, the institution where the abuse occurred, such as the school, hospital, religious organization, or care facility, may also be liable to the victim. This occurs when the institution hires an individual that it knew or should have known was not fit for the job, fails to properly supervise employees who are left alone with children, failed to properly secure and monitor its premises, or if the employee abuser was acting in the course and scope of his or her employment.