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Los Angeles County Abuse Lawyer

We represent survivors of childhood sexual abuse across Los Angeles County, from the Antelope Valley to the South Bay. If you or your child were abused in an L.A. County school, juvenile hall, probation camp, or foster placement, we can help, and we can meet you in Los Angeles.

Cases we handle in Los Angeles County

  • Sexual abuse by teachers, coaches, aides, and staff in public and private K–12 schools
  • Abuse in after-school, sports, and enrichment programs run on campus by outside organizations
  • Abuse in county juvenile halls and probation camps
  • Abuse in foster homes, group homes, and residential programs
  • Failures to report under CANRA that allowed abuse to continue

Local institutions

Los Angeles County has the largest school district in California and the largest juvenile probation and foster care systems in the country. Our of-counsel attorney, Guinness Costello, is based in downtown Los Angeles and represents survivors in coordinated proceedings involving juvenile facilities and foster care, in which he has served in court-appointed leadership roles.

Where cases are filed

Cases are filed in the Los Angeles County Superior Court. Many institutional-abuse cases against the County and against large districts are coordinated before a single judge, which affects scheduling and settlement. We explain what that means for your case before filing.

What is different about a local case

Nothing about the law changes from county to county, but the practice does. Each county’s probation department, child welfare agency, and school districts keep records differently, use different insurers and defense firms, and settle differently. We know the local landscape, and cases against counties and large districts are handled jointly with a Los Angeles plaintiffs’ firm that represents survivors of childhood sexual abuse and institutional abuse across California.

Deadlines

For abuse before 2024, a survivor may file until age 40 or within five years of discovering the connection between the abuse and adult injuries. For abuse on or after January 1, 2024, there is no deadline. No government claim is required. Details.

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We answer 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. There is no cost and no obligation. Nothing is filed without your permission, and nothing you tell us leaves this office.

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Attorney Stephen J. Costello
We answer 24/7 877-428-4544Free consultation