Many survivors, and many parents, hesitate to call because they are not sure whether what happened “counts.” If you are asking the question, it is worth a conversation. Here is what the law and our experience say.
California civil law covers a broad range of conduct toward a child under 18, including:
A minor cannot legally consent to sexual contact with an adult. If a student was 16 or 17 and believed the relationship was mutual, it was still abuse, and the school is still responsible for allowing it.
Abuse in schools almost never starts with touching. It starts with special attention: a coach who singles out one athlete for extra help, a teacher who texts a student after hours, an adult who gives gifts, keeps secrets, or creates reasons to be alone with a child. Schools are supposed to recognize these patterns and act on them. When staff saw the warning signs and did nothing, that is often the heart of the case.
Survivors often minimize what happened to them for years. Many do not use the word “abuse” until adulthood. California’s deadlines account for that. See Is it too late?
A civil claim does not depend on a criminal case. Many of the cases we handle were never reported to police at the time.
When a student is sexually assaulted by another student because the school failed to supervise, or ignored earlier incidents involving the same student, the district can be held responsible.
If you are a survivor reading this at night: you do not have to decide anything now. You can call or message us whenever you are ready, tell us as much or as little as you want, and stop at any point.
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.
Talk privately with an attorney