Sexual abuse cases can be very complex in terms of emotions and legality, as it is not only a criminal violation, it can be the basis for a civil lawsuit aimed at holding abusers and negligent institutions accountable. Whether the abuse occurred in a school, workplace, religious organization, or even a medical facility, no one should be forced to endure such unethical treatment and behavior. Survivors of sexual abuse deserve to have their voices heard, and we are dedicated to amplifying their voices and obtaining justice for them.
Survivors of sexual abuse with claims that have previously expired in California now have a new opportunity, which ends on December 31, 2027, to file a claim under AB 250.
At Nadrich Accident Injury Lawyers, we are committed to helping survivors of sexual abuse pursue accountability and understand their legal options. Since 1990, our attorneys have handled these sensitive cases with compassion, discretion, and respect. We understand the profound impact sexual abuse can have on survivors and work closely with each client to provide personalized legal guidance tailored to their unique circumstances.
We operate on a contingency fee basis, meaning you pay nothing unless we win. Call us today at (800) 718-4658 or fill out our easy online contact form for a free, confidential consultation.
Past results do not guarantee future outcomes. Each case is unique and results depend on its specific facts.
Defining Sexual Abuse
Sexual abuse is defined as sexual acts that occur without the consent of an individual or is unable to provide consent due to factors such as age and incapacitation. In the past several years, there has been a recent rise in addressing sexual abuse with a series of movements such as the #metoo movement, which helped normalize victims coming forward with their experiences.
While there is an increase of resources both on a national level with the National Sexual Assault Hotline and on a state level, survivors of sexual assault may still find it hard to come forward with their stories for the fear of repercussions to their private life. It is highly urged to hire legal representation with extensive experience to not only ensure they receive justice, but to prevent it from happening to others.
As sexual abuse can occur across various relationships and settings like sexual misconduct by professionals, abuse in foster care/juvenile facilities, and even harassment by employers/coworkers, it is important to hold perpetrators liable for the harm they caused.
The Impact of the #MeToo Movement
The #MeToo movement was a significant social campaign that raised awareness of sexual abuse, harassment, and assault and has dramatically changed how we approach and report these incidents. From seeing the signs at home to standing up to aggressors at the workplace, the movement has empowered survivors of sexual abuse to share their stories and speak up to hold those responsible accountable for their actions.
In fact, many organizations and workplaces have re-evaluated their sexual harassment policies in order to create a safer environment for everyone. While there’s been a greater emphasis on creating a culture of respect and accountability within workplaces, it is still important to understand the laws that protect people from such behavior in order to ensure that sexual abuse does not happen.
California Sexual Abuse Law
In California, the assailant of sexual abuse cases is not always the only defendant and can include organizations whose negligent behavior allowed the incident to occur. Common causes of action in sexual abuse lawsuits include a variety of reasons from negligent hiring, supervision or retention of employees, breach of fiduciary duty, to even intentional infliction of emotional distress.
In order to combat these kinds of cases, California has a number of laws to properly charge assailants in the criminal justice system for the act they have committed. For instance, California Penal Code 11165.1 defines what constitutes sexual abuse in child welfare cases and it is further supplemented with California Penal Code 288 and 269, specifically outlining and protecting minors from aggravated sexual assault and lascivious acts.
Meanwhile California Penal Code 261 and California Penal Code 243.4 defines severe sexual abuse crimes such as rape and sexual battery and outlines in great detail what constitutes each type and what the penalties are included. In addition, California has recently extended the statute of limitations regarding recovering sexual abuse damages in sexual abuse lawsuits in the form of Assembly Bill 218.
Statute of Limitations For Sexual Abuse Cases
There are a number of state laws that protect victims of sexual abuse, however, depending on certain circumstances, the state’s statute of limitations will vary. According to California Code of Civil Procedure 340.16, all sexual assault cases for adults 18 and older must be filed within 10 years from the date of the incident.
However, California Assembly Bill 250, which was signed into law on October 2025, opened a new filing window for adult victims of sexual assault whose cases have expired because of the statute of limitations.
The bill:
- Allows sexual assault survivors whose cases have expired due to the statute of limitations to file a lawsuit between January 1, 2026 and December 31, 2027
- Allows survivors to file lawsuits against perpetrators as well as entities who cover up sexual assault
- Allows survivors to sue over related claims, such as sexual harassment or wrongful termination, that are linked with sexual assault
- Does not allow for lawsuits against public entities
Survivors of childhood sexual abuse have until the age of 40 to file a civil lawsuit as per California Assembly Bill 218. They can also file lawsuits past the age of 40 if it has been less than five years since they discovered that a psychological injury or illness was caused by their sexual abuse.
Common Types Of Sexual Abuse
There are many forms of sexual abuse and can consist of numerous offenses depending on what type of sexual activities that occurred without one of the involved parties’ consent. Examples of sexual abuse include:
Sexual Battery and Assault
Sexual battery and sexual assault are touching of someone’s intimate areas, without consent, and with a sexual intent. These sexual acts include when abusers force others to touch themselves or the abuser’s intimate areas, without consent, and with a sexual intent. Other examples of actions of a sexual nature which constitute sexual battery and assault include unwanted rubbing, groping and kissing.
Rape
Rape is sexual intercourse without consent and often involves penetration. Depending on the severity of the incident, rape can be committed through acts of violence, threats, and situations where victims aren’t able to consent to intercourse. For example, those under the influence of alcohol or drugs aren’t able to give consent to intercourse.
Child Molestation
Child molestation consists of sexual intercourse and actions of sexual nature involving children under 14 years old. Child sexual abuse victims may be survivors of child prostitution, child pornography or sexual contact in detention centers. Our firm handles child sexual abuse cases and is available to provide confidential help should you need it.
Sexual Harassment
Sexual harassment is referred to as unwanted comments or advances of a sexual nature. If someone solicits sexual activity by coercing someone, this, too, can be sexual harassment. Many sex crime victims aren’t aware of their legal options in addressing sexual harassment. Due to the nature of sexual harassment, it can sometimes be difficult to prove which is why if there are multiple victims of sexual harassment, coming forward to tell the truth can help hold perpetrators accountable for their actions.
In-Flight Sexual Assault
Our firm has been on the forefront of pursuing justice for those who have been sexually assaulted on airplanes. We help survivors hold airline companies responsible for their negligence when sexual assaults happen because airline companies don’t do enough to protect passengers or don’t report assaults. Our in-flight sexual assault lawyers represent those who have been sexually assaulted on domestic or international flights, including when tickets were purchased in foreign countries.
Online Sexual Abuse
- We represent those who have suffered sexual abuse which was enabled by online services.
- Our Backpage remission program lawyers represent those who were trafficked through Backpage and/or CityXGuide.
- Our Roblox sexual abuse lawyers represent those who were sexually abused by someone they met on Roblox.
- We’re helping victims of online grooming and abuse via Discord file Discord Lawsuits.
Sexual Abuse’s Lasting Effects
Sexual abuse is a traumatic and painful experience which can leave survivors with life-changing, long-term psychological and/or physical damage. The resulting disabilities and illnesses might lead to decades of therapy and treatment, and it’s common that standard treatment isn’t enough to provide survivors with the peace and health they need to live life normally. Sexual abuse survivors commonly suffer from impairments and mental illnesses of varying severity. These conditions include:
- Depression
- Eating disorders
- Anxiety disorders
- Post-traumatic stress disorder
- Personality disorders
- Somatic disorders
- Intimacy and relationship issues
Compensation For Sexual Abuse
Victims of sexual abuse can file a claim and recover just compensation for any injuries and trauma. For example, anyone who has been sexually assaulted can file to recover a mix of calculable and non-calculable damages like:
- Psychological and emotional harm: Sexual abuse may lead to significant psychological, mental and emotional damage to survivors, such as post-traumatic stress disorder. If you suffered these intangible damages due to sexual abuse, you could be awarded financial compensation for your suffering.
- Nominal damages: If someone threatened to sexually abuse you but never actually harmed or assaulted you, you might qualify for nominal damages intended to compensate for apprehension or fear of assault.
- Financial harm: If the sexual abuse you have suffered led to financial losses later in your life, such as lost wages due to needing to take days off from work for mental health, you may recover financial compensation for these losses by taking legal action.
- Therapy and medical expenses: Sexual assault often affects survivors for the rest of their life, and survivors might need long-term medical care or therapy to deal with long-term trauma. These damages are compensable in California.
- Punitive damages: Civil claims in California sometimes end with punitive damages being awarded in cases of malicious intent, extreme recklessness or gross negligence. You may be eligible to recover compensation in the form of punitive damages if you call our law firm and let us help you pursue a sexual abuse case.
However, sexual abuse attorneys know that obtaining money is often not their top priority. For example, those who pursue child sexual abuse cases can become sources of critical change in their communities. By filing a civil lawsuit and holding those responsible accountable for their actions, this change might end up saving others from also being abused and it might give you closure, empowerment and justice that you deserve.
What Should I Do If I Was Sexually Abused?
The steps you should take after experiencing sexual abuse depends upon the circumstances of your abuse. Regardless of what happened, preserving your well-being and safety should be your top priority. If you are in immediate danger, call 911. When you are safe, consider seeking medical care, preserving evidence, contacting a trusted person, and speaking with an attorney about your civil legal options.
Calling the police is important because when first responders arrive, they can help preserve evidence and document the incident, which is crucial when you file a claim against them. After all reports are made and you have seen a medical professional for any injuries, it’s important that you take the time to mentally process any trauma. Talk to those you trust and seek help from professionals especially those who are trained in dealing with sexual trauma if you can. You should have a safe space to learn how to process any trauma so you can reduce any negative impact on your mental health.
Additionally, it is imperative to consider your legal options if you haven’t yet contacted a lawyer. Many survivors know they wish to take legal action, however, it isn’t clear what to do for some sexual assault victims. Speaking with one of our lawyers may assist in providing you with clarity and giving you a sense of empowerment.
Nadrich Accident Injury Lawyers is Here to Help
If you or a loved one is a victim of sexual abuse, it is imperative to hire an experienced sexual abuse lawyer to represent you and your interests in order to get justice. Nadrich Accident Injury Lawyers is a personal injury law firm that has a commitment to seeking justice on behalf of sexual abuse survivors, as well as holding institutions responsible for concealing or enabling sexual abuse. Since 1990, our law firm has handled a variety of sexual abuse cases from religious institutions to prisons and schools.
We have recovered over $750,000,000 of financial compensation for our clients and we will continue to do our best to represent their best interests and hold those responsible accountable for their actions. No matter what kind of case you have, our experienced team of attorneys handle every case with the utmost care and respect, ensuring that your voice is heard.
We operate on a contingency fee basis, meaning you do not pay anything until you win. Call us today at (800) 718-4658 or fill out our easy online contact form for a free, confidential consultation.
Past results do not guarantee future outcomes. Each case is unique and results depend on its specific facts.
Frequently Asked Questions About Sexual Abuse
What’s the Difference Between Sexual Abuse and Sexual Assault?
Sexual assault refers to any non-consensual sexual contact or behavior such as unwanted touching and rape. Sexual abuse, on the other hand, is a broader term that encompasses various acts of sexual misconduct especially for anything that involves vulnerable groups of people like children, elderly individuals, or people with disabilities.
What Proof Is Needed in a Sexual Assault Case?
To prove sexual assault, there needs to be a variety of evidence from text messages, emails, and medical records to photographs, witness statements, and even biological evidence. However, every sexual assault case is different and the amount of needed evidence will vary, but more evidence is always better.
How to Prove Sexual Harassment Without Witnesses?
There are a number of ways to prove sexual harassment and it can be done without witnesses. For instance, detailed documents such as texts, emails, and reports from HR can prove sexual harassment incidents.
Does Sexual Harassment Have to Be Sexual in Nature?
Sexual harassment does not have to be explicitly sexual in nature, in fact, it encompasses a broad range of behaviors and actions based on an individual’s sex or gender. For example, verbal/written comments, derogatory statements, and displaying suggestive images/objects are all common instance of sexual harassment that is not explicitly sexual in nature.
Do the Victim and Perpetrator Have to Be Opposite Sexes?
The victim and perpetrator of a sexual abuse case does not have to be of opposite sexes. Sexual harassment, assault, and abuse can happen to anyone regardless of gender. Just because it happens between two people of the same sex does not diminish the severity of the action.
