Nadrich Accident Injury Lawyers is filing Polinsky Children’s Center lawsuits on behalf of those who have suffered abuse or child sexual abuse at Polinsky Children’s Center in San Diego, CA.
San Diego County has faced hundreds of lawsuits alleging systemic failures and abuse at the Polinsky Children’s Center.
The lawsuits against San Diego County depict a pattern of neglect and cover-ups that allowed abuse to persist at the Polinsky Children’s Center for decades.
Numerous instances of abuse were reportedly brought to the attention of supervisors at Polinsky but were not properly addressed, indicating an institutional failure to protect children.
Over 100 children were sexually assaulted by staff at the A.B. and Jessie Polinsky Children’s Center between 1994 and 2020.
Survivors have alleged that sexual abuse, grooming, drugging and intimidation by staff have occurred at the children’s center.
Many of the victims were under the age of 10 at the time of the alleged abuse.
The Polinsky Children’s Center was intended to be a refuge for children needing safety, but allegations suggest it became a site of further trauma for many.
Children placed at Polinsky were often already vulnerable due to family instability or trauma, yet they faced further harm within the system meant to protect them.
Survivors brave enough to come forward can recover justice and financial compensation for their damages through civil sex abuse lawsuits, which may include compensation for pain and suffering and medical treatment.
Who Can File a Polinsky Children’s Center Lawsuit?
Victims of abuse at the Polinsky Children’s Center may have grounds for filing claims against the county for negligence and failure to protect.
Any survivors of sexual abuse, exploitation or assault by staff members may qualify to file a lawsuit, including adults who were abused while residing at Polinsky as minors.
You may still qualify even if the abuse occurred decades ago due to recent changes in California law.
You do not need to have filed a report at the time of the abuse to qualify to file a lawsuit.
We are committed to making sure survivors are given a voice by the legal system.
We tirelessly work to make sure victims recover justice and hold entities accountable for enabling their suffering.
Call our compassionate, empathetic, trauma-informed sexual abuse lawyers today for a FREE, confidential case evaluation at (800) 718-4658 or contact us if you or a loved one suffered abuse at Polinsky Children’s Center in San Diego, CA.
Table of Contents
- What Is the Polinsky Children’s Center in San Diego?
- Polinsky Lawsuits
- Who Can Be Held Liable in a Polinsky Center Lawsuit?
- What Compensation May Be Available to Survivors?
- Evidence Used in Polinsky Children’s Center Abuse Lawsuits
- Is There a Polinsky Class Action Lawsuit?
- How Long Do I Have to File a Polinsky Center Sex Abuse Lawsuit?
- When to Contact a Sexual Abuse Attorney
What Is the Polinsky Children’s Center in San Diego?
The Polinsky Children’s Center is a temporary emergency shelter for children removed from unsafe homes.
The Polinsky Children’s Center is operated through the Health and Human Services Agency in San Diego.
It is designed to provide temporary protection and stabilization for children seeking refuge.
Children are placed there during investigations of abuse or neglect.
However, lawsuits allege that this very place meant to protect children became a site of harm for them.
Polinsky Lawsuits
Over 150 lawsuits have been filed against the County of San Diego regarding the Polinsky Children’s Center, with over 50 new lawsuits filed in 2025 by former residents.
Lawsuits against the Polinsky Children’s Center allege systemic failures in protecting children from abuse.
The lawsuits against the A.B. and Jessie Polinsky Children’s Center include allegations of widespread sexual abuse, intimidation, forced medication, and systemic negligence.
The complaints allege that the County of San Diego failed to conduct adequate employee background checks at the Polinsky Children’s Center.
The lawsuits filed against the Polinsky Children’s Center also include claims of negligence and violations of the Bane Act.
State investigators have confirmed multiple violations at the A.B. and Jessie Polinsky Children’s Center, including cases of children being struck by adults and inadequate supervision.
The complaints allege that victims were threatened to prevent them from reporting the abuse.
Who Can Be Held Liable in a Polinsky Center Lawsuit?
Parties who can be held liable in civil complaints involving the Polinsky Center include:
- San Diego County
- County departments responsible for oversight of child welfare
- Supervisors who ignored complaints or warning signs of abuse
- Individual staff members who abused children
Legal theories in lawsuits involving the Polinsky Center may include:
- Negligent hiring
- Negligent supervision
- Failure to protect children in custody
- Civil rights violations
Government entities have a legal duty to safeguard children placed in their care. Government entities who fail to uphold this duty can be held liable for the consequences of their failures when such heinous acts like vulnerable children being sexually abused occur as a result.
What Compensation May Be Available to Survivors?
Unfortunately, the trauma endured by survivors of sexual abuse cannot be undone by financial compensation.
However, victims can recover compensation which can not only restore their power but also punish abusers and their enablers.
Our experienced childhood sexual abuse lawyers have, for over 30 years, been successfully helping survivors of abuse recover compensation for:
Pain and Suffering
Sexual abuse can lead to physical pain. The emotional and psychological suffering caused by the abuse, though, can dwarf the physical pain.
Our experienced sexual abuse attorneys help survivors recover compensation for:
- Physical pain
- Lost quality of life
- Emotional distress
- Dealing with abuse via substance abuse
- Anxiety
- Depression
- Problems sleeping
- Traumatic memories
Trauma is dealt with differently by every survivor. We’ll work with you, mental health professionals and experts to identify every form of pain and suffering that we can recover financial compensation for in order to maximize your compensation and put you in the best position possible to heal and move forward with your life.
Psychological Treatment
Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) can be caused by sexual abuse, according to the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists.
Our team will help you recover complete compensation for treatments of all psychological symptoms like PTSD, including compensation for the costs of counseling and medications.
Medical Expenses
Your abuse may have necessitated emergency medical care, and you could still be receiving medical care for injuries suffered during your abuse.
Our team will ensure you get compensated for every medical cost stemming from your abuse. This includes future and past medical expenses.
Professional Harm
Abuse has psychological and emotional effects on survivors which can make it hard for them to work. It can lead to survivors:
- Losing salary or wages
- Losing jobs
- Missing out on bonuses and retirement contributions
- Losing their earning power
We will fight to recover compensation for every professional loss so you can move forward with your life in the right direction.
Punitive Damages
Our team can help you recover punitive damages intended to punish defendants for allowing and covering up abuse at the Polinsky Center.
These punitive damages can not only maximize your compensation, but they can also prevent future abuse by sending a strong message that the enabling and covering up of abuse will be punished harshly by the civil court system.
Evidence Used in Polinsky Children’s Center Abuse Lawsuits
Evidence which can help your case includes:
- Documentation of residency at the Polinsky Center
- Internal staffing records
- Prior complaints against staff members
- Testimony from other survivors
- Medical or psychological treatment records
- County investigation files
- Evidence of patterns of misconduct
Our legal team can help you gather all of this evidence and will use it to build a strong, convincing case on your behalf.
Is There a Polinsky Class Action Lawsuit?
No. Survivors have, instead, filed over 150 individual lawsuits over the abuse allegations regarding the Polinsky Children’s Center.
Our law firm is filing individual lawsuits on behalf of survivors instead of filing a class action lawsuit because we believe we can recover far more compensation for survivors through individual lawsuits than we could through a class action lawsuit.
Call us today for a FREE, confidential consultation to discuss why filing an individual lawsuit instead of a class action lawsuit may be right for you.
How Long Do I Have to File a Polinsky Center Sex Abuse Lawsuit?
There may be a time limit to file your lawsuit due to California’s statute of limitations for sexual abuse claims.
Victims of child sexual abuse which occurred on or after January 1, 2024 have no time limit to file civil lawsuits over the abuse.
Victims of child sexual abuse which occurred prior to January 1, 2024 have until the age of 40, or within five years of discovering psychological harm resulting from the abuse, to file a civil lawsuit.
This new time limit is the result of the Child Victims Act.
Child Victims Act
California has recognized that the statute of limitations can act as a barrier to justice for sexual abuse survivors, leading to the passage of the Child Victims Act. The law expanded the time victims have to file claims, allowing lawsuits up to age 40 or within five years of discovering harm caused by the abuse. It also created a three-year lookback window that allowed victims of any age to bring previously time-barred claims through the end of 2022.
When to Contact a Sexual Abuse Attorney
Those who have suffered abuse at the Polinsky Children’s Center should call us today for a FREE, confidential consultation. You deserve justice and to not only be heard, but believed as well.
Victims of sexual abuse at the San Diego Polinsky Center retain the right to seek justice and financial compensation through the legal system.
Survivors of sexual abuse may have grounds for filing claims against the county for negligence and failure to protect.
It is essential for survivors to seek legal representation promptly to understand their rights and options.
Speaking out about sexual abuse can bring hidden crimes to light and prevent further harm to other children.
Why Abuse Survivors Trust Nadrich Accident Injury Lawyers
- We have been handling cases involving sexual abuse since 1990.
- Our team provides 24/7 availability, reliable communication, frequent case updates and responsive service.
- We are contingency fee lawyers who provide free consultations, meaning we don’t charge a fee until we win the case, we don’t charge upfront or out-of-pocket fees, and our only fee is a percentage of any recovery obtained.
- Our team isn’t afraid to go to trial, meaning we’re not like many firms who like to quickly settle for less than the true values of their clients’ cases.
We handle sexual abuse cases with resolve, experience and compassion.
We know that it isn’t easy to step forward. That is why we are here to help you navigate the legal process – respectfully, confidentially, and only on your terms.
Call us today for a FREE, confidential consultation at (800) 718-4658 or contact us.
