Santa Ana Child Sexual Abuse Lawyer
Santa Ana Child Sexual Abuse Attorney
Families in Santa Ana who have been impacted by child sexual abuse are often left searching for answers. Amid the fear, panic, and uncertainty, it’s not easy to see the next steps clearly. A Santa Ana child sexual abuse attorney provides crucial legal assistance when school or faith-based organization staff or trusted adults have abused your child.
Even if no criminal charges are filed, you can still file a civil claim. Survivors and their families deserve protection, financial compensation, and answers.
The right attorney can advocate for your child’s rights, make you aware of your legal options, and provide guidance with compassion and clarity. At Easton & Easton, we work with Santa Ana families to hold abusers accountable and take meaningful steps toward healing and justice.
Why Hire a Child Sexual Abuse Lawyer From Easton & Easton?
At Easton & Easton, our personal injury attorneys in Santa Ana have decades of experience representing families and holding those who have sexually abused children accountable. These cases are complex and emotionally challenging, but our team is committed to providing consistent guidance, discretion, and vigorous advocacy.
Recognized by Super Lawyers, Best Lawyers, and Top 100 Trial Lawyers, we combine compassion with trial strength in every case we handle. Whether the abuse occurred in a foster care facility, public school, or community program, we can conduct a thorough investigation and fight to recover the maximum financial compensation available under California law.
California had 382,145 child abuse & neglect referrals in 2022. Statewide, 50,869 victims of child abuse and neglect were substantiated, which is almost six per 1,000 children. California had 74 total victims of sex trafficking in 2022. We are committed to protecting your child’s future and helping your family regain control and find peace.
How Child Sexual Abuse Cases Are Investigated in Civil Court
For civil child sexual abuse cases, your attorney conducts the investigation instead of police officers. Your attorney can review medical and psychological records, gather school or institutional records, interview witnesses, and collaborate with trauma or abuse pattern experts.
They can piece together a timeline and gather evidence of both the abuse and any enabling behavior by institutions. A thorough investigation in Santa Ana is essential to present the strongest case possible while safeguarding your child’s emotional well-being.
Civil child sexual abuse claims filed in Santa Ana are typically handled at the Orange County Superior Court: Central Justice Center, located at 700 Civic Center Drive West, Santa Ana, CA 92701.
When Schools, Churches, and Agencies Fail to Protect Children
Schools, churches, and youth programs in Santa Ana can be held legally accountable when they fail to protect children from sexual abuse. When staff members turned a blind eye to warning signs, failed to report suspected abuse, or didn’t provide adequate supervision or training, they may be liable. A legal obligation exists for these institutions to protect individuals, which, upon violation, enables survivors to pursue civil action for justice.
Holding organizations accountable not only helps prevent future harm but also paves the way for much-needed change.
Legal Protections for Child Victims During the Claim Process
Child victims are afforded special protection in California courts due to their vulnerable nature. Additional privacy protection measures can be requested from the Santa Ana civil attorney representing you. Protections include using a child’s initials in place of their name, sealing records, and closed hearings.
Additional measures can also be sought by your attorney. The intent is to prevent retraumatization while allowing their voice to be heard. The legal system provides safety and dignity to survivors to move forward with their cases.
Why Time Matters in Filing a Child Sexual Abuse Claim
Under California law, survivors can file civil claims up to age 40, or within five years of discovering the continuing effects of the abuse. Survivors gain substantial advantages from filing their case without unnecessary delay.
In addition to evidence becoming lost or destroyed over time, the earlier a case is filed, the more likely it is that you locate meaningful evidence, secure the testimony of helpful witnesses, and determine which institutions were involved.
Waiting to file in Santa Ana can also mean losing opportunities to receive compensation or missing available records. For this reason, even given the extended filing deadline, many survivors still experience better results by filing a case sooner. It’s vital that you take steps to hire a child sexual abuse lawyer as soon as you can.
FAQs
Q: Who Can Be Sued in a Child Sexual Abuse Case?
A: In a Santa Ana child sexual abuse case, in addition to suing the individual who committed the abuse, you can also sue any person or entity that facilitated the abuse. This can include schools, religious institutions, daycare facilities, foster care agencies, or any other organization or individual that did not report the abuse or protect the child. Civil claims are about holding all parties responsible, both legally and financially.
Q: Will My Child’s Identity Be Protected in Court During a Child Sexual Abuse Claim?
A: Yes, your child’s identity can be protected during a civil claim. The California rules of civil procedure already allow for anonymity by initials, sealing filings, and protective orders. In Santa Ana cases, your attorney can make a motion for additional confidentiality protections to further limit your family’s information in public records or at court proceedings.
These protections are important to reduce retraumatization and to ensure families are able to hold offenders accountable and protect their privacy and emotional safety.
Q: What Damages Can Be Recovered in a Civil Sexual Abuse Claim?
A: A civil child sexual abuse claim can provide damages to the victim or family in the form of therapy, counseling, medical, and treatment-related expenses. Civil suits can also provide non-economic damages for pain and suffering, mental anguish, and loss of education, as well as a lower quality of life. Punitive damages may be awarded in the most egregious cases to punish the individual(s) and/or the institution(s) involved.
Q: What If Criminal Charges Were Never Filed or Dismissed for Child Sexual Abuse?
A: Even if criminal charges were never filed or were dismissed, you can still file a civil claim for child sexual abuse. Civil cases are separate from the criminal justice system, and the burden of proof is lower. In Santa Ana, this means you can seek compensation and accountability in civil court, even if prosecutors chose not to pursue the case. A civil claim helps your family heal while providing justice and closure instead of punishment.
Contact a Santa Ana Child Sexual Abuse Lawyer
If your child has experienced sexual abuse in Santa Ana, you don’t have to face this alone. Easton & Easton provides compassionate, experienced legal support to help your family pursue justice and healing. Contact us today for a confidential consultation and take the first step toward accountability and recovery.
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The superior client service Easton & Easton provides has earned the firm an A+ rating from the Better Business Bureau.
Easton & Easton is honored to have been chosen anew each year since 2014 by U.S. News & World Report and Best Lawyers as one of the "Best Law Firms" for the Southern California Metro Area.
Easton & Easton is honored to have been chosen by the LA Times Reader's Choice Poll as "The Best Personal Injury Law Firm in Orange County" for 2018.
Doug and Brian Easton have been selected as Top 100 Trial Lawyers for California each year since 2014 — honors given to less than 1% of attorneys.
Doug and Matt Easton have each been chosen as one of The Best Lawyers in America for Plaintiff's Personal Injury Litigation. Best Lawyers lists attorneys who have earned selection through exemplary legal work that attracts the notice of their colleagues. Lawyers cannot buy their way onto this list.
Brian and Matt Easton were recently honored for their efforts in securing a $1,850,000 verdict for a client in 2016, which was selected as one of the Top 50 Personal Injury Verdicts in California by TopVerdict.com.
Doug and Brian have each been selected by Super Lawyers, an honor given to less than 5% of attorneys. Matt Easton has been selected among Super Lawyers' Up-and-Coming Top 25 in Orange County and Top 100 in Southern California, an honor given to less than 1% of attorneys under 40 years old.
Easton & Easton is honored to have been chosen as one of the "10 Best Personal Injury Law Firms” in all of Southern California" each year Since 2015 based on client satisfaction — one of the highest honors we could ever hope to achieve.
Easton & Easton received the “People Love Us On Yelp” award in 2016 due to the exceptional client satisfaction reviews given by our clients over the years.
Doug and Matt Easton have each been featured as Premier 100 Trial Attorneys for California since 2015 — honors given to less than 1% of attorneys.
Brian and Matt Easton have each earned lifetime appointment to the Multi-Million Dollar Advocates Forum — The Top Trial Lawyers in AmericaTM through the results achieved for their clients. This is an honor given to less than 1% of attorneys in the United States.
Doug Easton has held the “AV Preeminent” Rating for over 30 years and Matt Easton received this prestigious distinction in 2015. The "AV Preeminent" rating is the highest possible rating for both legal ability and ethical standards, and is based on the legal profession’s oldest peer review rating system, dating back to 1887.
Doug, Brian, and Matt Easton have all been chosen as one of the "10 Best" Personal Injury Attorneys in Southern California each year since 2015 based on client satisfaction, an honor given to less than 1% of personal injury attorneys - and Easton & Easton houses three of them.
Brian Easton was selected to the American Board of Trial Advocates (ABOTA) in 2015. ABOTA is one of the most premier associations of trial attorneys and judges, requiring a certain number of jury trials as lead counsel and approval by a majority vote of the ABOTA board.
Matt Easton has been selected each year since 2014 as one of the Top 40 Trial Lawyers Under 40 for California by The National Trial Lawyers — an honor given to less than 1% of attorneys.
Doug and Matt Easton have each been chosen as one of The Best Lawyers in America for Plaintiff's Personal Injury Litigation. Best Lawyers lists attorneys who have earned selection through exemplary legal work that attracts the notice of their colleagues. Lawyers cannot buy their way onto this list.
Both Doug and Matt Easton have been selected as Top Personal Injury Attorneys by Avvo with scores of 10 out of 10 based on their skill, experience, results, peer evaluations, and client reviews.
Matt Easton has been selected as one of the Top 10 Personal Injury Attorneys Under 40 in California for 2015 by the National Association of Personal Injury Attorneys — an honor given to less than 1% of personal injury attorneys under the age of 40.
Doug, Brian, and Matt Easton have all been selected by the National Association of Distinguished Counsel among the Nation's Top One Percent of Attorneys each year since 2017.
“We look for the human story behind every injury or wrongful death. We prepare our cases for trial; reaching out to the jury with the most compelling evidence possible for the best verdict possible. Insurance companies know this and come to the table prepared to negotiate in good faith. Call us to see how we can turn your story into fair compensation.”
Partner W. Douglas Easton
What Our Clients Say
Coming out of my first auto accident as an adult, a very difficult and scary time to navigate and understand, I was so incredibly thankful to have been put in contact with Easton & Easton. I honestly was lost with how to handle paperwork, doctors, medical costs and what next steps were, and from the moment I spoke with Travis Easton and my case manager Katie, my mind was put at ease. They have made the entire process stress free for me as I recovered, and I am so grateful for them and their genuine care for my case. Communication from the start has been fantastic, especially making clear what my expectations for the entire process would look like, and I truly believe they have my best interest at heart. 100% I would recommend their firm for anyone that is needing representation! Read more…
My experience with Easton & Easton has been amazing! Gabriel Mendoza and my case manager Katie have been so helpful and taken so much stress off my plate. They’ve been super informative and honest and given me very clear expectations. They’ve taken such a terrible experience (my accident) and eased my mind about the outcome. I can’t thank them enough!! Read more…
Ive used them twice and never been disappointed. Read more…
The Easton & Easton Law Firm is amazing! The entire team is very helpful and caring. They were always there to answer all my questions. They directed me through the entire process and stayed with me every step of the way. This team is outstanding and were wonderful to work with. Because of the tremendous effort they put on my case they were able to win my difficult personal injury case. I couldn’t have asked for a better law firm to handle my case. They are the Best! Thank you for your patience, professionalism, & guidance! I definitely recommend this firm to handle your case. They go out of their way to fight for your rights. THANK YOU… Read more…
I could not be more pleased with the services provided by the Law Offices of W. Douglas Easton. The senior partner Mr. Easton took the time to meet with me and my wife while I was still in the hospital, where he gave my family hope that there was light at the end of a very long, and very dark tunnel. Matt Easton then worked my case, and because of his dedication, experience and expertise I received a settlement that was larger than I EVER thought possible. It was truly astounding! Matt and the entire team at Easton & Easton looked out for me throughout my recovery, and in the end they gave me my life back. Five stars is not enough. Thanks Matt! Thanks Easton & Easton! Read more…
Brian and everyone at Easton and Easton are simply the BEST at what they do. Brian is thorough, easy to talk to, and truly cares about his clients. If you want a family of attorneys with perseverance and determination to fight for you, give Easton and Easton a call. I am glad I did. Read more…
What an amazing law firm, talk about going above and beyond to make such a painful experience go so well. I have referred a co-worker and a family member to them as well and everyone had such a great experience as I had. Read more…
I can’t say enough amazing things about my experience with Travis Easton at Easton & Easton. Travis and his entire team (Katie, Amy, Dee, Michelle, & Araceli) are phenomenal. It provided me a lot of comfort to know I was being so well taken care of. I was especially impressed that every document for the case was perfectly written and specific to me. Nothing was generic, which shows the level of care and attention they put into each individual case. I had such a great experience and would highly recommend Travis Easton and his firm to anyone going through a personal injury. Travis took a bad situation and made the best of it for me. Thank you again, I’m forever grateful!!
-Allee
Retaining Easton and Easton was one of the best decisions I’ve ever made! From the initial consultation to our final meeting, they were nothing short of exceptional. I was forced to retain their services after firing my previous attorney for not handling the case properly. I dealt with Gabriel and Brian (partner) exclusively throughout the case. They did as promised and were great communicators throughout the entire process. I will recommend them to anyone I know going through a personal injury case. They were ultimately able to untangle the mess caused by my previous lawyer and get a result that I was extremely happy with. Their staff is exceptional as well and provided top notch customer service. Amera was also extremely helpful and easy to deal with as well.
I was in a pretty bad car accident and decided to have Easton & Easton represent me, Travis Easton to be specific. Travis Easton and his paralegal made the whole process effortless. They were so understanding and helpful! The entire thing was a gigantic mess, yet Travis managed to make it run like clockwork. I would HIGHLY recommend Easton & Easton! If you are ever in need of a personal defense attorney Easton & Easton is the firm to represent you!
They are the best law firm in Orange County period. Choosing them to represent me was the best decision of my life.
My life changed in a matter of seconds after a catastrophic spinal cord injury that left me disabled. Brian Easton and his team worked on my case non stop for 3 years and provided me the justice I deserved. I couldn’t have been more content.
I was treated with utmost respect and I felt like I was being represented by a close family member. The responses to my questions were quick and clear. What E & E has done for me is phenomenal.
My sincere thanks to Brian, Matt, Travis, Doug, Gabriel and Amera. They are what they are because of their dedication to provide high quality and professional service to their clients.
Brian Easton and his team, Gabe Mendoza and Amera Hajali, helped me during a very difficult time in my life. I had a significant injury from a car accident, and wound up seeking out Easton & Easton when I was having difficulties getting help from my doctors. The Easton team took a lot of stress off of me while acting as my advocates to help me get the care I needed, and saw my case all the way through to a healthy settlement.
They are the BEST!
I have nothing but good things to say about Easton and Easton. Brian handled my case professionally and communicated with me effectively throughout the process. He made sure that the process was effortless and as hands free as possible. This was super important for my busy schedule. I highly recommend Easton and Easton if you are ever found in a situation that you need an attorney.
I would highly recommend Easton & Easton.
I was rear ended on my home and pushed into a semi-truck. I was not sure how to go about even using an attorney.
Brian, Gab and Amera were so good about helping me thru the process and representing me.
I was able to concentrate on getting myself better knowing they had my back, taking care of the details and keeping me informed along the way
The best Law firm by far. I would highly recommend Easton & Easton, LLP and ask for Gabriel Mendoza and staff. He and his colleagues did and exceptional service. Thank you for everything. Job well done!
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