Costa Mesa Child Sexual Abuse Lawyer
Costa Mesa Child Sexual Abuse Attorney
A Costa Mesa child sexual abuse lawyer can help your family get the legal support it needs after such a horrific breach of trust. Child sexual abuse can occur in schools, youth programs, places of worship, private homes, or any other setting. Filing a civil claim can help hold offenders accountable, protect other kids from abuse, and recover monetary damages.
At Easton & Easton, we represent Costa Mesa families seeking to hold others responsible through compassionate, trauma-informed legal advocacy. Even when a criminal case is not pursued, a civil claim can help bring the truth to light and give victims a sense of closure.
We work with discretion and care to help guide you through the legal process with compassion and strength. Your child is entitled to safety, healing, and a voice, and we can help you make that happen.
Why Hire Easton & Easton for a Child Sexual Abuse Case?
Sexual abuse of children is one of the most serious, delicate, and important cases a family will ever face. The attorneys at Easton & Easton offer Costa Mesa families a trauma-informed and compassionate approach, backed by over 100 years of combined legal experience. Our lawyers are nationally recognized for their excellence in personal injury and abuse cases, having secured hundreds of millions of dollars in compensation for their clients.
We know how painful it can be to acknowledge abuse by someone a child learns from or trusts, whether it’s at a church, daycare, or neighborhood school. That’s why we treat every case with discretion, compassion, and dogged advocacy. Your child’s safety, recovery, and future are our top priorities.
If you’re seeking justice in Costa Mesa, our team is prepared to fight for accountability and your family’s rights. The decision to hire a child sexual abuse lawyer from our firm can mean the difference between justice and a failed claim.
What to Expect When Filing a Civil Child Sexual Abuse Claim
Filing a civil child sexual abuse claim in California can be an empowering step toward justice. The process usually begins with a confidential consultation, where your attorney can listen to your story and assess whether legal grounds exist. An investigation follows, where evidence like records, reports, and witness testimony is gathered. The case is then filed in court, and both parties enter a discovery phase, which can include sharing documents or depositions.
Many cases are settled out of court, but some go to trial. Privacy measures, such as sealed filings or pseudonyms, can help protect your child’s identity. In Costa Mesa, a trauma-informed attorney can guide you through each step with sensitivity and discretion.
Understanding Damages in a Child Sexual Abuse Claim
In a child sexual abuse civil claim, monetary damages can never undo what happened, but they can help your child survivor heal and put their life back together. In California, families can recover damages for therapy and counseling, medical bills, and the long-term psychological effects of sexual abuse. These non-economic damages include pain and suffering, emotional distress, loss of enjoyment of life, and educational challenges related to trauma.
In some Costa Mesa cases, punitive damages may also be available to punish the defendant for his or her conduct and deter future misconduct by the abuser or the institution whose negligence enabled the abuse.
How Legal Action Can Help Prevent Future Abuse
Bringing a civil child sexual abuse lawsuit does more than seek compensation; it can also protect other children by exposing failures and demanding change. In Costa Mesa, legal action can shine a light on unsafe policies, negligent supervision, or cover-ups by trusted institutions like schools, churches, or youth organizations. These claims often lead to stronger reporting protocols, mandatory training, and improved background checks.
When survivors speak out and take legal steps, it sends a powerful message: that child safety must come first, and silence or inaction will not be tolerated. By holding individuals and institutions accountable, your case can create meaningful change that helps prevent future abuse.
California had 382,145 referrals for suspected child abuse and neglect in 2022. There were 50,869 substantiated victims of child abuse and neglect, which is close to six victims for every 1,000 children. California reported 74 total child victims of sex trafficking in 2022.
Civil child sexual abuse claims for incidents occurring in Costa Mesa are typically filed at the Orange County Superior Court (Costa Mesa Justice Complex), located at 3390 Harbor Blvd., Costa Mesa, CA 92626.
FAQs
Q: What Should I Do If I Suspect My Child Was Sexually Abused?
A: If you believe your child was a victim of sexual abuse, get medical and psychological assistance right away. Then, report the incident to the local authorities or child protective services. After you have ensured your child’s safety, contact a Costa Mesa child sexual abuse lawyer and discuss your legal options. Timely action can help preserve evidence, protect your child’s rights, and hold the abuser and negligent institutions accountable through civil action.
Q: How Long Do I Have to File a Child Sexual Abuse Claim in California?
A: California law generally allows you until the survivor’s 40th birthday, or five years after the discovery of the long-term effects of the abuse, to file a civil claim. This statute of limitations allows survivors and their families time to recover from trauma and seek justice. A Costa Mesa personal injury attorney can explain how the statute of limitations applies to your case and make sure your claim is filed on time.
Q: Can an Organization Be Sued for Failing to Prevent Child Sexual Abuse?
A: Yes, your organization, school, church, daycare center, or youth program in Costa Mesa can be sued for abuse. Such entities have a legal responsibility to children. If they were aware of warning signs, lacked adequate supervision, or failed to take complaints seriously, they could be named in a civil claim for allowing the abuse to happen or take place under their watch.
Q: Will My Family Have to Go to Trial for a Child Sexual Abuse Case?
A: Not every child sexual abuse case goes to trial. In Costa Mesa, many civil claims are settled through confidential payments without ever requiring testimony in court. However, if the defendant has denied responsibility or failed to make a fair offer, a trial will be necessary. Your lawyer can work to resolve your case in a manner that minimizes further trauma while still holding the defendant accountable and fully compensating your child for the harm done.
Hire a Child Sexual Abuse Lawyer
If your child has been harmed by abuse in Costa Mesa, legal action can be a powerful step toward justice and healing. Easton & Easton is here to guide your family with compassion and strength. Contact us today for a confidential consultation and let us help protect your child’s future.
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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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