Costa Mesa Sexual Abuse Lawyer
Costa Mesa Sexual Abuse Attorney
Sexual abuse often happens in settings that are supposed to be safe. When individuals in positions of trust abuse their power to target vulnerable individuals like youths, the emotional and physical trauma for victims can be life-altering. A Costa Mesa sexual abuse lawyer can help you hold the abuser accountable. If an institution or group failed to prevent the abuse, they can also be held financially liable for any harm they allowed or condoned.
A Law Firm Dedicated to Standing With Victims of Sexual Abuse
Survivors of sexual abuse deserve legal support rooted in compassion, discretion, and strength. At Easton & Easton, we represent individuals in Costa Mesa who have experienced abuse at the hands of authority figures, educators, caregivers, and others in positions of trust. We understand the lasting impact of abuse and offer guidance that respects your pace and privacy.
Our attorneys have decades of experience pursuing civil claims that hold perpetrators and negligent institutions accountable. Whether the abuse occurred in a school, religious organization, athletic program, or another setting, we can explain your legal options clearly and without pressure for you to take any steps until you are ready.
Understanding Sexual Abuse in Costa Mesa and Orange County
Sexual abuse remains a serious concern in Costa Mesa and throughout Orange County. Studies show that more than 30% of children who experience sexual abuse never disclose what happened to them, meaning the true impact is likely far greater than reported cases suggest.
In Costa Mesa alone, the projected cost of rape and sexual assault for 2025 is estimated at $3.56 million, averaging roughly $31 per resident. These costs include long-term expenses related to mental health treatment, lost productivity, law enforcement response, court proceedings, and incarceration of offenders. Survivors may require years of counseling and support that lead to lost workdays, disability claims, and the need for social services.
One of the most high-profile cases in Orange County involves Monsignor Michael Harris, a former administrator at both Mater Dei and Santa Margarita Catholic High Schools. Harris has been named in multiple lawsuits alleging sexual abuse.
In December 2024, the Roman Catholic Diocese of Orange County agreed to a $3.5 million settlement with a man who accused Harris of abuse dating back to 1978. This brings the total amount paid in settlements related to Harris to more than $10 million, underscoring the long-term damage and financial cost tied to institutional abuse.
Compensation You May Be Owed
Victims of sexual abuse have the right to pursue damages for the losses they suffered and the emotional toll they endured at the Central Justice Center at 700 Civic Center Drive West in Santa Ana. There may be past medical expenses or therapy costs that can be reclaimed with the help of an attorney.
Victims of sexual abuse often have a reduced earning capacity due to the trauma they suffered. This can also be accounted for in a settlement. Pain and suffering are also significant factors that can contribute to the amount you are owed.
Why Legal Representation Matters in Sexual Abuse Cases
Sexual abuse cases can be highly emotional and legally complex. An attorney can explain the civil claim process in detail so you understand what to expect. Along the way, they can inform you about the decisions you make so you understand the potential outcomes of those choices.
Lawyers can be reassuring during a difficult time. Having guided other clients through the process, they can provide assurance and support to see you through the process.
FAQs
How Long After Being Molested Can You Press Charges in California?
In California, criminal charges for childhood sexual abuse can be filed until the survivor turns 40 or within five years of discovering the emotional or psychological effects of the abuse. For adult victims, the statute of limitations is typically 10 years from the date of the offense. However, some exceptions may extend that timeline. As of 2024, there is no statute of limitations for civil lawsuits involving childhood sexual abuse.
What Are Steps Adults Can Take After Experiencing Sexual Abuse?
Adults who’ve experienced sexual abuse may choose to report the incident, seek medical care, and speak with a trauma-informed therapist. These steps can protect their physical and emotional health while helping them process the experience. Legal options may include pressing charges or filing a civil claim. Support groups and mental health resources can also help survivors feel less isolated.
Can Institutions Be Held Liable for Allowing Sexual Abuse?
Yes. Institutions like schools, churches, and youth organizations can be held legally responsible if they ignore complaints, fail to supervise staff, or allow known abusers continued access to victims. Civil claims may seek compensation for the harm caused by the abuse and the institution’s negligence. Liability often depends on what the institution knew and how it responded to warnings or signs of abuse.
What Are Groups and Institutions Supposed to Do to Prevent Abuse From Happening?
Organizations are expected to screen employees, enforce clear reporting procedures, and act quickly when abuse is suspected. Federal laws like Title IX require schools to investigate sexual misconduct claims and protect victims from retaliation. Institutions must also provide training and maintain safe environments. When they fail to take these steps, they may be held accountable in civil court for preventable abuse.
Find the Justice and Accountability You Deserve by Contacting Easton & Easton Today
Coming forward about past sexual abuse takes courage, and the civil courts provide a pathway for securing justice for the harm you suffered. The award-winning injury team at Easton & Easton is committed to supporting you every step of the way. We can begin with a confidential consultation to go over your options.
Our legal team brings over 100 years of combined experience to our clients’ service. We understand the state’s sexual abuse laws and know how to advocate for the rights of the clients we represent. Contact Easton & Easton today to schedule your consultation. We can stand with you as you seek justice and accountability for what happened.
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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 OC Register Voters as "The Best Law Firm in Orange County” each year since voting began in 2022.
Doug, Brian, and Matt Easton have all been selected as Top 100 Trial Lawyers for California by the National Trial Lawyers — a membership organization limited to less than 1% of attorneys.
Doug, Brian, Matt, Travis, Gabe and Mani have each been selected to "Best Lawyers" for Plaintiff's Personal Injury Litigation. Best Lawyers selects the Top 5% of attorneys based on peer voting and client reviews.
We were recently honored for our efforts in securing a $32,000,000 settlement for our client, which was selected as the #1 Bicycle Accident Settlement in California in 2024 by TopVerdict.com.
Doug, Brian, and Matt Easton have each been selected by Super Lawyers, an honor given to less than 5% of attorneys. Travis, Mani, Gabe and Brenda have all been selected among Super Lawyers’ Rising Stars in Southern California.
Easton & Easton was recently honored for securing a $26,000,000 settlement for our client, which was selected as a Top 10 Personal Injury Settlement in California in 2023 by TopVerdict.com.
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.
Easton & Easton was recently honored for securing a $32,000,000 settlement for our client, which was selected as one of the Top 20 Personal Injury Settlements in the entire United States in 2024 by TopVerdict.com.
Brian, Matt, and Travis Easton have each earned lifetime appointment to the Multi-Million Dollar Advocates Forum — The Top Trial Lawyers in America™ through the results achieved for their clients (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.
We were recently honored for securing a $26,000,000 settlement for our client, which was selected as a the #1 Personal Injury Settlement in Los Angeles County in 2023 by TopVerdict.com.
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, Travis, Gabe, Mani and Brenda have all been selected at some point 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.
Easton & Easton was honored for securing a $20,000,000 settlement for our client, which was selected as one of the Top 10 Personal Injury Settlements in the entire United States in 2019 by TopVerdict.com.
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.
Easton & Easton was honored to have been chosen by the LA Times Reader's Choice Poll as "The Best Personal Injury Law Firm in Orange County" for 2018-2020 (each year the voting took place).
We were recently honored for our efforts in securing a $1,850,000 verdict for a client, which was selected as one of the Top 50 Personal Injury Verdicts in California in 2016 by TopVerdict.com.
Awards/recognitions noted are from organizations recognized within the legal profession as bona fide.
No purchase was required for selection. Selection methodologies available upon request.
“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
“Client testimonials reflect individual experiences; results vary. No guarantee of outcome.”
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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