Los Angeles School Sexual Abuse Lawyer
Los Angeles School Sexual Abuse Attorney
Public and private schools in Los Angeles provide important spaces for students to prepare for careers and higher education. It is an unfortunate reality that these same schools can also be used by sexual predators to target vulnerable youths. If you were a victim of sexual abuse and have reached adulthood or are a parent of a sexual assault victim, you can rely on a Los Angeles school sexual abuse lawyer to secure accountability and justice through the civil court system.
A Law Firm Dedicated to Providing Compassionate Support for Survivors
Coming forward to tell your story and hold your abuser accountable takes considerable courage. At Easton & Easton, we stand with survivors of sexual abuse by offering trusted legal guidance and unwavering support. Our mission is to help you seek justice, reclaim your voice, and move forward with strength and dignity.
In the past five years alone, we have recovered over $100 million for our clients. Whether you are ready to hold your abuser accountable or just have questions about how the process works, we encourage you to meet with one of our lawyers for a confidential meeting where we can explain your options and begin listening to your story.
Understanding School Sexual Abuse in Los Angeles
School-related sexual abuse remains a persistent and deeply troubling problem in Los Angeles County. During the 2023-2024 academic year, the Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD) enrolled over 408,083 students.
While no large school district is immune to misconduct by employees, LAUSD has been hit with costly litigation in recent years as survivors come forward to name past abusers who worked for the sprawling district.
In early 2024, LAUSD reached a $3.55 million settlement with two additional victims of Mark Berndt, a former Miramonte Elementary School teacher convicted in 2013 for multiple counts of lewd conduct upon a child.
This case is not isolated. Over 5,000 adults have reported being abused as children in Los Angeles County’s foster homes, shelters, and probation-run facilities. In 2023, California recorded 8,135 cases of child sexual abuse. With 20.2% of the county’s population under the age of 18, protecting minors from abuse remains a critical priority for the community and legal system.
What Can Justice Look Like Following a Sexual Assault Claim?
If you were sexually abused as a child in Los Angeles County, you may be eligible to file a civil claim up to 22 years after you turn 18. California law allows survivors to take legal action well into adulthood, especially if the abuse occurred in settings like group homes, public schools, or juvenile facilities in areas such as East L.A., Compton, or Pasadena.
Under recent extensions to the statute of limitations, many survivors now have until age 40 to file, or even later if they only recently connected the abuse to psychological harm. Survivors may also qualify for a longer filing window if the institution involved tried to cover up the abuse.
In some cases, courts allow claims beyond the standard deadline when new evidence comes to light. These civil claims are separate from any criminal charges and focus on securing justice for the harm you endured.
Why Legal Representation Is Crucial for Success
Justice after a sexual assault can take many forms. For some survivors in Los Angeles, it means holding their abuser personally accountable in a civil courtroom, particularly if the assault occurred in an institution like a public school, foster home, or shelter.
Others seek compensation to cover therapy, relocation costs, and long-term psychological care. Civil claims can also expose systemic negligence, such as LAUSD’s handling of past abuse scandals, and push institutions to reform.
A successful court claim can lead to the awarding of punitive damages that further punish abusers for their actions. Even in cases where the abuser does not face serious criminal charges, the civil courts offer a powerful tool for holding them accountable and ensuring that they face consequences for the harm they caused.
The Critical Role of Legal Representation for Holding Abusers Accountable
Pursuing a civil claim for sexual assault in Los Angeles requires strong legal representation. A knowledgeable attorney can investigate institutional failures, such as abuse that happened in L.A. County foster care, shelters, or schools, and identify all parties responsible. In some cases, third parties may share liability if they fail to screen employees or enable abuse.
Evidence collection, court filings, and witness coordination are all handled with care and discretion. Whether your case is heard in the Stanley Mosk Courthouse downtown or another division of L.A. Superior Court, your lawyer ensures your story is presented clearly and your rights are protected. Legal support allows survivors to focus on healing while attorneys take on the work of seeking real accountability.
FAQs
How Long Do You Have to Report School Sexual Abuse in California?
California law allows survivors of childhood sexual abuse to report the abuse until age 40 or within five years of discovering emotional harm. This includes abuse by teachers, coaches, or school staff. Civil claims can also be filed against school districts that failed to protect students. Some deadlines vary, so early legal guidance helps preserve your right to take action.
Can a School Be Held Liable for Failing to Prevent Sexual Abuse?
Yes. Public and private schools may be held responsible if they failed to screen staff, ignored warning signs, or failed to respond to complaints. Claims may be filed for negligent supervision, hiring, or retention. A school can also be liable if the environment allows abuse to occur without appropriate safeguards or oversight, especially if prior misconduct was known or reported.
What Counts as a Title IX Violation in a School Sexual Abuse Case?
Title IX violations may include a school failing to respond properly to reports of sexual harassment, abuse, or assault by staff or students. Schools must take steps to protect students from gender-based violence. Ignoring complaints, retaliating against reporters, or creating a hostile environment may all qualify as violations under Title IX in both K-12 and college settings.
Can You File a Civil Claim for School Abuse Without Criminal Charges?
Yes. Civil claims are separate from criminal cases and do not require a criminal conviction. Survivors may file claims to recover damages for emotional distress, medical treatment, and other harm caused by the abuse. A civil case focuses on accountability and compensation, not punishment, and can be filed even if no charges were ever brought against the abuser.
Contact Us to Pursue Justice for School Abuse
Schools have a duty to protect students. When that duty is violated through abuse or institutional failure, survivors deserve justice. If you or your child experienced sexual abuse in a Los Angeles school setting, it is important to work with attorneys who understand how to hold school systems accountable.
At Easton & Easton, we represent survivors and their families with compassion and strength. Our attorneys take time to understand your experience and fight for the full measure of justice and compensation you deserve. Contact our office today for a confidential consultation.
Your Story Is Important To Us.
CALL US SO WE CAN HEAR IT.
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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