Los Angeles Youth Sports Sexual Abuse Lawyer
Los Angeles Youth Sports Sexual Abuse Attorney
Youth sports are supposed to be safe and protected activities where children and teens learn about sportsmanship and other values and skills. Tragically, some predatory coaches and assistants take advantage of these organizations and groups to abuse children. Whether you are the parent of a sexual abuse victim or a survivor who has aged into adulthood, you can rely on the services of a Los Angeles youth sports sexual abuse lawyer to hold your abuser accountable.
An L.A. coach abuse attorney can provide compassionate legal representation that can help you on your recovery journey. By pursuing justice and compensation through the courts, you can begin the process of finding closure after a tragic and unimaginably hurtful event.
A Trusted Injury Law Firm Representing Survivors of Sexual Abuse
Suffering the ultimate betrayal at a place where you thought you felt protected can leave you unsure of whom to trust and where to turn. The compassionate legal team at Easton & Easton has helped sexual abuse survivors navigate the path to justice and compensation with confidence and discretion for many years. We understand the trauma that accompanies sexual abuse, and we believe that justice can be served with the help of our experienced legal team.
Understanding Youth Sports and Abuse Statistics in Los Angeles
Youth sports remain a popular recreational activity for children and teens in Los Angeles, where 20.2% of the population is under the age of 18. But child participation remains high; there is always the troubling possibility that a sexual predator could take advantage of these settings.
As of 2020, 82.7% of youth ages 6 to 17 in Los Angeles County took part in at least one sport. Roughly one-third of youth sports participation has dropped in the past two years, with cost, time, and waning interest cited as key factors.
In 2023, California reported 8,135 cases of child sexual abuse. While not all were connected to sports, high-profile incidents have raised serious concerns. In mid-2024, a coach in nearby Orange County was convicted of sexually assaulting a 14-year-old athlete.
Can Youth Sports Organizations Be Held Financially Liable for Child Abuse
Youth sports organizations in Los Angeles can be held financially liable when they fail to protect children from abuse. Youth sports groups should take reasonable steps to protect children by screening coaches and conducting background checks on anyone who may come into contact with children.
Sports groups should prevent coaches from being alone with youths and address complaints or concerns about abuse immediately, while keeping parents informed about investigations. When youth sports groups fail to take these and other steps, children can suffer the consequences. Sexual abuse leads to physical and emotional trauma that can follow youths for years, if not decades.
Can Parents Represent Children in Civil Court?
In California, parents or legal guardians have the right to file civil claims on behalf of their minor children. This is especially common in Los Angeles County for cases involving abuse in youth sports, where the child is too young to fully participate in legal proceedings.
The parent acts as a legal representative to advocate for the child’s interests. Claims are typically filed in civil courts, such as the Stanley Mosk Courthouse at 111 N. Hill Street or the Spring Street Courthouse at 312 N. Spring Street in downtown Los Angeles.
These cases often involve youth leagues, schools, and athletic programs that fail to protect children from abuse. Any proposed settlement or financial award must be reviewed and approved by the court to ensure that the outcome is appropriate and serves the interests of the child and justice.
Even when the parent represents the child, families can still benefit from having legal representation from an attorney who understands how to hold sexual predators accountable in court. A lawyer can answer questions about your privacy concerns and the potential outcomes of a sexual abuse case.
FAQs
What Are the Stages of Recovery After Coach Sexual Abuse?
Survivors often experience stages such as shock, denial, anger, and healing. Recovery may involve therapy, support groups, and regaining a sense of safety. Legal action with help from a Los Angeles Youth Sports Sexual Abuse Lawyer can also support closure. Every survivor heals differently. Seeking emotional and legal support early can help survivors heal after being abused in a youth sports setting.
How Can Survivors Hold a Coach Accountable for Abuse?
A survivor can pursue a civil claim with guidance from an L.A. coach abuse attorney. These cases seek compensation for emotional trauma, medical care, and other damages. Claims may also name the sports league or organization that failed to supervise, train, or investigate complaints. Civil action helps survivors find closure and holds institutions accountable for enabling abusive behavior.
What Are Common Trauma Responses After Sexual Abuse by a Coach?
Trauma responses may include anxiety, depression, panic attacks, isolation, or fear of authority. Survivors may also struggle with trust or experience flashbacks. These responses are valid and can last years without support. A lawyer who is familiar with the needs of special considerations of abuse victims can connect survivors to important mental health resources.
What Challenges Do Survivors Face After Coach-Related Sexual Abuse?
Survivors may face stigma, fear of not being believed, or pressure to remain silent, especially when the abuser holds authority or community status. Many feel isolated or unsure of how to move forward. An L.A. coach abuse attorney can guide survivors through the legal process and work to hold responsible parties accountable while protecting the survivor’s emotional and legal well-being.
Take the First Step Toward Holding Sports Organizations Accountable
Coaches and athletic programs have a duty to protect the young people in their care. If your child was sexually abused in a youth sports setting in Los Angeles, you have the right to demand accountability from those who failed to act.
At Easton & Easton, we represent families in serious abuse cases with focus and discretion. Our team helps clients pursue compensation while holding negligent coaches and organizations legally responsible. Contact our office today to schedule a confidential consultation.
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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.
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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…
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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!!
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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.
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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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