Newport Beach School Sexual Abuse Lawyer
Newport Beach School Sexual Abuse Attorney
When your child is sexually abused at school, the betrayal is devastating. As a parent, you trust that your child will be cared for and safe at school, and when this trust is shattered, you deserve accountability and answers. An experienced Newport Beach school sexual abuse lawyer can help you protect your child’s future and fight for justice against those who allowed the abuse to happen.
About Easton & Easton
Easton & Easton is a family-owned personal injury law firm with decades of experience representing Orange County’s most vulnerable victims. Our attorneys regularly practice in all matters related to the Orange County Superior Court, Newport Beach Justice Complex, and surrounding jurisdictions.
With over 100 years of collective trial experience, we are known for our integrity, skill at trial, and pursuit of justice. We seek justice for families through compassionate advocacy and unwavering pursuit of accountability when schools fail to protect children.
Understanding School Sexual Abuse in California
Sexual abuse in a school setting can be defined as sexual misconduct toward a student, which may be facilitated by a lack of supervision or failure to intervene. This may include actions by a teacher, coach, staff member, volunteer, or even another student. Cases of school sexual abuse are especially egregious because schools are legally required to protect children from harm that is reasonably foreseeable.
California law allows civil claims against school districts and private schools for certain failures in protecting students. In particular, they may be civilly liable if the school knew or should have known about abuse risks and failed to take reasonable steps to prevent it.
Schools may also be liable for failure to adequately supervise staff or volunteers, failure to respond to complaints, or failure to follow policies and procedures such as background checks or investigation of prior misconduct allegations.
School Sexual Abuse Laws
California law includes several statutes that apply to the role of schools in preventing and addressing sexual abuse. For instance, mandatory reporter laws place a duty on teachers, administrators, and other school employees to report suspected abuse. Failure to properly handle these duties can result in civil liability against the institution.
California also permits survivors of child sexual abuse to file civil claims many years after the abuse first occurred. These laws acknowledge that survivors of abuse may be unable to report or take legal action while the abuse is happening. Schools that hide abuse cases while actively stopping reports or enabling abusers to work with students can face liability for damages that happen as a result.
Liability in a School Sexual Abuse Claim
At least one in four girls and one in 20 boys in the United States experience sexual abuse as children, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Roughly 90% of child sexual abuse is perpetrated by someone the child or a member of their family knows and trusts, with many of them occurring in schools. Liability for a school sexual abuse claim often extends beyond the individual abuser. Potential responsible parties may include:
- Educators or other school personnel who were responsible for the abuse
- Private schools or school districts that lacked proper supervision and investigation activities
- Administrators who failed to respond to complaints or warning signs
- School boards responsible for school policy or a lack of training
- Outside contractors or volunteers on school property
Investigation is key in these cases to determine not only who caused the abuse, but who assisted in allowing it to happen and/or not allowing justice to be served after the fact.
Hire a School Sexual Abuse Lawyer
If you believe your child has been the victim of sexual abuse at school, or if your child has already been the victim of sexual abuse, you should hire a school sexual abuse lawyer right away. Prompt legal intervention can ensure that evidence is not destroyed and may help to protect your child’s rights from further violation.
Even if the abuse happened many years ago, changes in California law may make it possible for you and your family to file a claim. A school sexual abuse attorney in Newport Beach can review your situation and your legal options with compassion and clarity.
FAQs
What Is Considered Sexual Misconduct in School?
Sexual misconduct in school is any sexual activity that involves a student, perpetrated by a staff member, volunteer, or another student. The misconduct encompasses behaviors such as physical contact or sexual speech, as well as verbal abuse, which might involve grooming activities or coercive tactics. It can also refer to a school official’s failure to take action to stop, report, or investigate sexual abuse that they knew, or should have known, was occurring.
What Are the Four D’s of Sexual Assault in a School?
The four D’s of sexual assault are four common categories of description for issues surrounding abuse (direct, distract, delegate, and delay). The offense originates from the offender’s direct behavior, while victims typically report incidents after considerable delay, and institutions often participate in denial, which together damage survivors.
The four D’s are often present in an educational context when school authorities abuse their power, and the school fails to protect students.
What Is Not Considered Sexual Misconduct in School?
Sexual misconduct excludes behavior that lacks sexual elements and interactions between students that remain mutual, equally balanced in nature, suitable for their developmental stage, while avoiding aggression or exploitation, and those fitting educational, counseling, supervision, or disciplinary contexts between teachers or coaches and students. Even in these cases, it should be noted that a student cannot legally consent to sex with a school authority figure.
What Should Parents Do if They Suspect Child Sexual Abuse at School?
It is crucial for parents to put the well-being of their child first by ensuring their safety and obtaining the necessary medical or therapeutic treatment. Reporting any suspected abuse to the authorities is also important. Speaking with a school sexual abuse attorney can help a parent understand their rights, preserve evidence, and hold the school accountable for any negligence or failure to protect students.
Contact Easton & Easton Today
If your child suffered sexual abuse at school, it is important for all parties to be held responsible. Your child should have been kept safe, and Easton & Easton can help you fight for justice. Contact us today for a free consultation. We can handle the legal side while you focus on your family’s recovery.
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Easton & Easton has been recognized by TopVerdict.com Top 10 Motor Vehicle Accident Settlement in Los Angeles for 2025, for the case Bicyclist v. Inattentive Driver — the fifth time the firm has appeared on a TopVerdict list across nine years, and a recognition that arrives in the firm’s 35th anniversary year.
The superior client service Easton & Easton provides has earned the firm an A+ rating from the Better Business Bureau.
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Easton & Easton was voted "Best Personal Injury Law Firm in Orange County" by readers of the Los Angeles Times in 2018, 2019, and 2020. Three years in a row — chosen by the people we serve
Doug, Brian, and Matt Easton were once again selected to Super Lawyers — a distinction earned by only 5% of California attorneys. Selection is based on peer nominations, independent research, and professional achievement. When you hire Easton & Easton, you're hiring attorneys in the top 5%.
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.
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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 are lifetime members of the Multi-Million Dollar Advocates Forum — a distinction held by less than 1% of U.S. attorneys. Membership requires securing a verdict or settlement of $2 million or more. When you hire Easton & Easton, you're hiring proven results - because Results Matter.
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, based on the legal profession's oldest peer review rating system — dating back to 1887. When your peers have trusted your ability and integrity for over three decades, that says everything.
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 proven track record of jury trials as lead counsel and approval by a majority vote of the ABOTA board. Membership isn't given — it's earned in the courtroom.
Travis Easton, Gabe Mendoza, and Brenda Kocaj were selected to the National Trial Lawyers Top 40 Under 40 — an invitation-only honor recognizing the nation's top young trial attorneys. At Easton & Easton, experience and ambition work side by side.
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.
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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.
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