Orange County Sexual Abuse Lawyer
Orange County Sexual Abuse Attorney
In a family-friendly county known for attractions like Disneyland and top-rated school districts, it can be hard to believe that sexual abuse can happen to vulnerable individuals of all ages. Survivors often carry the trauma of their abuse for years before stepping forward. If you or a loved one were harmed by the actions of someone in a position of trust or even a perfect stranger, you have the right to hire an Orange County sexual abuse lawyer to pursue justice.
Fighting for Accountability in Orange County
Accountability often begins when victims hire legal representation to ensure that the responsible party faces the consequences of their actions. At Easton & Easton, we bring over 100 years of combined litigation experience to the benefit of our clients. Our attorneys are consistently recognized by local Reader’s Choice awards for delivering exceptional legal services.
If you are looking for a trial-ready law firm that has a strong reputation for delivering results with integrity and honesty, we encourage you to join our many satisfied clients who have secured fair compensation after suffering harm due to someone else’s misconduct.
Understanding Your Legal Rights as a Sexual Abuse Survivor in Orange County
Sexual assault and abuse in Orange County is more common than many people think. One in four men and one in three women in California report experiencing sexual violence in their lifetime. Compared to 2020, the rape rate in Orange County increased by 8.6% in 2021, rising from 33.8 to 36.7 per 100,000 residents.
Survivors of sexual abuse have many legal rights, including the right to hire an attorney to take civil action and the right to contact law enforcement to report the crime. In Orange County, sexual abuse victims can contact the Orange County Sheriff’s Department or local law enforcement agencies in cities like Anaheim or Irvine.
The legal process can help hold perpetrators accountable and ensure that victims receive the compensation and closure they deserve. California’s statute of limitations allows adult survivors to file civil claims up to 10 years after the assault or within three years of discovering that the abuse caused psychological injury.
California’s criminal and civil courts take these types of offenses very seriously. In mid-2022, the Orange County District Attorney’s Office successfully cleared a 30-year backlog of untested sexual assault kits. This led to hundreds of new DNA profiles and criminal charges in six cold cases.
Understanding the Legal Process for Sexual Abuse Cases in Orange County
Navigating the legal process for sexual abuse cases requires several critical steps. Survivors should begin by consulting with an experienced sexual abuse attorney to assess the case and determine potential legal strategies.
One important step could include filing a civil claim for damages through the civil courts. In the same way that injured car crash victims can demand compensation from negligent drivers, survivors can hold abusers financially liable in court.
Throughout the process, the survivor’s attorney can gather evidence, build their case, and represent their client in negotiations and court hearings. This may include conducting depositions, presenting evidence during the trial, and cross-examining witnesses to strengthen the case. Orange County courts, like the Central Justice Center in Santa Ana, commonly hear these types of civil cases.
Compensation Options for Survivors of Sexual Abuse in Orange County County
Survivors of sexual abuse in Orange County may be entitled to a wide range of damages for the physical, emotional, and financial harm they suffered. In civil cases, the compensation often includes medical expenses, therapy costs, lost wages, and payments for non-economic damages like pain and suffering.
The amount of compensation will depend on the severity of the abuse and the impact it has had on the survivor’s life. An attorney plays a critical role in maximizing compensation for their client by carefully calculating the extent of their physical and emotional injuries.
Survivors may also seek punitive damages, which are designed to punish the perpetrator and prevent future misconduct. In some cases, survivors may be able to receive financial help from local government programs like the California Victim Compensation Board.
Resources for Survivors
Sexual abuse leads to emotional harm that often requires therapy and counseling services. In Orange County, there are many established non-profits that can provide services that help survivors begin the healing process. These include organizations like the Orange County Child Abuse Prevention Center, which offers resources, counseling, and legal advocacy to help survivors heal and navigate their rights.
Other non-profits, such as Laura’s House, provide shelter, mental health services, and education programs for victims of sexual abuse. Local support groups help survivors connect with other people who have gone through similar traumatic events. These and other resources can help survivors recover from the emotional trauma of what they experienced.
Types of Child Sexual Abuse Cases We Handle:
School Sexual Abuse
Clergy Sexual Abuse
Youth Organization Sexual Abuse
Youth Sports Sexual Abuse
Why Legal Representation Matters
Legal representation can play a critical role in ensuring that cases are handled effectively and with compassion for the plaintiff. The quality of your legal representation can greatly influence the outcome of a sexual abuse claim. Lawyers play an important role in advocating for survivors by collecting evidence, negotiating fair settlements, and providing clients with a clear understanding of how the legal process works.
Having an attorney can also afford benefits that go beyond legal representation in court. An attorney can be a source of encouragement and support during a difficult time. Having someone in your corner who is focused on your rights and interests can be an empowering source of strength as you navigate through a challenging period.
By reminding you that other people have successfully gone through the process, an attorney can help you find the courage to see it through. When searching for the right attorney, it’s essential to consider their experience, especially in sexual abuse cases. Look for a lawyer with a proven track record in handling sensitive claims who demonstrates empathy and understanding. A consultation can help determine if the attorney’s approach aligns with your needs and goals.
FAQs
How Long Do You Have to File a Claim for Childhood Sexual Abuse in California?
Following childhood sexual abuse in California that occurred before January 1, 2024, you have until age 40 or within five years of discovering the abuse caused harm, whichever is later, to file a civil claim. There is no time limit for certain claims involving cover-ups by organizations. These laws apply even if the abuse occurred decades ago, giving survivors more time to pursue accountability in civil court.
How Can Someone Cope With Sexual Abuse Triggers?
You can cope with sexual abuse triggers by identifying specific reactions, creating grounding routines, and using methods like deep breathing or distraction techniques. Therapy focused on trauma recovery, including EMDR or CBT, may help reduce sensitivity over time. Avoiding known triggers when possible and leaning on trusted support systems also helps reduce emotional disruption and regain a sense of control.
What Are the Stages of Sexual Abuse Recovery?
The stages of sexual abuse recovery often include crisis, stabilization, remembrance, mourning, and reconnection. Recovery begins with establishing safety, followed by processing trauma and reshaping self-identity. Each stage varies in length depending on the survivor’s experience. Recovery isn’t linear. Survivors may revisit earlier stages as new challenges arise. Structured therapy and support can provide tools for navigating each part of the process.
What Is Considered Sexual Abuse Under California Law?
Sexual abuse under California law includes any unwanted sexual contact, exploitation, or conduct against someone who does not or is unable to give legal consent. This includes molestation, assault, forced acts, and non-contact offenses like exposing minors to sexual material. Abuse may be committed by adults or peers and can occur in homes, schools, churches, or institutions. State law broadly defines it as protecting vulnerable individuals.
What Legal Options Do Adult Survivors of Sexual Abuse Have in California?
Adult survivors of sexual abuse in California can file civil claims for damages even decades after the abuse occurred. Depending on when the harm was discovered, survivors may have until age 40 or longer to take action. Some claims involving institutional cover-ups have no time limit. These legal options aim to hold individuals and organizations accountable for long-standing harm.
Your Voice Matters. Schedule Your Sexual Abuse Consultation Today
With the right legal representation, survivors of sexual abuse can seek accountability and begin to heal from the trauma they’ve endured. At Easton & Easton, we are committed to guiding you through the legal process with discretion and compassion, ensuring your voice is heard and justice is served. Our extensive experience and dedication to the well-being of our clients have earned us recognition as one of the top personal injury law firms in the region.
If you or a loved one has been harmed, don’t hesitate to take the first step toward securing the compensation and closure you deserve by contacting our office to schedule your no-cost initial consultation. We are ready to fight for your rights and hold the responsible parties accountable for their actions. With over 100 years of combined experience, our legal team is here to support you in your pursuit of justice.
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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