ELK GROVE CHILD SEXUAL ABUSE ATTORNEY
MICHAEL REHM - (916) 233-7346
FREE CONSULTATIONS
No one wants to think about the possibility of child sexual abuse, but unfortunately, it happens every day. If you suspect that your child is being abused, or if you were abused as a child and have questions about the possibility of filing a claim, it is important to act immediately and contact a child abuse lawyer.
In addition to helping you get the justice your family deserves, holding the abuser and any responsible parties accountable protects others from future harm. Attorney Michael Rehm has been handling child sexual abuse claims for years and has the compassion and understanding to fight for what you are entitled to. If your abuse took place in California, it may not be too late to come forward. For a free and confidential consultation, contact The Law Office of Michael Rehm today at (916) 233-7346 .
California Child Victims Act
The California Child Victims Act (CCVA) was enacted in 2019 to give child victims of sexual abuse more time to file civil lawsuits. Under the old law, child victims had until age 26 to file a lawsuit. The CCVA extended the deadline to age 40, or within five years of when the victim discovers, or reasonably should have discovered, that the sexual abuse caused them injury. The CCVA also created a three-year “look-back” window, which allows survivors of childhood sexual abuse to file civil lawsuits regardless of when the abuse occurred. This window opened on January 1, 2020 and will close on December 31, 2022.
Child Sexual Abuse Cases in Elk Grove, CA
Elk Grove is not immune to these types of matters, for example, The Elk Grove Unified School District was ordered to pay more than $1.1 million to three families that sued the district after an employee abused children at the elementary school. The teacher worked as a paraeducator and a substitute teacher at Prairie Elementary School when the abuse took place. The parents of three victims have filed a lawsuit against the man, three staff members at Prairie Elementary, and the Elk Grove school district. The lawsuit alleges that the defendants failed in their duty to protect the students. The plaintiffs' civil complaint claimed that another staff member did not stop the teacher when he inappropriately touched students and had them sit on his lap or give him bear hugs.
Child Sex Abuse – How a School District Can Be Liable
In some circumstances, school districts can be legally responsible if an employee sexually abuses a child. This is direct liability of the school which is proven by showing their negligence in most cases. This is not the same as vicarious liability.
In order for a school district or other party to be held liable for a child's injuries, it must first be shown that the school was negligent. To prove negligence, the following elements must be present:
- The school owed a duty of care to the child. In other words, the school had a responsibility to take reasonable steps to keep the child safe from foreseeable harm.
- The school breached its duty of care. This means that the school failed to take reasonable steps to keep the child safe or that it took unreasonable risks that resulted in the child's injury.
- The child's injury was caused by the school's breach of duty. For the school to be held liable, it must have been reasonably foreseeable that the breach of duty would result in injury to the child.
- The child suffered damages as a result of their injury. This means that the child incurred some type of loss, such as medical bills, pain and suffering, or lost wages from the abuse.
The Law Office of Michael Rehm Is Here for You
Although it can be difficult to discuss, child sexual abuse is a very real problem. If you were the victim of child sexual abuse, do not hesitate to take the next step: speak with a lawyer. An experienced attorney will work with you every step of the way to ensure that you get the justice you deserve. Contact The Law Office of Michael Rehm today at (916) 233-7346 to schedule a free consultation, anytime.
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