CALIFORNIA ADULT SEX ABUSE SURVIVORS LAWSUITS

Tirelessly Fighting for Your Rights

Levy Konigsberg is proud to be one of the nation’s most trusted and experienced law firms for survivors of sex abuse. Based on new California law, the firm is now able to better help those that were sexually abused in California when they were adults. This new law also allows survivors of adult sexual abuse to hold institutions accountable who enabled and covered up the abuse. The new law in California that gives greater protection to those sexually abused when they were 18 years of older is known as “The Sexual Abuse and Cover Up Accountability Act” (AB 2777). We explain below how this new law allows limited time periods for survivors of adult sexual abuse in California to come forward with lawsuits that previously would have been barred by statutes of limitations. Institutions where sexual abuse of adult victims took place can now be held accountable even if the abuse occurred years or even decades ago.

California AB 2777 – The Sexual Abuse and Cover Up Accountability Act

Recently, California Governor Gavin Newsom signed California Assembly Bill 2777 (AB 2777) into law. AB 2777 significantly improved the law to make it easier for survivors of adult sexual abuse to take legal action and demand much-deserved justice. In some cases, such survivors can also be awarded compensation from the abuser and any institutions that enabled, protected, or harbored them.

One-Year Lookback Window – Adult Sexual Abuse with Evidence of Cover Up

California Assembly Bill 2777 creates a one-year lookback window for adult sexual assault claims that involved an attempt to cover up or conceal the sexual assault. The term “sexual assault” includes any sexual touching in situations in which consent is not given or cannot legally be given. From January 1, 2023, to December 31, 2023, the new law allows civil lawsuits for sexual assault that occurred in the past if the perpetrator and/or an associated party tried to cover it up. The lookback exception applies to all cases meeting this criteria regardless of how long ago the sexual abuse occurred. This means that, even if the sexual abuse occurred decades ago, a civil lawsuit can be filed during this limited, one-year window, so long as the entity being sued attempted to cover up of the abuse. The new law defines “cover up” to include any attempt to hide evidence, silence victims or keep the information from becoming public.

Four-Year Lookback Window– Adult Sexual Abuse Occurring in 2009 or Later.

California Assembly Bill 2777 also creates a four-year lookback window for adult sexual assault claims that occurred anytime between January 1, 2009 through the present. This four-year window is open from January 1, 2023, to December 31, 2026 and the only requirements are that the sexual abused occurred when the person was an adult (18 years of age or older) and that the abuse occurred in 2009 or later. This effectively allows for a statute of limitations for up to 17 years (i.e the time between 2009 and the closing of the window in 2026). This four-year window does not require any evidence of a cover-up.

For adult sexual abuse that has occurred more recently, the statute of limitations is typically 10 years. So, for example, if the sexual abuse of an adult occurred in 2022, the statutes of limitations would not expire until 10 years later (i.e., 2032). Nonetheless, it is always important to act as quickly as possible to pursue any sexual abuse lawsuits so that proper investigations can be undertaken and evidence can be preserved. It is important to consult an experienced adult sexual abuse attorney to receive legal advice about the statutes of limitations that specifically apply to your case.

Call (800) 315-3806 if you think you have a valid sexual abuse claim thanks to California AB 2777. You must act quickly because once these lookback windows close, they will close forever.

Experience In Sex Abuse Litigation

Levy Konigsberg isn’t afraid of any opponent, no matter its size and resources. If you were sexually abused in California, then we want to fight for you and your rights, as well as those of countless others who suffered in the same way but have not found the courage to speak up yet. It is our mission to hold perpetrators accountable, along with the institutions that defended and harbored them.

We have handled or investigated sex abuse lawsuits against major corporations and organizations, such as:

• Prisons and correctional facilities
• Hospitals and medical programs
• Universities, colleges, and schools
• The Catholic Church and other religious institutions
• Sports organizations (youth and adult)
• Residential care centers, nursing homes, and group homes
• Law enforcement agencies
• Entertainment industry companies
• Spas and massage parlors
• Cruise ship companies and airlines
• Rideshare service companies (Uber, Lyft, etc.)
• Hospitality industry companies and resorts
• And many others

Dublin Federal Correction Institution Lawsuits

Currently, Levy Konigsberg’s team of California sex abuse attorneys is investigating an adult sex abuse scandal involving Dublin Federal Correctional Institution in Dublin, California. An Associated Press investigation uncovered that sexual abuses carried out by correctional officers and staff members were “rampant.” The prison workers allegedly even formed a “club” that was devoted to sexually assaulting the prisoners at the female-only center.

If you spent time as an inmate at Dublin FCI and were sexually assaulted, then please know we are here to help you explore your rights. Please be aware that inmates in California cannot legally consent to sexual acts with a correctional officer with authority over them. As such, you could still have a valid claim even if you were not subjected to forcible sexual violence at Dublin FCI.

If you were threatened with retaliation for reporting the abuse, then this could be evidence used against the corrections officers and federal prison. Even if the abuse occurred years or even decades ago, you should still contact experienced legal counsel to understand your rights.

Call Now for a Confidential Consultation

The time that you have left to file a civil lawsuit against a sexual abuser and the institutions that harbored them could be extremely limited. Act now by dialing (800) 315-3806 and talking to the California adult sexual assault lawsuit attorneys of Levy Konigsberg. We are here to demand justice and compensation in your name. Fighting for the abused is our passion, and it shows in everything that we do.

California Office: 95 Third Street, 2nd Floor San Francisco, CA 94103

You can contact us online if you prefer. All consultations are free and confidential.