Childhood Sexual Abuse Lawyer

Childhood sexual abuse refers to any unwanted sexual behavior or exploitation of a child – which is defined in California as anyone under the age of eighteen. It can take various forms, including but not limited to:

• Grooming: A manipulative process where the perpetrator builds trust with the survivor, often through gifts, compliments, attention, or emotional connection before sexual exploitation.
• Verbal Sexual Abuse: Includes sexually explicit comments, jokes, or language used to harass, intimidate, or demean a child.
• Physical Sexual Abuse: Involves unwanted physical contact of a sexual nature, such as inappropriate touching, groping, or forced sexual acts.
• No-Contact Sexual Abuse: Involves actions that don’t include physical contact, such as exposing a child to sexual content, exhibitionism, or voyeurism.
• Sexual Harassment: Involves unwanted sexual advances, requests for sexual favors, or other verbal or physical behavior that creates a hostile or unsafe environment.

The numbers are alarming. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, at least one in four girls and one in 20 boys in the U.S. have experienced some form of sexual abuse.

The impact can be long-lasting. Survivors often face a range of emotional and psychological challenges, including depression, anxiety, and symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), which can lead to:

• Substance or alcohol abuse
• Difficulty trusting others
• Struggles with intimacy and healthy relationships
• Mental health issues
• Increased risk of self-harm

Childhood sexual abuse doesn’t just affect childhood; it can affect every stage of life. Recognizing the signs and supporting survivors is critical to healing and justice.

Parents, or legal guardians, who discover their minor child has been sexually abused may file a civil lawsuit on their child’s behalf against the perpetrator and any organization, school, church or youth serving organization or club that enabled the perpetrator or knowingly covered up the abuse.

An adult who was abused as a child may file a civil lawsuit on their own behalf. The statute of limitations in California allows individuals to bring a civil lawsuit against responsible parties until they reach the age of 40 or within five years of the date that the individual discovered or reasonably should have discovered that the psychological injuries suffered during adulthood were caused by the childhood sexual abuse.

If you have questions about whether you’re eligible to file a civil lawsuit for childhood sexual abuse, reach out to Liakos Law to speak with our attorneys who will help navigate the laws governing the statute of limitations.

Above all else, we provide compassionate support and guidance through every step of the lawsuit. We understand the importance of being available to answer questions and address concerns whenever they may arise. We want to minimize any stress associated with holding the responsible parties accountable. Our help begins with the first consultation.

Call our office to schedule a confidential consultation. You don’t have to go through this alone.