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Representing Survivors of Sexual Abuse at Aurora Behavioral Health Care
Sexual abuse is a rampant issue in behavioral health hospitals like Aurora Behavioral Health Care – San Diego. Victims of this type of abuse can pursue sexual abuse lawsuits to recover compensation and hold the at-fault parties accountable.
Sadly, many survivors do not come forward until years later. Fortunately, it is still possible to recover damages from past abuse, especially if the mistreatment occurred when you were a child.
The Injury Lawyer Team can provide compassionate legal support to help you file an abuse claim and receive compensation for legal damages. Our team has over 25 years of experience serving clients, many of whom have faced these same challenges in behavioral health clinics. Book a free, confidential consultation with our expert attorneys today.
Settlements Recovered by Our Legal Team
The Injury Lawyer Team has decades of experience serving survivors of sexual abuse. In the past, we have secured millions in settlements to compensate victims. Here are some of our past settlements related to sexual abuse:
- $1.1 million for a woman who was sexually assaulted by a janitor when she was a child at a Catholic school
- $1.16 million for a teenager who was assaulted by a guard at a juvenile detention center
- $1.222 million for a man who was assaulted as a child by clergy at a church-sponsored summer camp
- $4 million for five boys who were sexually abused by a religious leader over several years
- $15 million for several boys who were groomed and assaulted by a private school coach
About Aurora Behavioral Health Care
Aurora Behavioral Health Care – San Diego Hospital (Aurora San Diego)
11878 Avenue of Industry
San Diego, CA 92128
858-487-3200
Aurora San Diego is best known for its behavioral health services and substance use treatment. It offers inpatient treatment for multiple age groups, including children ages 5 to 17. Adult behavioral health services, including inpatient and outpatient programs, are also available.
Programs for older adults, chemical dependency, and military personnel round out the primary service offerings at Aurora Behavioral Health Care. The primary population that this clinic serves includes children with mental health concerns and adults with substance use issues.
Aurora Behavioral Health Care Sexual Abuse Allegations
It is difficult to find public reports alleging sexual abuse at Aurora Behavioral Health Care. However, there is no shortage of negative reviews from past residents and patients who allege staff misconduct and neglect.
Some of these complaints have similar themes, such as staff not meeting the care needs of individual patients, staff failing to address instances of violence or abuse, and insufficient monitoring of patients with mental health concerns.
Institutional failures often create an environment where abuse and neglect can thrive. Poor supervision, dismissed complaints, and inadequate staff training can all contribute to an unsafe environment for the patients at facilities like Aurora Behavioral Health Care, and these concerns have likely allowed some instances of abuse to go unaddressed.
Currently, there are no outright allegations of sexual assault against patients, but that does not mean sexual abuse has been entirely prevented.
How Our Legal Team Can Help Victims of Aurora Behavioral Health Care
Sexual abuse lawsuits are not uncommon in these types of facilities. Although survivors may take years to come forward, it is still possible to pursue civil action against the abusers or at-fault facilities in these cases.
The Injury Lawyer Team knows what it takes to win sexual abuse claims. Our firm can help you gather documentation, file a claim, negotiate for a fair settlement, and represent you in civil court if necessary. Proof of our expertise can be found in past cases, such as a settlement in the mid-seven figures for a sexual assault that occurred at a hospital.
We can help you file claims against facilities such as:
- Evolve Treatment Centers
- Fred Finch Youth & Family Services
- Camino a Casa
- Muir Wood Adolescent & Family Services
- McAlister Institute
Understanding Sexual Abuse Under California Law
It is important to define sexual abuse and other related terms when approaching a civil action against a facility like Aurora Behavioral Health Care.
For example, Penal Code § 243.4 states that sexual battery involves touching a person’s intimate parts with sexual intent without their consent. In a setting where minors are involved, such as inpatient youth programs at Aurora San Diego, consent is impossible, so sexual acts are automatically illegal.
A lack of consent can also occur with victims who are seriously disabled, medically incapacitated, unconscious, or unlawfully restrained. In settings where there are significant power imbalances, such as behavioral health centers, strict liability is enforced to protect patients from sexual abuse.
Patterns of Abuse and Negligence at Aurora Behavioral Health Care
Some of the feedback left by former patients and their family members reveals a disturbing pattern of inappropriate practices at Aurora Behavioral Health Care.
Victims of physical abuse or neglect have seen their complaints ignored by facility staff. Improper hiring practices have led to unqualified employees working directly with residents, exposing the patients to dangerous situations.
A lack of monitoring has also paved the way for authority figures to get away with mistreating patients. In some cases, allegations of abuse have even been covered up by the administration, further creating a toxic environment for the victims. Intimidation and coercion are fear tactics that some staff members may use to keep victims silent.
These widespread institutional issues can lead to more residents of Aurora, San Diego becoming victims of sexual abuse or neglect.
Filing a Claim for Abuse at Aurora Behavioral Health Care
Abuse can come from anyone in a behavioral health center setting. Most often, the abuse is committed by a staff member, guard, or contracted medical/mental health professional. However, abuse can also occur between residents if the staff are not attentive.
These institutions are meant to prevent all types of abuse for their patients. Operational failures and negligent hiring practices can place residents in harm’s way for no reason. Unfortunately, psychological barriers can also prevent survivors from speaking up, such as fear, shame, or retaliation.
California Child Victims Act and Statute of Limitations
The statute of limitations governs how long a victim has to pursue civil legal action against the at-fault party. These limits have been drastically expanded in recent years, especially with the passing of the Child Victims Act (AB 218).
Section 340.1 of this bill states that survivors of child sexual abuse have 22 years from the date they reach the age of majority (18) to pursue damages for past abuse.
This means you have until your 40th birthday to seek damages for abuse you may have suffered as a child in California. If the abuse was covered up, this bill also allows survivors of abuse to pursue treble damages.
Lastly, the delayed discovery rule may apply to your claim. The statute of limitations start date can be adjusted based on when you discovered your suffering was the result of abuse or neglect. After this date, you will have five years to pursue a legal claim based on the delayed discovery rule.
It is best to consult a youth health center sexual abuse lawyer in California if you have questions about your rights and what deadlines you may contend with for your claim.
Holding Aurora Behavioral Health Care and San Diego County Legally Accountable
One primary purpose of a sexual abuse claim is to hold the responsible party accountable. At a facility like Aurora Behavioral Health Care, several entities may be involved as defendants, including:
- Individual abuser
- Facility operator
- Government agency (such as the San Diego County Probation Department)
- Employer
- Contracted service provider
Liability for sexual abuse may apply due to poor training, insufficient supervision, or ignored complaints of abuse.
Eligibility for Filing a Lawsuit
To be eligible for a sexual abuse lawsuit against a San Diego juvenile detention facility, several criteria must be met. The abuse must have occurred at the facility. The perpetrator must be affiliated with the center, either as a staff member, resident, or contracted worker. If these elements are all true, you may have a case against the facility.
It is important to know that some concerns may seemingly make a lawsuit impossible, but do not, in reality, affect your ability to pursue damages. For example, even if the abuser is deceased, you could still file a claim against the center for sexual abuse. Similarly, a lack of criminal charges against the at-fault party does not mean you cannot file a civil claim.
Types of Compensation Available
The other main reason to pursue a civil lawsuit for sexual abuse is to recover compensation for legal damages. You could seek both economic and non-economic compensation for certain losses.
Economic damages may include therapy bills, medical costs, lost income, or loss of career potential. Non-economic damages could consist of emotional distress, trauma, pain and suffering, or loss of quality of life.
What Impacts Your Settlement Amount?
Every sexual abuse case is unique, so there is no simple equation to determine how much your lawsuit is worth. It is best to consult a San Diego sexual abuse firm to get a more accurate sense of your settlement. However, here are some elements that would likely increase the value of your settlement:
- The abuse is prolonged or exceedingly violent.
- The offenses are repeated, and there is long-term exposure to the abuser and their actions.
- There is a strong profile of evidence to support the claim, such as medical reports, eyewitness statements, and facility documentation.
- If the abuse was covered up, this could triple the value of your damages.
- Evidence of negligence.
- Long-term effects, such as PTSD, depression, and loss of career prospects.
Speak With a Sexual Abuse Lawyer Today
A California sexual abuse lawyer can make all the difference between securing compensation and walking away with nothing. The Injury Lawyer Team knows how to build strong cases, fight for maximum compensation, and assess all damages during a sexual abuse claim. We offer a contingency fee agreement to ensure you owe nothing unless we win your case.If you are ready to book a free and confidential case evaluation, call us today at 866-757-6452 or complete our online form.
