Fred Finch Youth & Family Services Sexual Abuse Lawsuits

Representing Survivors of Sexual Abuse at Fred Finch Youth & Family Services

Fred Finch Youth & Family Services provides numerous programs for children, young adults, and families facing mental health challenges. In these types of environments, such as the Avalon program, individuals could be taken advantage of by adults with authority and become victims of sexual abuse. 

Often, survivors take years to come forward due to shame or fear. However, it is still possible to recover damages for sexual abuse years later with the right legal support.

The Injury Lawyer Team specializes in supporting survivors of sexual abuse and helping them hold their abusers accountable. Our team can investigate your claim and help you receive compensation, even if you survived childhood sexual abuse years ago. Book a free, confidential consultation today. 

Our firm has over 25 years of experience serving injured clients, including those who have been sexually abused. We know what it takes to investigate these claims and win settlements on behalf of survivors. Here are some of our past settlement victories involving sexual abuse:

  • $15 million for several boys who were groomed and assaulted by a private school coach.
  • $6.5 million for a teenager who was raped by a staff member on a cruise ship.
  • $6 million for a child sexual abuse lawsuit that involved an after-school activity center and took place over several years.
  • $3.85 million for three boys who were sexually abused by a youth soccer coach.
  • $1.16 million for a teenager who was assaulted by a guard at a youth detention center.

About Fred Finch Youth & Family Services

Fred Finch Youth & Family Services – Avalon Program

3740 Coolidge Avenue 

Oakland, CA 94602

510-482-2244

www.fredfinch.org/avalon

The purpose of the Avalon program is to provide a safe residential center for youth with developmental disabilities or autism and co-occurring psychiatric disorders. The goal of the program is to help these individuals increase their abilities to function more independently in less restrictive environments. 

The Avalon program is a small, 14-bed residential treatment center with mental health interventions, behavioral services, private schooling, and numerous therapy programs. 

Fred Finch Youth & Family Services Sexual Abuse Allegations

Although there are no publicly reported instances of sexual abuse at Fred Finch Youth & Family Services programs, this does not mean there are no accounts of mistreatment. Several former patients and program participants have accused staff members of mistreatment at these facilities via online reviews

For example, one reviewer mentioned the lack of visible badges on staff members at one of the residential facilities, causing concerns about who has access to patients. Another stated that they experienced abuse from some of the staff members.

Numerous issues can cause oversights that allow abuse to occur in facilities like the Avalon program. Poor supervision, dismissed complaints, and insufficient training can all create an environment where abuse is more likely to occur. 

Legal help for sexual abuse in Avalon residential treatment program at Fred Finch

The Injury Lawyer Team has direct experience with survivors of sexual abuse, including those who suffered when they were children. 

For example, we recovered $2.75 million for a woman who had been raped by a church camp counselor when she was younger. We can assist with gathering documentation, collecting evidence, filing the claim, negotiating for a fair settlement, and even representing you in civil court if necessary. 

San Diego residential center sexual abuse lawsuits can be overwhelming for survivors. Our goal is to provide compassionate legal support to help you hold the at-fault parties accountable while pursuing fair compensation. 

We can help you file claims against facilities such as:

Understanding Sexual Abuse Under California Law

Understanding legal definitions is important if you want to file a claim for sexual abuse. For example, sexual battery is a classification under California law that would apply in many sexual abuse cases. 

According to Penal Code 243.4, sexual battery involves unwanted touching of a person’s intimate parts with sexual intent. Some parties cannot give legal consent, such as minors or those with severe mental disabilities, so sexual contact of any kind is considered illegal. 

In environments like the Avalon program, there are often power imbalances that place children at the mercy of those in authority. For this reason, strict liability is enforced for sexual abuse cases. This could have a major impact on the outcome of your claim and on determining liability for damages. 

Patterns of Abuse and Negligence at Fred Finch Youth & Family Services

Patterns of sexual abuse and negligence can take time to develop. However, many residential facilities that face these challenges often have similar operational issues at the heart of the problem. 

Repeated failures in hiring qualified employees and supervising them properly can allow abusers to take advantage of victims. If survivors come forward and are silenced or ignored, the facility can become a breeding ground for ongoing abuse. 

Other common failings in these facilities include known predators being ignored, high-risk staff not being monitored, and administrative cover-ups. Often, victims of abuse are intimidated, coerced, or threatened into silence, which means the abuse may continue. All these ingredients can turn a safe environment into a dangerous one. 

Filing a Claim for Abuse at Fred Finch Youth & Family Services

Abuse can come from numerous sources at a facility like the Avalon program. Medical staff, nurses, guards, and contracted medical or mental health personnel could abuse their authority and take advantage of vulnerable patients, especially children. Even other residents could perpetrate abuse if there is a lack of supervision.

Filing a claim is a legal option for victims to hold their abusers accountable, but it isn’t always easy to pursue this path. Many victims face psychological barriers, such as fear, shame, or retaliation. 

An institutional failure to prevent abuse may also deter victims from coming forward. The Injury Lawyer Team strives to ease the legal burden on survivors so they feel empowered to come forward and seek justice. 

California Child Victims Act and Statute of Limitations

The California Child Victims Act has dramatically increased the statute of limitations on sexual abuse cases. In this bill, survivors of childhood sexual abuse have 22 years from the date they reached the age of majority (18) to file claims. 

This means they have until their 40th birthday to pursue damages, or five years after discovering the abuse. If the abuse was somehow covered up, the victim may be eligible for more damages. 

Under the delayed discovery rule, the accrual date of the statute of limitations for sexual abuse may be delayed until the date the plaintiff became aware of the fact that they were abused. If you need help understanding these laws and how they relate to your claim, a California youth center sexual abuse lawyer can help. 

Holding Fred Finch Youth & Family Services and Alameda County Legally Accountable

Multiple parties may be found liable for sexual abuse cases involving Fred Finch Youth & Family Services. The individual abuser is most often included as the defendant in this type of claim. A facility operator could also be named as a liable party. 

In some cases, a local government agency, such as the Alameda County Probation Department, may be partially responsible. Employers or contracted service providers at the facility could also be held accountable. 

Liability for sexual abuse may be the result of poor training, insufficient supervision, and ignored complaints. Your experienced attorney will help you understand liability and how to hold the at-fault party accountable for your suffering. 

Eligibility for Filing a Lawsuit

If you want to file a lawsuit against the Avalon program at Fred Finch Youth & Family Services, you must meet the eligibility criteria. First, the abuse must have occurred at the facility itself. Second, the perpetrator must have been a staff member, affiliated worker, or fellow resident at the center. 

Victims of abuse often think they cannot file claims if their abusers are deceased, but you can still hold the facility accountable for allowing it to happen. Similarly, even if no criminal charges were filed against the abuser, you can still seek damages via a civil claim. 

Types of Compensation Available

While the main purpose of your lawsuit may be to hold your abuser accountable for their actions, it is also helpful to recover compensation for legal damages suffered as a result of the abuse. 

Economic damages in this type of case may include lost income, medical costs, psychological care expenses, lost career potential, and therapy bills. Non-economic damages could include emotional distress, trauma, pain and suffering, and loss of quality of life. 

What Impacts Your Settlement Amount?

A variety of factors influence the settlement amount in a sexual abuse case. Each case is unique, so you should seek guidance from a San Diego sex abuse attorney to understand potential compensation. 

Here are some factors that may increase or decrease the maximum settlement you can receive:

  • Frequency – Repeated abuse or long-term exposure can increase liability.
  • Severity – If you experience violent or prolonged abuse, it can lead to higher compensation.
  • Supporting evidence – The more evidence you have, such as medical reports, witness statements, and facility documentation, the easier it is to increase your settlement amount.
  • Cover-ups – If the facility covered up the abuse, you may be eligible for triple the damages.
  • Long-term effects – PTSD, depression, and lost career prospects can add value to your compensation claim.

Speak With a Sexual Abuse Lawyer Today

A California sex abuse lawyer can make the claims process much simpler if you are a survivor of sexual abuse at Fred Finch Youth & Family Services. Our team has the legal experience and track record needed to increase your chances of victory, holding your abuser accountable while recovering maximum compensation.

We work on a contingency fee basis, which means you owe nothing unless we win your case. Additionally, our team will provide a free consultation to discuss your case. If you want to learn more about the claims process and determine whether you qualify for compensation, call us at 866-757-6452 or complete our online form to request a free, confidential consultation with a professional lawyer.