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Representing Survivors of Sexual Abuse at Muir Wood Adolescent & Family Services

Muir Wood Adolescent & Family Services is a California-based treatment network for teens between the ages of 12 and 17 who are struggling with mental health, substance use, or behavioral concerns.

Some past residents have insinuated that harassment and sexual abuse have occurred at this facility, which is a common issue among youth residential treatment centers. Unfortunately, survivors often hesitate to come forward due to shame, fear, or guilt.

The Injury Lawyer Team is dedicated to helping sexual abuse survivors pursue compensation and hold their abusers accountable. In a facility like Muir Wood, liability for the abuse may fall on multiple parties. Our team will provide compassionate legal support for your claim. Book a free and confidential consultation today.

Settlements Recovered by Our Legal Team

Our firm has a 98% success rate with injured clients. With this winning track record, we have secured millions for victims of sexual abuse. Here are some of our past settlements for cases involving sexual abuse or assault:

Mid-seven-figure settlement for a sexual assault case that occurred in a hospital.
$4 million for five boys who were abused by a religious group leader over several years.
$3.86 million for three boys who were sexually abused by a youth soccer coach.
$2.8 million for a sexual abuse scandal at a camp operated by church officials.
$1.101 million for a woman who was sexually assaulted by a janitor at a Catholic school when she was a child.

About Muir Wood Adolescent & Family Services

Muir Wood Adolescent & Family Services

1733 Skillman Lane

Petaluma, CA 94952

888-859-8125

muirwoodteen.com

Muir Wood Teen Treatment has a network of facilities across California. Numerous campuses provide residential environments for teenagers with mental health and substance use issues. These centers offer evidence-based residential treatment, therapy programs, academic services, and clinical programming.

Muir Wood Adolescent & Family Services Sexual Abuse Allegations

Public reports of sexual abuse at Muir Wood Adolescent & Family Services are few and far between. However, many former patients and parents have spoken out in online reviews of these facilities. Multiple reviews state that the facility focuses too much on substance use treatment, forcing children with other challenges into unnecessary treatment plans.

Some former patients have also mentioned how some staff members harassed them. One review even mentions sexual abuse concerns among the male residents at one center.

Often, these types of abuse go unreported because victims are afraid or ashamed. Additionally, poor supervision and dismissed complaints can create an environment where sexual abuse is allowed to thrive. For example, if one victim comes forward and the staff members retaliate against them, it would likely discourage future survivors from speaking out.

How Our Legal Team Can Help Victims of Muir Wood Adolescent & Family Services

The Injury Lawyer Team has decades of experience working with sexual abuse survivors on their legal claims. We know what it takes to hold abusers accountable and secure fair compensation. We can gather documentation, collect evidence, file the claim in court, negotiate the settlement, and represent you in court if necessary.

San Diego youth treatment center sexual abuse lawsuits can become very complicated, but our team will simplify the process so you can focus on recovering physically and emotionally. Even if you experienced sexual abuse as a child many years ago, you could still be eligible for compensation.

For example, we secured over $1.1 million for an adult woman who had been assaulted at a Catholic school as a child.

We can help you file claims against facilities:

Understanding Sexual Abuse Under California Law

California has multiple laws that affect cases involving sexual abuse. One of these laws is found in Penal Code 243.3. This regulation defines sexual battery as unwanted touching of a person’s intimate parts with sexual intent.

The lack of consent is an important element, especially for minor-adult cases. In settings like Muir Wood Adolescent & Family Services, sexual contact involving a minor is always considered illegal and can be classified as sexual battery.

These environments also feature unique power imbalances between authoritative adults and adolescents. Therefore, California enforces strict liability for sexual abuse cases.

Patterns of Abuse and Negligence at Muir Wood Adolescent & Family Services

Patterns of abuse and negligence can develop over time if there are widespread institutional issues. Repeated failures in hiring and supervising employees can create opportunities for abusers to mistreat young residents. Victims who are silenced or ignored are less likely to speak out in the future.

Other systemic failures can include staff sexual misconduct, ignoring known predators among the staff, intimidating survivors, and covering up abuse allegations. All these factors could contribute to a toxic environment at Muir Wood Adolescent & Family Services, paving the way for sexual abuse to occur more frequently.

Sexual abuse in behavioral health and youth services facilities in California

Filing a Claim for Abuse at Muir Wood Adolescent & Family Services

The process of filing a sexual abuse claim can be overwhelming for victims. In many cases, you may face psychological barriers that make you hesitate to pursue legal action. Shame, guilt, and the fear of retaliation are common barriers for sexual abuse survivors.

Additionally, abuse can come from multiple sources in a youth residential treatment center. Medical staff, security guards, mental health personnel, and even other residents could be guilty of sexual abuse, especially if the institution fails to implement prevention practices. All these factors can make it difficult for victims to file sexual abuse lawsuits.

California Child Victims Act and Statute of Limitations

The California Child Victims Act is an important piece of legislation in the Golden State. This bill increases the statute of limitations for people who suffered sexual abuse as children.

Survivors now have until their 40th birthday to file civil claims for abuse they suffered as children, or five years after they discover the abuse. In cases involving cover-ups, the victims could claim treble damages.

Under the delayed discovery rule, the accrual date of the statute of limitations is delayed until the plaintiff discovers that their suffering was due to a negligent act. A California youth treatment center sexual abuse lawyer can help you navigate these laws and how they apply to your claim.

Holding Muir Wood Adolescent & Family Services and San Diego County Legally Accountable

A civil suit is separate from a criminal proceeding. It is a legal action that allows the plaintiff to seek compensation for legal damages suffered because of the defendant’s actions.

In a setting like Muir Wood Adolescent & Family Services, a victim could file a lawsuit against the abuser, the facility operator, a government agency like San Diego County Probation Department, an employer, or a contracted service provider.

In a civil lawsuit, you must provide evidence to establish liability for your suffering. In this context, liability could be established because of poor training, insufficient supervision, ignored abuse allegations, or unsafe premises. An experienced attorney can help you investigate the claim and gather evidence to establish fault for sexual abuse.

Eligibility for Filing a Lawsuit

If you plan to file a lawsuit against a network like Muir Wood Adolescent & Family Services, several things must be true.

First, the abuse must have occurred at the facility in question. Second, the abuser must be somehow affiliated with the center, such as a staff member, contracted worker, or resident. If these things are true about your claim, then you could seek a lawsuit against Muir Wood.

Another element that may affect your claim is if the abuser is deceased. Many victims may assume this means they cannot seek compensation for legal damages. However, you can still hold the at-fault facility accountable for failing to prevent abuse. Additionally, there do not need to be criminal charges against your abuser to pursue a civil lawsuit.

Types of Compensation Available

Although many survivors will seek legal action to hold their abusers accountable, another purpose for doing so is to receive compensation for legal damages. There are two main categories of losses, which are economic and non-economic.

Economic damages can include lost income, medical bills, mental health treatment costs, therapy expenses, and lost career potential. Non-economic damages may include emotional distress, trauma, pain and suffering, or loss of quality of life.

What Impacts Your Settlement Amount?

Every settlement in a sexual abuse claim is unique. The primary reason? Many factors affect the amount of compensation you can earn. A San Diego sexual abuse attorney can give you a clearer picture of your settlement value based on these elements. Let’s look at a few of these variables:

Severity – The more severe your abuse is, the more compensation you can secure, especially if the abuse was violent or prolonged.
Frequency – Long-term exposure and repeated abuse tend to increase liability, so your claim will be worth more.
Supporting evidence – Providing strong evidence, such as medical reports, witness statements, and facility documents, can increase your potential settlement.
Cover-up – If administrators covered up your abuse, you may be eligible for triple the damages.
Long-term effects – Victims who have PTSD, depression, or lost career prospects are more likely to earn more in their lawsuits.

Speak With a Sexual Abuse Lawyer Today

A sexual abuse lawyer in California can play an essential role in winning your claim. At the Injury Lawyer Team, we know what it takes to build strong cases and win fair settlements. We will investigate your claim, gather documentation, assess all damages, and fight for maximum compensation.

We work on a contingency fee basis with our clients. That means you owe nothing unless we win your case. As a result, there are no upfront costs to hiring our services, and our payment is simply deducted from your final settlement. Our firm is prepared to see your case through and fight for the maximum settlement, whether you are struggling with medical bills, lost career potential, or emotional distress from your abuse. Call us today at 866-757-6452 or complete our online form to schedule a free, confidential consultation with an experienced attorney.