Representing Survivors of Sexual Abuse at the San Diego Center for Children
The San Diego Center for Children is a youth health center providing numerous services for children and their families throughout San Diego. Unfortunately, allegations of sexual abuse have been made against this facility in the past, highlighting a major issue for youth health clinics in general.
Survivors of sexual abuse often wait years to come forward, which can make many of them question their ability to recover damages or hold their abuser accountable through civil action.
The Injury Lawyer Team is committed to supporting survivors of child sexual abuse and guiding them through the claims process. We provide valuable legal support so you can recover compensation and hold the at-fault party accountable. Book a free, confidential consultation today.
Settlements Recovered by Our Legal Team
Sexual abuse is, unfortunately, rather common in the world of youth services. Whether facilities are implementing poor hiring practices or not investigating allegations, children are often placed in harm’s way because of these shortcomings. Our firm has helped many child sexual abuse victims and their families recover compensation for their suffering in the past.
Some settlements we have secured include:
$15 million for several boys who were groomed and sexually abused by a private school coach
$6.5 million for a teen who was raped by a staff member on a cruise ship
$6 million from a child sexual abuse lawsuit involving ongoing abuse at an after-school activity center over several years
$3.85 million for three boys who were sexually abused by a youth soccer coach
$1.16 million for a teen who was sexually assaulted by a guard at a youth detention center
$1.101 million for a woman who was assaulted by a janitor at a Catholic school as a child
The San Diego Center for Children is a residential center for youth struggling with mental and behavioral health challenges. The center also offers outpatient programs, educational classes, residential treatment, counseling services, and therapy programs.
Most of the children served by this facility are youth who struggle with mental/behavioral health or are in the foster care system.
San Diego Center for Children Sexual Abuse Allegations
While public reports of wrongdoing by staff members at the San Diego Center for Children are few and far between, numerous victims and their family members have left reviews stating mistreatment.
Most of the complaints about this facility centered on physical abuse or neglect, but there is no indication that investigations into these behaviors have been conducted.
The number of complaints that reference physical restraining methods or aggressive use of force is concerning. A lack of supervision and insufficient training could perhaps explain why several past residents and parents have mentioned these issues.
How Our Legal Team Can Help Victims of the San Diego Center for Children
Even though no public reports mention sexual abuse at the San Diego Center for Children, this does not mean it has never happened in the past or will not happen in the future. Pursuing San Diego youth center sexual abuse lawsuits can be intimidating for survivors, so the right legal team can make all the difference in successful claims.
The Injury Lawyer Team has supported many survivors with compassionate legal support. Our team has secured numerous settlements for victims of child sexual abuse, including $6 million in a case involving ongoing abuse at an after-school activity center.
Our firm knows what it takes to investigate claims, gather documentation, negotiate for fair settlements, and represent victims in civil court.
Understanding Sexual Abuse Under California Law
California has some specific statutes regarding sexual abuse. California Penal Code § 243.4 defines sexual battery as the touching of another person’s intimate parts with sexual intent without their consent.
The contact is typically intentional and sexually motivated. In cases involving minors, there is automatically a lack of consent. This means sexual contact in the setting of a youth residential treatment center is automatically considered illegal.
Youth centers inherently have power imbalances between the children and staff members. Therefore, strict liability applies and can help victims hold abusive or negligent adults accountable for mistreating children.
Patterns of Abuse and Negligence at the San Diego Center for Children
As mentioned in numerous reviews of the facility, physical abuse and neglect may be rampant issues in the San Diego Center for Children. Widespread institutional issues can exacerbate these concerns. In some cases, the victims of abuse and their families may have been ignored when they brought up their concerns.
Failing to monitor high-risk staff can also contribute to ongoing abuse or neglect. If staff members were using fear tactics or coercion to intimidate residents, then these issues may have gone unreported by the victims. It is also possible that administrative cover-ups prevented victims from being heard.
Filing a Claim for Abuse at the San Diego Center for Children
Filing a claim for abuse at this facility can be an intimidating prospect. There could be numerous obstacles to a victim coming forward, such as institutional reporting failures, lack of supervision, and psychological barriers like fear, shame, or retaliation.
Abuse can also come from numerous sources at the San Diego Center for Children. Staff members or guards could be responsible for abusing their authority and taking advantage of young residents.
Contracted medical or mental health personnel who visit the site are also in positions of power and could use their authority to abuse the children. Plus, the fear of retaliation from facility administrators or staff members could easily dissuade a victim from coming forward.
California Child Victims Act and Statute of Limitations
One of the most significant pieces of legislation regarding child sexual abuse is the Child Victims Act, also known as AB 218. This act significantly increased the scope of the statute of limitations for survivors of sexual abuse, allowing more victims to come forward and pursue damages for their suffering.
For example, Section 340.1 of this bill states that adults who suffered abuse as children have 22 years from the date they reached the age of majority (18) to file for damages.
This would mean they have until their 40th birthday to seek compensation through civil action, or five years after discovering abuse. If sexual abuse occurred and was covered up, victims can seek more damages.
The delayed discovery rule allows victims to seek damages within five years of discovering that their suffering was caused by abuse. These regulations can be confusing, so it is best to consult a California sexual abuse lawyer to learn more about your rights as a survivor.
Holding the San Diego Center for Children and San Diego County Legally Accountable
A civil suit is a separate legal action from a criminal proceeding. You can seek damages via a civil action even if there is a criminal case in progress.
You can hold multiple parties accountable for your suffering with a civil lawsuit, including the individual abuser, the facility operator, the parent company, a government agency (like the San Diego County Probation Department), or contracted service providers who visit the facility.
Liability will affect the outcome of your case. You could establish fault for the abuse if there is evidence of issues like poor training, insufficient supervision, or ignored complaints of abuse.
Eligibility for Filing a Lawsuit
Determining your eligibility for an abuse claim against the San Diego Center for Children is an important step. First, the abuse must have occurred at the facility. Second, the perpetrator must be somehow affiliated with the center, either as a staff member or affiliated worker.
If the abuser is deceased, it is still possible to recover damages in an abuse claim against the affiliated facility. Additionally, you can pursue compensation even if no criminal charges were filed against the offender for illegal acts.
Types of Compensation Available
If you are successful with your claim, you could receive a settlement to cover legal damages that resulted from the abuse. The two types of legal damages most commonly cited in abuse cases are economic and non-economic losses.
Economic damages can include lost income, lost career potential, medical expenses, psychological care costs, and therapy bills. Non-economic damages may include emotional distress, trauma, depression, pain and suffering, or loss of enjoyment of life.
What Impacts Your Settlement Amount?
Your settlement amount will be affected by several factors. More severe forms of abuse can lead to higher settlements, such as prolonged incidents or violent conduct.
The frequency of the abuse can also affect the compensation amount, with repeated incidents often leading to higher settlements. If you have a lot of supporting evidence, you are more likely to receive a higher amount.
Sexual abuse cases that are involved in cover-ups may be eligible for triple the damages. Negligence can also increase the value of a lawsuit. If you are experiencing long-term effects because of the abuse, such as PTSD or a loss of career prospects, then the settlement will be higher.
A California sexual abuse attorney will be a vital resource if you are a survivor of sexual abuse at the San Diego Center for Children. Our firm is ready to investigate your case and fight for maximum compensation while holding the at-fault party accountable. We offer 24/7 free consultations and a contingency fee agreement, so you owe nothing unless we win your case. Call us today at 866-757-6452 or complete the contact form to schedule your free case evaluation.
