Los Angeles Sexual Abuse in Sports Lawyer

Manly, Stewart & Finaldi is a leading law firm in Los Angeles for sexual abuse cases. We have devoted our time, energy and resources to aggressively fighting against these brutal crimes. Our lawyers understand the lifelong impact sexual abuse can have on survivors. We aim to hold wrongdoers accountable. If you or a loved one is a survivor of sexual abuse in sports, contact our Los Angeles lawyers. Consultations with an attorney at our firm are free and entirely confidential.

Why Choose Us?

  • We have experience. Attorney John C. Manly has spent more than two decades in the practice area of sexual abuse civil law.
  • We have passion. Our CA sexual abuse lawyers have seen first-hand the effects sexual abuse can have on victims. We do not give up in the battle against sex crimes.
  • We have results. Our team of lawyers has represented hundreds of victims in sexual abuse cases. We have won over $2 billion against many institutions, Fortune 500 companies, schools and sports organizations.
  • We care about you. You will see, hear and feel our compassion and sympathy from your very first meeting.

How Our Los Angeles Sports Abuse Lawyers Can Help

The moment you retain a lawyer from Manly, Stewart & Finaldi as your legal advocate, you can take a deep breath. You do not have to worry about meeting deadlines, communicating with the other side or dealing with the legal process. Your attorney will give you absolute peace of mind by taking care of everything on your behalf. Our attorneys will do everything they can to help.

  • Identifying the correct at-fault party or parties
  • Determining whether you have a case against a sports organization
  • Explaining the laws that pertain to your civil claim
  • Walking you through the legal process
  • Helping you fulfill the burden of proof
  • Gathering important evidence
  • Handling the legal process from start to finish

Our lawyers want the legal process to be as painless as possible for you and your family. We understand the extremely sensitive nature of sexual abuse cases. We can keep your identity private and confidential throughout your entire case if desired. Our firm is here for you at every turn.

What Is Sexual Abuse?

California’s definition of sexual abuse is found in Penal Code 243.4. This law states that touching an intimate part of another person while the victim is restrained or if the touching is against the will of the person is sexual battery if it is committed for the purpose of sexual arousal, gratification or abuse. The criminal consequences of this crime include jail time – for several years, in some cases – and hefty fines. A person who commits sexual assault or abuse can also face civil liability for harm suffered by the victim.

What Is Sports Sexual Abuse?

Sports sexual abuse can refer to any type of sex crime committed against a player or athlete within the context of his or her athletic career, such as by a coach or teammate. Sexual abuse is an issue in sports for many reasons. The first is the imbalance of power between a coach and a player. Athletes are constantly competing and trying to get to the next level of their careers. This opens the door to athletes being taken advantage of by those in positions of power – especially coaches grooming young athletes. 

Sports sexual abuse can occur in many different scenarios, including:

  • Coach-against-player sexual abuse
  • Player-against-player sexual abuse
  • Sexual abuse in youth sports
  • Sexual assault in school sports
  • Sexual assault on trips or during away games
  • Sexual abuse at sports camp
  • Sexual abuse at a gym or private sports league
  • Sexual bullying or assault in locker rooms
  • Sexual harassment of players 
  • Hazing rituals involving sexual assault
  • Sports doctor sexual abuse
  • Sexual abuse in the Olympics

Sexual abuse in sports can refer to unwanted or nonconsensual touching of a victim’s private parts, as well as groping, fondling, kissing, hugging, penetration, rape, attempted rape and sodomy. If you or your child experienced any type of inappropriate or sexual contact by a coach or someone else in a position of power as an athlete, you may have grounds to file a claim. You also have rights as a survivor of any type of sexual acts committed without your consent or knowledge.

Do You Have Grounds to File a Sexual Abuse Claim?

A sexual abuse criminal case is brought by prosecutors in Los Angeles, not the victim. The outcome of a criminal case against a defendant could be a conviction and sentence. A civil sexual abuse claim, on the other hand, is meant to reimburse a victim’s losses. The focus is on making the victim whole again rather than punishing the perpetrator. A civil claim is brought by the victim, who also has the burden of proof.

Proving a sports sexual abuse case requires evidence of the following elements: 

  1. A duty of care was owed by the defendant. The defendant must have had a legal or ethical responsibility to exercise reasonable care. An example is a school’s responsibility to conduct background checks on new sports coaches before letting them train players.
  2. The duty of care was breached or violated. It is not necessary to prove that the defendant committed a crime to win a civil sexual abuse case; it is enough to show that the defendant was negligent. This is why victims often have the right to sue institutions for sexual abuse.
  3. The defendant’s actions caused the plaintiff’s injury or illness. A sexual assault survivor needs proof that the injuries or losses he or she is claiming are a direct result of the defendant’s actions or crimes; in other words, the victim’s harm would not have happened but for the defendant.
  4. The plaintiff suffered compensable losses. The victim must have proof of specific losses suffered due to the sexual abuse, such as physical injuries, emotional distress and medical bills.

 These four elements allow you to sue for sexual abuse as an athlete in California. If you are not sure if you have grounds to file a sexual abuse or assault claim in Los Angeles, schedule a confidential consultation with one of our attorneys to find out. We will listen to your story and always believe you.

Who Is the Defendant?

One of the key questions we answer for our clients is, “Who is liable?” The liable or at-fault party in your sports sexual abuse lawsuit will be the person or entity responsible for the crimes against you. In a sports sexual assault case, this could be a school, gym, sports organization, sports physician, medical center, the YMCA or the Boys & Girls Clubs of America. More than one defendant could be accountable.

If a sports coach committed the crime, his or her employer could be vicariously responsible. All employers, including schools and the government, are responsible for the actions and crimes of their employees if they occur at work. While you may be able to hold an individual coach liable, your odds of securing compensation are higher going up against an institution. Naming an institution as a defendant could also push for change on a larger level. Our attorneys can name the defendant(s) for you in your particular case.

Compensation Available for Sports Sexual Abuse Survivors

No amount of money can ever make up for the mental suffering and emotional toll of being taken advantage of sexually as an athlete. Your life may be forever changed because of the crimes that were committed against you while participating in a sport in Los Angeles. With that being said, obtaining financial compensation with a lawsuit can make it easier to move forward by providing the money that you need for your future. 

The compensation that may be available with a sports sexual assault claim includes:

  • Past and future medical care
  • Psychiatric counseling and therapy
  • Prescription or over-the-counter medications
  • Pain and suffering
  • Emotional distress and psychological harm
  • Lost wages and capacity to earn
  • Diminished quality or enjoyment of life
  • Loss of consortium

Discuss the potential value of your sports sexual abuse claim with an attorney in Los Angeles before accepting a fast settlement from an insurance company. While an insurance company is more concerned about its bottom line than your future, a lawyer will aggressively advocate for maximum financial compensation on your behalf.

What Is the Statute of Limitations in California?

Although California does not have a statute of limitations on criminal sexual abuse cases, it does have one on civil lawsuits. If you were a child when you suffered this grave injustice, you have until your 40th birthday to file a claim under state law. If you did not discover the connection between your mental health disorder and sports sexual abuse until later in life, you have five years from the date of discovery to file. 

If you were an adult when you were sexually abused as an athlete in California, you have 10 years from the date of the last sexual abuse or assault incident to file a lawsuit. In a case involving delayed discovery, you have three years from the date that you discovered or reasonably should have discovered that your injury, illness or mental health condition resulted from an act of sports sexual abuse. Contact an attorney as soon as possible to protect your right to file a claim as a victim of sports sexual assault.

Contact a Sexual Abuse in Sports Lawyer Today

 You are not in this alone as the victim of sexual abuse in sports in Los Angeles. You have advocates in the attorneys at Manly, Stewart & Finaldi. Our attorneys can review your case and help you file a lawsuit within your specific deadline.We will investigate your case, search for evidence, build a compelling claim on your behalf and make sure you have everything you need to get through this difficult time. Start with a free, confidential consultation in Los Angeles. Contact us today.