California Child Sexual Abuse Attorney

An incident of child sexual assault is a terrible crime that can have an everlasting and negative mental and emotional impact on a child victim. Most crimes against children are by individuals the child trusts, and the young person may be reluctant to speak about it due to fear of unwanted repercussions.

The sexual abuse lawyers in California at Manly, Stewart & Finaldi have gained prominence in this field through outstanding and committed legal counsel in many high-profile cases. Reach out to our California child sexual abuse attorneys for a free, confidential consultation.

Why Choose Manly, Stewart & Finaldi For Your Child Sexual Abuse Case?

  • Remarkable Legal Victories. Our law firm has won unprecedented monetary awards for child sex abuse victims, including a $100 million settlement against the Diocese of Orange.
  • Top Tier Advocates. We have highly experienced attorneys who have litigated some of the highest-profile sex abuse cases in the country. John C. Manly has over 20 years of experience. In the past few years, John Manly and a team of dedicated attorneys have represented more than 150 victims of clergy sexual abuse in California.
  • Trial-Ready Expertise. We know how to strengthen our clients’ cases for top results. Our California sexual harassment attorneys can go up against any defendant at trial, if necessary.
  • Commitment to Client Privacy. We practice the utmost care and prudence in client confidentially. Your case can be 100% confidential if desired. We carefully protect our clients’ identities.

What Our Client Had To Say

“One of the best reputable lawyers in the country, I feel honored to be a client of theirs.” – Vanessa R.

View Client Testimonials

Nationally Recognized

We are America’s leading sexual abuse law firm. Our firm has received national coverage on multiple news stations and newspapers for the work that we have done including child sexual abuse cases.

Click Here to See Recent Broadcasts

Navigate This Page

Click on any of the following links to jump down to the section on the page.
Are You a Child Sexual Abuse Survivor?
Types of Child Sexual Abuse
California Child Sexual Abuse Statute of Limitations
Age of Consent in California
Potential Damages Available
Filing a Claim in California for Child Sexual Abuse
Contact Us

Are You a Child Sexual Abuse Survivor?

Sexual violence can be incredibly traumatic and leave scars that sometimes last for the rest of your life. Nightmares, anxiety, stress, eating disorders, and insomnia are just some of the issues you may have experienced after the incident. By summoning the strength to confront those who wronged you and file a claim against them for damages, you will be taking a major step towards moving on with your life. The process may be frightening, but ultimately it can be therapeutic and bring a type of closure.

If you are a survivor of sexual abuse, it is important that you have legal counsel to address the damages you have suffered emotionally and physically. Our team of California elder sexual abuse attorneys understands the gravity and sensitivity of cases involving abuse against vulnerable individuals.

An incident of child sexual assault is a terrible crime that can have an everlasting and negative mental and emotional impact on a child victim. Most crimes against children are by individuals the child trusts, and the young person may be reluctant to speak about it due to fear of unwanted repercussions.

Our Los Angeles child sexual attorney lawyer can review your situation and advise you what can be done to seek justice in a lawsuit filed in civil court.

Types of Child Sexual Abuse

Sexual offenders prey on innocent victims and often the victims have no one to turn to and no adult to bring justice against the criminal. Different types of child sexual assault can include:

Are you a victim of child sexual violence? Our California child sexual abuse lawyers at Manly, Stewart & Finaldi understand the importance of aggressive legal action against child sex offenders, to weed out the criminals and those who choose to protect them.

Each arrested offender, sentenced in a court of law and removed from society makes the public safer. Our firm is not afraid to take on sexual abuse in sports in California and over the county.

California Child Sexual Abuse Statute of Limitations

On January 1, 2024, Assembly Bill (AB) 452  became effective and eliminated the statute of limitations on child sexual abuse claims. This means that now claimants do not have a specific time period to pursue a case against those that committed an act of childhood sexual assault or abuse.

While the age of consent can vary in different state, in California, the legal age of sexual consent is 18. Anyone under the age of 18 is deemed legally unable to consensually engage in sex; therefore, it is illegal to commit sexual acts with a person less than 18 years old.

Having sex with a minor is referred to as “statutory rape” and carries a variety of penalties, including jail time. Children should be free to focus on school, building friendships, preparing for college and determining what they want to do with their lives.

Unfortunately, sexual predators and irresponsible adults over the age of 21 frequently attempt to take advantage of a child’s youth and inexperience by involving them in sexual activity. If your child is a victim of statutory rape, contact our California statutory rape lawyer to find out how you can press charges against those who assaulted your child.

We will work tirelessly to help you obtain justice, as well as secure financial compensation for your family’s suffering. Having worked on multiple high-profile child abuse cases, our attorneys are some of the world’s premier lawyers in the field of underage sexual assault.

California Child Sexual Abuse Lawyer

Potential Damages Available in Child Sexual Abuse Cases

At Manly, Stewart & Finaldi, we realize abuse survivors have many reasons for coming to us for counsel, with money often at the bottom of the list. Pursuing a child sexual abuse claim against a perpetrator and/or institution responsible for enabling child sexual abuse can lead to critical changes in your community.

Your lawsuit could be the driving force behind changes that ultimately save other children from suffering the same fate. Holding the at-fault party accountable could also give you well-deserved justice, empowerment and closure. Another benefit of winning a claim, however, is a monetary award for all the economic and noneconomic damages you suffered:

  • Nominal damages. If you suffered from the inherent threat of sex abuse but the defendant never actually assaulted or harmed you, you may still be eligible for nominal damages. This is a small sum you could receive for fear or apprehension of assault.
  • Emotional and psychological harms. Sexual abuse can cause significant emotional, mental and psychological damage to the survivor. If the acts of an abuser inflicted these intangible damages on you, a jury could award compensation to help make up for them.
  • Impairment of the capacity to carry on with life. Childhood abuse often affects a survivor for life. Survivors may find themselves needing therapy or medical care to carry on. These are compensable damages in California.
  • Financial harm. If child sex abuse resulted in financial damages later in life, such as missed wages while taking mental health days, you could list them as part of a settlement demand.
  • Punitive damages. Judges in California reserve punitive damage awards for cases involving gross negligence, extreme recklessness and malicious intent to harm. Sexual abuse could qualify you to receive a punitive damage award as a survivor.

The specific damages you may be able to recover, as well as the value a judge or jury assigns to them, will depend on your case. Our California child sexual abuse attorneys can evaluate your specific child sexual abuse case for free to help you calculate its worth.

Then, we can help you bring a claim against one or multiple defendants in pursuit of a reasonable compensatory award. Our California child sexual abuse lawyers will do whatever it takes to maximize compensation for your damages, including taking a case to court, if necessary. We can help you maintain your privacy even during an abuse trial.

Filing a Claim in California For Child Sexual Abuse

The first step in filing a child sexual abuse claim is learning your rights as a survivor. Research California’s sexual abuse laws to see if your experience meets the definition of sex abuse or assault. You can also contact an attorney. An experienced child sexual abuse lawyer in California from Manly, Stewart & Finaldi can help you understand your rights to file a civil suit against your abuser and/or other parties in California, including large and powerful institutions.

An attorney can walk you through the remaining steps of filing a claim, such as determining the identity of the defendant(s), writing a demand letter and bringing the claim with the correct county courts. Then, your lawyer can help you with the most difficult part of your child abuse case – the fight for justice.

Contact Our California Child Sexual Abuse Attorney Today

We are compassionate toward our clients and respectful of their situation knowing that it takes courage on the part of a victim to confront an individual who has committed a sexual crime against him or her. We have helped many clients throughout each step of trial, settlement and sizeable awards while gaining national attention and justice for victims.

Contact us for legal advice and representation regarding an incident of child sexual abuse. Make an appointment today for a free, confidential consultation with one of our experienced California child sexual abuse lawyers.