School Sexual Abuse Attorney Butte County

School sexual abuse is one of the worst crimes imaginable. Yet it pervades the halls of many public schools in Butte County alone. Butte County, California contains 102 schools, responsible for the education of thousands of students. If you were a student at one of these schools and experienced sexual abuse by a teacher or another employee, you have rights. A lawyer from Manly, Stewart & Finaldi can help you explore them and stand up for yourself. Please call (800) 700-8450 today for a private consultation with an attorney.

Why Clients Select Us

  • We have years of practice area experience, with a history of positive case results that prove our capabilities.
  • We have a lead attorney who has devoted himself to becoming a national leader in the legal battle against sexual abuse.
  • We prioritize our clients over all else, handling each case with the highest standards of care and privacy.

How Our Firm Could Help You

School sexual abuse cases often involve public school districts as the defendants, or at-fault parties. School districts are large entities with plenty of resources to put toward fighting sexual abuse claims. The best way to balance things between you and a school district is to hire an attorney from Manly, Stewart & Finaldi. Our lawyers know precisely how to handle these claims and can do so for you while you focus on moving forward. We can give you much-needed peace of mind about your claim, knowing that a lawyer with years of experience is on the case.

Liability for School Sexual Abuse

Many survivors of school sexual abuse believe the only party that could be legally responsible is the perpetrator, or sex offender. This, however, is not usually the case. Schools are generally vicariously liable for the actions of their teachers, as employers are with their employees. In most cases, the larger school district will be vicariously liable for student sexual abuse. School districts may also be directly liable for negligently failing to prevent or properly respond to sexual abuse.

It is a school district’s job to reasonably prevent student sexual abuse, as well as to react appropriately upon hearing allegations against teachers. If a school district fails in its duties, resulting in harm to a student, it could be liable for related damages. At Manly, Stewart & Finaldi, we can help you go up against a school district in Butte County. We understand how these cases work and how to fight for the results you deserve against one or more defendants. We can help you navigate the law.

How a New Law Affects Cases Against Public Schools

Historically, California law created an obstacle for survivors of sexual assault while attending public schools. The law categorized these claims as government tort claims, forcing them to adhere to strict regulations under the California Government Tort Claims Act. Under this act, survivors only had 6 (or up to 12, in some cases) months to file their claims before losing all right to file.

In 2008, California passed a law that eliminated the time restriction – but only for clients whose cases did not involve abuse that occurred prior to January 1st, 2009. Finally, in 2019, the California Legislature amended the law to lift the Tort Claim restriction for all survivors of childhood sexual abuse, regardless of when it occurred. You may now be able to bring your claim in California, even if previous law prohibited you from doing so.

Speak to a Butte County School Sexual Abuse Lawyer

It is important to protect yourself as a sexual abuse survivor from day one by hiring an attorney. A lawyer from Manly, Stewart & Finaldi can help you exercise your rights and bring a claim against a public school district or another party in Butte County. Start your case with a confidential consultation with Attorney John C. Manly or one of our other experienced lawyers. Please call (800) 700-8450 or contact us online today.