School Sexual Abuse Attorney Oakland Unified School District

School districts in California should have zero-tolerance policies for student sexual abuse, assault and exploitation. Sadly, despite the Oakland Unified School District saying it is dedicated to preventing sexual abuse within its schools, students suffer this type of wrongdoing each year. 

If you or your child has experienced any type of sexual misconduct from a teacher or another staff member at a school in Oakland Unified, please do not hesitate to contact a lawyer from Manly, Stewart & Finaldi. Our attorneys provide free and confidential consultations.

Why Do Clients Choose Us?

• Our case results demonstrate our willingness to go to any length to obtain the best possible awards for clients. We are proud to have secured more than $2 billion for our sexual abuse clients over the years.
  
• Our lawyers are trial-tested and have gone up against many large and powerful defendants on behalf of clients, including major school districts in California such as Oakland Unified.
  
• Our attorneys always put the client first. If you want your identity to remain anonymous for the duration of the case, we can make that happen. We can petition the courts on your behalf to allow you to use a pseudonym.

Why Hiring a Lawyer Is Important

If you believe you have a case against Oakland Unified School District for the abuse that impacted you or your child, you need an attorney to help walk you through the claims process. Oakland Unified has 126 schools, thousands of students and employees, and plenty of resources to spend on disputing civil liability. A lawyer can help you build a strong case against the district so you can go into compensation negotiations or litigations with confidence.

Why Civil Lawsuits Against Oakland Unified for Childhood Sexual Assault Were Historically Treated Differently Than the Same Claims Against Private Entities

In the past, childhood sexual assault survivors in California had additional hurdles to overcome when bringing claims against school districts (government entities) compared to private entities. The Government Tort Claims Act made it a requirement for survivors to file claims against school districts within six months of the last act of abuse (or one year, in some cases).

In 2008, the California Legislature amended this requirement, but only for cases with abuse that occurred on or after January 1st, 2009. However, with the signing of AB-218 into law, lawmakers have amended the requirement for all cases – including those with abuse that occurred before January 1st, 2009. Upon AB-218 taking effect on January 1st, 2020, survivors of sexual abuse at public school districts will no longer have to obey the limits of the tort claim requirement.

Even with the longer statute of limitations, you still do not have an unlimited amount of time in which to bring your school sexual assault lawsuit. AB-218 extends the time limit from age 26 to age 40 for survivors of childhood sexual abuse. Please contact our lawyers as soon as you can after deciding you wish to bring a claim. Expedient counsel and legal action could mean a stronger case.

Could You Receive a Settlement?

We know the main reason clients file sexual abuse lawsuits is not the money. However, we also know a successful settlement could be life changing for clients who have had to live with the trauma of student sexual abuse all their lives. A settlement could include compensation for personal and financial losses, including pain and suffering, emotional distress, legal fees, medical costs, the expenses of going to therapy, lost wages, and punitive damages. Our attorneys can accurately evaluate your claim during a free consultation.

Contact an Oakland Unified School Sexual Abuse Attorney

The lawyers at Manly, Stewart & Finaldi know exactly how to help people who have experienced school sexual abuse or assault in California. We can use our compassion, experience and resources to help you during the claims process. We offer free, confidential consultations so you can receive personalized answers to your questions today. Please contact us online or call (800) 700-8450.