California Child Abuse And Neglect Legal Questions

You should hire experienced defense counsel you trust as soon as possible because once you give a statement to the police then trying to fix that initial mistake can cost a lot more down the road to try and exclude that evidence in court for use later in the case, if one is filed.  Before a case is filed then there is a chance a good lawyer can persuade the DA to not file the case against you.... Read Answer

Your friend can file a lawsuit against those parties who both molested her, as well as any third-party who knew or should've known of the child molestation but failed to take measures to inform the police. If that person was molested in a home, where the third-party had homeowners or rental insurance, there would be a source of recovery that she could sue for. Discuss your case with counsel on contingency fee, which means she doesn't pay anything unless she wins The case. I cocounsel with attorneys in California  on these cases, and I have had a lot of success with them. The statute of limitations is suspended in California during the period that the child was a minor, so there may be enough time that she can bring her case. Discuss with counsel.... Read Answer

Yes, you can press charges against your abuser. Your first step is to file a police report and they will take your witness statement and take any evidence that you collected like DNA samples or other similar Evidentiary samples. In addition, you may have a lawsuit against your abuser for sexual molestation and battery, and a lawsuit against any of his accomplices that allowed the abuse to go on on the theory of negligence. Furthermore, you should document your injuries by seeing on a continuous basis a psychologist or other psychiatric medical professional to work through your issues and to prove that you have suffered emotional distress and mental anguish damages from these occurrences. Discuss your civil case with counsel on contingency fee, which means you don't pay anything unless you win the case. I have many years of experience doing sexual abuse cases in civil court, and I associate with counsel in California on my California sexual molestation cases.  ... Read Answer

If mom knew and failed to put an end to the sexual abuse, then her homeowners insurance policy ,in effect at the time of the incidents, would most likely pay out the policy limits which could be in the hundreds of thousands of dollars. My co-counsel is in California. Would love to discuss your case on the phone. Feel free to call anytime. 407-581-2581   OK if you were raped by your stepfather, and your mother was well aware of that fact, then your mother could potentially be exposed to civil liability and your stepfather could be exposed to both civil and criminal liability. You should discuss your case with counsel on a possible contingency fee basis, which means you don't pay anything unless you win. The statue of limitations may become an issue, but because you are a minor there is a period of time in which it is tolled or in laypersons terms ,suspended, until you reach the age of majority. But I would not hesitate to discuss this case with a private attorney in a private phone conversation. Who owned the home that you were raped in? and when did the last rape incident occur?... Read Answer