Los Angeles Sexual Assault Attorney | Civil Claims for Survivors

If you or someone you love has been sexually assaulted or abused in Los Angeles, you may have powerful legal rights that go far beyond the criminal justice system. California law allows survivors to file a civil lawsuit — separate from any criminal case — to recover compensation for the physical, emotional, and financial harm they have suffered. At Steven M. Sweat, Personal Injury Lawyers, APC, our Los Angeles sexual assault attorneys represent survivors across Southern California in civil claims against perpetrators, negligent employers, schools, religious institutions, and property owners whose failures made the assault possible.

We handle these cases with compassion, strict confidentiality, and an aggressive approach to holding all responsible parties accountable. There is no fee unless we recover for you. Consultations are always free and completely confidential.

What Is a Civil Sexual Assault Claim in California?

A civil sexual assault lawsuit is a claim filed by the survivor in civil court — entirely separate from any criminal prosecution. The two processes can run simultaneously, and the outcome of one does not control the other. Even if a perpetrator is never criminally charged, is acquitted, or receives a lenient sentence, a survivor can still win a civil case and obtain a substantial money judgment.

This is because civil cases operate under a lower standard of proof. A civil jury only needs to find that liability is more likely than not — a “preponderance of the evidence” — rather than the “beyond a reasonable doubt” standard that applies in criminal court.

Civil claims allow survivors to pursue damages for:

• Past and future medical and psychiatric treatment costs
• Lost income and diminished earning capacity
• Pain and suffering — physical and emotional
• Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), anxiety, and depression
• Loss of enjoyment of life and damaged personal relationships
• Punitive damages when the defendant’s conduct was egregious or involved a cover-up

In many cases, the most financially significant defendant is not the individual perpetrator but the institution or employer that enabled the abuse — a school district, hospital, corporation, or religious organization. These entities carry substantial insurance and assets. Our firm investigates all potential sources of recovery on behalf of every client.

California AB 2777 — A Critical New Deadline for Survivors

One of the most significant recent developments in California sexual assault law is Assembly Bill 2777, known as the Sexual Abuse and Cover-Up Accountability Act. Signed into law in 2022 and effective January 1, 2023, AB 2777 revived civil claims for sexual assault that had previously expired under the statute of limitations.

Under AB 2777, survivors whose sexual abuse occurred on or after January 1, 2009, have until December 31, 2026 to file a civil lawsuit — even if the statute of limitations had already run out on their claim. This window closes permanently at the end of 2026, so time is urgently limited for survivors who have not yet filed.

AB 2777 was enacted specifically because the trauma of sexual abuse frequently delays a survivor’s ability to come forward. Many survivors need years or even decades to process what happened before they are ready to take legal action. The law recognizes this reality and gives those survivors a renewed opportunity for justice.

If you believe your claim may have been time-barred, do not assume it is too late. Contact our office immediately for a confidential assessment of whether AB 2777 applies to your situation.

Types of Sexual Assault and Abuse We Handle

California’s civil sexual assault laws cover a broad spectrum of conduct. Our Los Angeles sexual assault attorneys represent survivors in cases involving:

• Rape and sexual battery — non-consensual sexual intercourse or contact, including date rape and drug-facilitated assault
• Childhood sexual abuse — molestation, grooming, and exploitation of minors in any setting
• Institutional abuse — abuse occurring within schools, churches, youth organizations, or care facilities
• Workplace sexual assault — assault or battery by a supervisor, coworker, or employer representative
• Rideshare assault — sexual assault by Uber or Lyft drivers; Uber may be held liable in certain circumstances
• Medical professional abuse — assault by a doctor, nurse, therapist, or other healthcare provider
• Elder sexual abuse — assault of dependent adults in nursing homes, memory care, or assisted living facilities
• Sexual harassment escalating to assault — workplace or institutional harassment that escalates to physical assault

Who Can Be Held Liable for Sexual Assault in Los Angeles?

Sexual assaults rarely happen without enabling conditions. Employers, institutions, and property owners in Los Angeles are frequently held legally responsible alongside — or instead of — the individual perpetrator, under the following legal theories:

Negligent Hiring, Retention, and Supervision

An employer or institution can be held liable when it hired someone with a prior history of sexual misconduct that a background check would have revealed; received complaints or warning signs about an employee and failed to act; failed to adequately supervise employees who had access to vulnerable individuals; or covered up prior incidents to protect the institution’s reputation.

Premises Liability and Negligent Security

Property owners — hotels, apartment complexes, parking structures, entertainment venues — can be held liable under premises liability law when inadequate security measures contributed to a sexual assault on their property. This includes broken locks, inadequate lighting, lack of security personnel, and failure to address known criminal activity in the area.

Common Institutional Defendants in Los Angeles

• Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD) and private schools — teacher, coach, or administrator abuse
• Catholic dioceses and other religious organizations in communities throughout the region
• Youth sports leagues, scouting organizations, and community programs in the San Fernando Valley, San Gabriel Valley, and throughout LA County
• Hospitals, medical clinics, and healthcare systems — patient abuse by medical staff
• Nursing homes and assisted living facilities — abuse of elderly or dependent adults
• Daycares and childcare centers
• Foster care agencies and juvenile detention facilities
• Hotels, short-term rental platforms, and entertainment venues
• Rideshare companies including Uber and Lyft
• Colleges and universities — dormitories, Greek life, campus settings

When a vulnerable adult is victimized in an institutional setting, we may also pursue claims under California’s Elder Abuse and Dependent Adult Civil Protection Act, which provides enhanced remedies including attorney’s fees and heightened damages.

What to Do After a Sexual Assault in Los Angeles

If you or someone you love has been sexually assaulted, the steps taken in the immediate aftermath can significantly affect both your safety and your legal options. We understand that every survivor’s situation is different — the following guidance is general information, not a requirement for pursuing a civil claim.

Statute of Limitations for Sexual Assault Civil Claims in California

Childhood Sexual Abuse (Under Age 18 at the Time of Abuse)

Under California Code of Civil Procedure § 340.1, survivors of childhood sexual abuse generally have until their 40th birthday to file a civil claim, or five years from the date they discovered — or reasonably should have discovered — that their psychological injuries were caused by the abuse, whichever deadline is later. Additional extensions apply if the defendant or institution engaged in a cover-up of the abuse.

Sexual Assault of Adults (Age 18 or Older at the Time of Assault)

Under California Code of Civil Procedure § 340.16, adult survivors generally have the later of: (1) ten years from the date of the last act of sexual assault, or (2) three years from the date of discovery that an injury or illness resulted from the assault. AB 2777 further extended deadlines for claims arising on or after January 1, 2009, with a revival window closing December 31, 2026.

These deadlines have important nuances. If a family member died as a result of a sexual assault, a wrongful death claim may be available under separate time limits. We strongly encourage survivors and families to contact our office as soon as possible — the sooner an investigation begins, the stronger the case.

Damages Available in a California Sexual Assault Civil Lawsuit

California imposes no cap on compensatory or punitive damages in sexual assault civil cases. Survivors may recover:

Punitive damages are particularly significant in institutional abuse cases. When evidence shows that a school, church, or corporation had knowledge of a predator and deliberately concealed it, juries have returned punitive awards far exceeding the compensatory damages — sometimes in the millions. These awards are designed to punish institutional cover-ups and deter future misconduct.

How Our Los Angeles Sexual Assault Attorneys Handle Your Case

Civil sexual assault claims are among the most complex and sensitive matters in personal injury law. They require attorneys who understand both the evidentiary demands and the human realities their clients face. Our approach:

• Confidential, trauma-informed consultations — we listen without judgment and can meet at a location of your choosing
• Independent civil investigation — separate from any police investigation, we gather our own evidence including employment records, background check failures, prior complaints, and security footage
• Third-party liability analysis — we identify every institution, employer, or property owner who may share responsibility
• Expert witnesses — trauma psychologists, institutional negligence experts, and economists to document and quantify all damages
• Privacy protections — we pursue available legal mechanisms to protect your identity throughout litigation
• Trial-ready representation — we prepare every case as if it will go to trial, which strengthens our settlement negotiations

Attorney Steven M. Sweat has more than 30 years of experience representing victims of serious personal injury throughout Los Angeles and Southern California. Our firm is a member of the National Crime Victim Bar Association and has recovered millions of dollars for survivors of assault, abuse, and other catastrophic harm. We also handle related claims involving elder abuse and neglect, nursing home abuse, and negligent security when a property owner’s failures contributed to an assault.

Frequently Asked Questions — Los Angeles Sexual Assault Attorney

Contact a Los Angeles Sexual Assault Attorney — Free, Confidential Consultation

If you or a family member has been sexually assaulted or abused in Los Angeles or anywhere in Southern California, you do not have to face this alone. Our firm offers free, strictly confidential consultations with no obligation, and we handle all cases on a contingency basis — no fee unless we win.

Call us toll-free at 866-966-5240 or 310-592-0445. Se Habla Español. You may also reach us through our online contact form. We serve survivors throughout Los Angeles County, Orange County, Riverside County, San Bernardino County, and across Southern California.

For information about related practice areas, visit our pages on Los Angeles Personal Injury, Premises Liability, and Wrongful Death.