How Recent Changes To The Law Governing Childhood Sexual Abuse Claims Help Victims
What happened?
California Governor Gavin Newsome recently approved Assembly Bill (AB) 218, which amends existing California laws relating to childhood sexual assault or abuse.
How do the new amendments to existing childhood sexual abuse laws help victims?
The biggest impact the new amendments have for victims of childhood sexual abuse is that beginning January 1, 2020, any adult who was sexually abused as a child will have three years to bring a civil action against their abuser and/or any third parties who may also be responsible for said abuse. This means that even if the time in which to bring your claim has already expired under prior laws, the new amendments revive your childhood sexual abuse claim – no matter how long ago the sexual abuse occurred – for a period of three years beginning January 1, 2020.
Am I a victim of childhood sexual abuse?
You may be a victim of childhood sexual abuse if, prior to the age of 18, you were the victim of any inappropriate contact of a sexual nature with any person (including another minor as well as any adult). Examples of sexual abuse of a child could include, but is not limited to, any of the following conduct: kissing, fondling, digital penetration of the buttocks or genitals, sexual intercourse of any kind (oral, anal, or vaginal), sexually explicit phone calls, text messages, the sharing of pornographic images, or any form of sex trafficking.
What if I am a victim of childhood sexual abuse but my perpetrator is dead or in jail?
In addition to filing a civil lawsuit for monetary damages against the person who sexually abused you as a child, the new amendments also revive your childhood sexual abuse claim against any churches, businesses, or organizations who may have covered-up the sexual abuse– no matter how long ago the sexual abuse or cover-up of the sexual abuse occurred.
If I am a victim of childhood sexual abuse who was previously told that I no longer have a claim against my perpetrator because too much time has elapsed, what should I do?
Please immediately contact the Childhood Sexual Abuse Attorneys at Ribera Law Firm at (415) 576-1600 or email Sandra Ribera Speed, Esq. at sribera@riberalaw.com.