Sexual Abuse

Steven Schapansky, a teacher at Santa Barbara Charter School, has been arrested for allegedly placing secret recording devices around the school, including in areas where the children change their clothes. The devices were discovered following a report to the Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Office. Schapansky, who has been with the small K-6 school for seven…

Thousands of young individuals participate in school sports across Los Angeles. They are coached by various coaches and sports trainers who profess their love for the sport and desire to help athletes reach their full potential. Whether basketball, football, soccer, baseball, or any other sport, coaches are trusted to be there for young athletes. However,…

Police officers are mandated to uphold the rights of all individuals in the United States while executing their official duties. Any abuse or deprivation of these rights by law enforcement constitutes a color of law violation. Thus, if an individual is sexually assaulted by a law enforcement officer, it constitutes a breach of the color…

According to Psych Central, revenge porn is the sharing of private sexual materials of someone without their consent and with the intent to embarrass that someone or cause that person distress. The materials include photos and videos and are often posted on the internet. The posting is more than just psychologically damaging. Victims often feel…

California has eliminated the statute of limitations for people to file lawsuits over allegations of child sexual assault, under a new law Gov. Gavin Newsom signed in October 2023. The new law won’t apply to instances of sexual assault that occurred before the bill took effect, on January 1, 2024. However, it does eliminate an…

As attorneys who represent survivors of sexual abuse, some of the most complex cases we handle involve school districts. Parents expect that their children will be at least relatively safe from harm when they’re in school, so these cases – ones involving abusive teachers and schools engaged in coverups – can be particularly challenging for…

The International Churches of Christ (ICOC) is facing a series of lawsuits that allege child sexual abuse and cover-ups within the organization. The Guardian reported in mid-March that five women have filed lawsuits against the religious group in California, with accusations ranging from sexual assault to rape of minors, and claims of a conspiracy to…

After decades of sexually abusing minors, Larry Nassar was officially sentenced to prison in 2017 for all that he had done. He started his career in the late 1970s as an Athletic Trainer and was later appointed as the National Medical Coordinator for the USA Gymnastics team. Larry Nassar held that position since 1996—and it’s…

On March 10, 18 individuals were arrested by the Sacramento Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force, in collaboration with federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies, for allegedly engaging in activities related to attempting to contact a minor for sex and other related crimes. The arrest announcement was made by California Attorney General Rob Bonta…

Nick Carter is making headlines again, but not for his musical career. Another sexual assault allegation has been filed against him, and the plaintiff is a woman with cerebral palsy and autism. Carter is not new to sexual assault allegations, but this new lawsuit brings to light a challenge that many people in the world…

Like schools, hospitals are a place where we are meant to feel safe. We trust physicians with the most private aspects of ourselves. That is why, when that trust and safety are betrayed, the repercussions for such actions need to be justly and swiftly handled. Unfortunately, California has had its fair share of doctors who…

As a parent, how would you feel if the payment processing company you used were associated with child pornography? If your credit card company is Visa, you may need to give it some thought.  A recent lawsuit regarding distribution of child sex abuse materials names the company as a defendant along with other websites like…

The violence of prison culture has long been celebrated in pop culture. Television, film, and music glorify acts of rape, murder, and assault in the name of entertainment. But there is nothing “entertaining” about real acts of violence perpetrated against real people. An Associated Press investigation into the federal correctional institution in Dublin, California revealed…

Although sexual abuse is a form of abuse that often occurs with children, anyone can become a victim of sexual abuse at any age. Sexual abuse is any unwanted sexual activity from perpetrators using force, using threats, or taking advantage of the victim. Sexual abuse is a crime where the victim and the perpetrator may…

Sexual abuse can happen to anyone, regardless of gender, race, or sexual orientation. Still, there are significant issues that male victims of sexual abuse endure when deciding to publicly speak out about their abuse. Some victims experience guilt and shame, believing that they should have been “strong enough” to fight the perpetrator. Some men experience…

The last statement that any parent wants to hear from their child is that he or she was sexually assaulted at school. Sadly, that is the reality for a majority of children and teenagers. Statistics from the Education Department have shown that reports of sexual assault at schools rose from nearly 9,600 in the 2015…

Oliver O’Grady is one of the numerous priests that the Catholic Church allowed to sexually assault children. While he served as a priest at St. Anne’s Catholic Church in Lodi, California, he was responsible for raping, abusing, and molesting at least 25 children starting from 1973. Similar to many priests and members of the Catholic…

Authorities report that a Rancho Cucamonga football coach was recently arrested after police allege he placed a hidden camera inside a girls’ bathroom at Los Osos High School. After a staff member at the school discovered the camera, they immediately notified police, and an investigation found that assistant coach David Riden was responsible for placing…

On July 1, the Boy Scouts of America agreed to pay $850 million to tens of thousands of men to settle sexual abuse claims going back decades. This amount could be the largest settlement for child sexual abuse claims in United States history, if approved by a judge. Some legal experts are calling this a…

Sexual abuse, sexual assault, sexual misconduct, and sexual battery, sexual harassment, and rape all have different meanings. Some of these terms are legal terms. Others are used as catchalls and not correctly. There’s also a difference between how these terms may be used in civil cases and criminal cases. If you are looking to file…