How Long Do I Have to File a Youthful Offender Treatment Program Sexual Abuse Lawsuit?

Under California law, you have 22 years from the time you are 18 years of age to file a Youthful Offender Treatment Program sexual abuse lawsuit. To put it in more simplistic terms, you have until your 40^th birthday to sue for sexual assault, sexual harassment, and other acts of child abuse at a juvenile detention facility.

On the other hand, how long you have to sue Youthful Offender Treatment Program for sexual abuse is not always based on the number of years after turning the age of consent. Depending on your personal circumstances, you may have the right to file a lawsuit within 5 years from discovering the emotional or physical impact of the abuse they suffered at the hands of a juvenile justice official or staff member.

No matter how long you have for a child sexual abuse lawsuit, please consider a free consultation with the Youthful Offender Treatment Program sexual abuse lawyers at our office. We are ready to educate you on your rights and legal options and fight for the compensation you’re entitled to.

Statute of Limitations to Sue Youthful Offender Treatment Program for Sexual Abuse

The time limit for a Youthful Offender Treatment Program sexual assault lawsuit is up until the victim is 40 years old, or 22 years starting from when they turn 18.

As a general rule, the statute of limitations for any lawsuit is based on a concrete number of years, such as 2 years from the date of the accident. However, the concept of an injury and how it applies to sexual abuse is a complicated subject. Most victims end up with psychological damage rather than physical injuries, which are not realized until they are adults. Or, they may have a physical injury that takes many years to fully diagnose.

In either of these cases, it’s possible that the victim is over 40 years old by the time they understand what has happened to them due to incidents of sexual abuse while they were at the Youthful Offender Treatment Program.

So, what are your options if you have exceeded the statute of limitations for a child abuse lawsuit?

Can I Sue Youthful Offender Treatment Program if the Statute of Limitations has Already Passed?

Yes, there is a way to sue for the sexual assault of a minor even if the deadline for a lawsuit has already passed. For a victim of sexual abuse during childhood, the effects of what they went through are not obvious right away. This can happen due to a child’s tendency to repress traumatic memories, especially if are fighting for survival at a juvenile hall or camp program.

Even if they never talk about it, the abuse creates feelings of guilt and self-hatred, which causes the victim serious mental health issues as they get older. Counseling from a therapist is the best way to heal from their injuries, but this may not happen for several decades. In short, an adult survivor of childhood sexual abuse may be older than 40 when they “discover” how abuse at the Youthful Offender Treatment Program has damaged their lives. This is why California law provides a 5-year window on juvenile hall sexual abuse lawsuits, starting from the date of discovery.

How Much is a Youthful Offender Treatment Program Lawsuit Worth?

Based on settlements we’ve recovered for child abuse victims, a Youthful Offender Treatment Program sexual assault lawsuit is worth around $450,000 to $10,000,000. If we had to narrow it down further, we would say that the average settlement range for these cases is around $1,500,000 to $5,000,000. Verdicts and settlements are much higher for class action lawsuits, which are worth $10,000,000 to $200,000,000 and above.

Keep in mind that case values are unique to each and every victim, and the calculation of a compensation award involves many factors. These include but are not limited to: the extent of your injuries, the sexual acts that were involved, and negligence by officials that are in charge of the program / facility.

How Long will it Take to Settle a Youthful Offender Treatment Program Sexual Abuse Case?

A sexual abuse case against the Youthful Offender Treatment Program will take 1 to 3 years to settle, based on lawsuits against government entities in California. Sometimes, we can reach a settlement with the other side in 6 months or less, but the vast majority of claims take at least 1 year from start to finish.

The timelines are longer if your case goes to trial, though this is not something most people have to worry about. Frankly, more than 95% of all child sexual abuse lawsuits are settled without the need for a trial. In the event your case is tried in court, receiving a jury verdict can take over 3 years.

Speak to a Youthful Offender Treatment Program Class Action Lawsuit Lawyer

As a victim of negligence by the juvenile justice system, you have the option of filing a lawsuit by yourself or seeking justice through a class action lawsuit. A class action claim makes sense when there are many victims that all suffered abuse by the same entity, whether it’s an individual or a government agency. By filing a Youthful Offender Treatment Program sexual abuse class action lawsuit, you have a strong and solid case with many individuals, who are all making the same types of allegations.

However, that doesn’t mean that joining a class action is necessarily right for you. To get a sense of what these lawsuits involve and whether it will serve your interests, contact us to schedule a free case review.

Contact Our Law Firm

Kenmore Law Group has a proven track record of recovery on behalf of sexual abuse victims throughout California. We can do the same for you, so contact us for a free case evaluation or free second opinion. All clients receive free legal services under the Zero Fee Guarantee. Legal fees are paid by the defendant and included in your settlement award. Since you as the client are never charged, we don’t make a cent unless we win your case.