Kedren Community Health Center Sex Abuse Lawyer

Kedren Community Health Center was founded in 1965 by a group of psychiatrists who saw the need for mental health services in the underserved communities of South Los Angeles. Nowadays, the organization is known as Kedren Health – a non-profit provider of various healthcare services. However, psychiatric care for patients of all ages continues to be its primary focus. Unfortunately, there have been numerous accusations of physical and sexual abuse at this facility throughout its existence. In fact, our law firm is currently investigating allegations of sexual assault that occurred at Kedren Health during the 1970s.

Sexual violence is common at psychiatric centers, where patients are extremely vulnerable due to their fragile mental state. If they are under medication or physically restrained, they are an ideal target for sexual predators that are lurking on the premises. If you or someone you know was sexually abused at Kedren Community Health Center, please take some time to speak with one of our attorneys. We know how difficult it is to talk about an incident of sexual assault, but we want to assure you that justice is possible. At the end of the day, it’s up to you to decide if taking legal action is in your best interest. However, we encourage you to contact us and learn about your rights and legal options from a Kedren Community sexual abuse attorney.

Can I Sue for Sexual Assault at Kedren Community Health?

Most people are under the impression that they can only go after their attacker if they are sexually abused. However, there may be other parties that are responsible for your injuries. If you were under the care of a medical facility, for example, you have the right to expect that proper precautions are taken to ensure your safety and well-being. Thus, if Kedren Health was negligent in their duty of care to you as a patient, visitor, or someone with a legitimate reason to be on the property, you may have grounds to sue them for monetary compensation.

Kedren Health, by the way, has a history of negligence that’s impossible to ignore. In 2019, the organization was investigated for the death of an in-house patient, who was killed by his roommate. This incident could have been avoided if there was a nighttime psychiatrist to properly evaluate after-hours patients. The investigation also revealed an incident of sexual assault, which was committed against one of the female patients. Sadly, very little is known about this particular incident, but we believe that there are many other victims who suffered acts of sexual abuse at Kedren Community Health Center.

If you were a victim of sexual violence, it’s essential to learn about your legal rights from an experienced sexual assault attorney. If you were sexually abused due to insufficient security measures, poorly trained staff, lack of background checks, or any other type of negligence, our law firm can help you obtain justice for the harm you’ve suffered.

I was Sexually Abused at Kedren Health – What are my Rights?

As a sexual abuse victim at Kedren Community Health Center, you have the right to seek various economic and non-economic damages, which may include:

• Medical expenses, including mental health counseling
• Lost wages
• Pain and suffering
• Emotional distress
• Legal fees
• Punitive damages

Non-economic damages, like emotional distress and suffering, are especially relevant in cases of sexual abuse. Depending on the circumstances, you may also qualify for punitive damages, which are awarded by the courts as a way to punish the defendant. These amounts can be a significant addition to your settlement, as California does not impose a limit on the amount of punitive damages that can be awarded. Even if your case is not eligible for punitive damages, you can count on us to fight for every penny you deserve. For more information on the compensation you can receive from a sexual abuse lawsuit against Kedren Health, call us to schedule a free case review.

What are these Cases worth on Average?

Frankly, there is no such thing as an average case value for a sexual abuse lawsuit, as each victim has their own set of physical and psychological injuries that merit compensation. However, these are generally high value cases, and many of the settlements we’ve recovered fall between $1 million to $7.5 million. Case values are especially high if you were a minor at the time, and there was a cover up attempt by the organization to hide the abuse you suffered. A famous example is the Catholic Church, where many of the priests, archbishops, etc., took deliberate actions to hide allegations of sexual abuse by their clerics, instead of contacting the police.

Under California’s Assembly Bill 218 (AB-218), a defendant may be ordered to pay “treble damages” if: 1) the abuse was committed on a victim that was under 18; and 2) the organization engaged in “a concerted effort to hide evidence relating to childhood sexual assault.” That means adult survivors of child sexual abuse can end up receiving three times their normal settlement value.

We know that this is a lot of information to process, and some of it may not be relevant to your own situation. However, there will be many issues that we will need to discuss before we can determine what your Kedren Health sexual assault lawsuit is worth. We are ready to address all your questions and concerns, so please reach out to us as soon as possible.

How long do I have to File a Sexual Assault Lawsuit?

If you were sexually abused as an adult (18 or older), you have 10 years from the date of the last incident of abuse to file a lawsuit against the responsible parties. However, childhood sex abuse victims have until:

• The age of 40 or 22 years after they turn 18
• 5 years from discovering that they were sexually assaulted, or from the date of discovering a physical / psychological injury from being sexually abused as a minor.

The statute of limitations depends on whichever date comes later. While the amount of time to bring a legal action is quite generous in California, it’s important to file a sex abuse claim as soon as possible. That way, we can begin the process of gathering evidence and building a strong case to recover the settlement you deserve.

How long is the Settlement Process for a Sexual Abuse Lawsuit?

Settling a sexual abuse claim can be a lengthy process depending on many factors, such as the level of emotional trauma, severity of bodily harm, and the degree of negligence by the attacker / organization. It’s always our mission to settle a case in 6 to 8 months, and there are times when a case may be resolved in just a few months. However, these lawsuits are usually high value cases, and it’s common for places like Kedren Health to resist paying out on a 6 to 7 figure claim. As a result, the negotiation process may take up to 18 months in order to ensure that you receive a fair settlement. In the event your case proceeds to a lawsuit, recovering your damages can take 2 years or longer.

Contact us for a Free Second Opinion

The attorneys of Kenmore offer second opinions on active injury claims or lawsuits. Some people want a second opinion to confirm that they’re taking the right steps towards a settlement. Others are unhappy with their lawyer and want to learn about the pros and cons of switching attorneys in the middle of a case. A neutral, third-party case assessment from one of our attorneys can be very helpful in these situations. Our goal is to educate you on your rights and legal options; what you do with that information is up to you. For a free second opinion with a lawyer experienced in sexual assault cases, please give us a call at our office.

Speak to a Sexual Abuse Attorney in the Los Angeles Area

Medical facilities like Kedren Community Health Center have the highest degree of responsibility to protect and care for those who are on their premises. That includes patients, as well as visitors and guests, who have a right to expect that proper safety measures are in place. When there is an act of negligence by a medical center, incidents like sexual assault are bound to happen, especially among vulnerable populations like psychiatric patients.

If you or your loved one was a victim of sexual abuse at Kedren Health, we can help you achieve justice through a personal injury lawsuit. One issue that you may be concerned about is how much it will cost to hire us, but we make all our services free to sexual assault victims under the Zero fee guarantee. We bill the defendant for our expenses, which we only recover by winning your case. That means if we don’t win your case, you’re completely off the hook for any legal fees. In essence, you have nothing to lose by taking some time to meet with us. Contact Kenmore Law Group to schedule a free case evaluation.