Sexual Assault by a Karate Teacher Lawsuit Attorney

Martial arts are a form of self-defense, as well as a fun activity for both kids and adults. For children, karate is especially popular, as it teaches balance, flexibility, motor coordination, and endurance. Additionally, karate is focused on counterattacking movements for the purpose of self-defense, so kids can learn how to diffuse a dangerous situation with minimal violence.

The average student will look back on their experience with fondness, but some children are deeply traumatized by sexual abuse from a predatory karate instructor. In truth, child molesters look for ways to have easy access to kids, and working in a martial arts studio is a good way to achieve this goal. In these classes, it’s expected that the students and teacher will develop a close bond that includes some degree of physical contact. Teachers also travel with the kids to tournaments and field trips, or meet with them for private lessons. These are all opportunities to groom a minor or force them into a sexual act.

Are you suffering from the effects of sexual assault by a karate teacher while you were a minor? Do you need information on your rights as a victim of child sexual abuse? Our law firm is ready to speak with you and ensure that you have a full understanding of your legal options. If you are interested in suing your abuser, the martial arts school, and other entities that caused you harm, you can depend on us to recover maximum payment from a karate teacher sexual assault lawsuit.

Contact Kenmore Law Group today and schedule a free case evaluation.

Child Sexual Assault Under California Law

Understanding the legal definition of child sexual assault is an important part of knowing what to do when you are a victim of sexual abuse. In California, the age of consent is 18, which is also the legal age of adulthood. Until you reach this age, you are defined as a minor, which means you cannot give informed consent when it comes to sexual relations with an adult. Since you cannot consent to sexual activity, any adult that engages in sexual conduct with you is committing sexual assault.

This is important to point out, as abusive adults often rely on excuses, like the victim already knew about sex, they came on to them first, they clearly enjoyed the acts that took place, etc. These explanations are irrelevant, since informed consent can only be given if an individual has the intellectual and emotional capacity to understand the ramifications of having sex. According to the laws in California, those under the age of 18 have not developed these skills; thus, it is illegal for an adult to have a sexual relationship of any kind with a minor.

Please know that you are not at fault if you were manipulated into a sexual relationship by a karate teacher. The teacher abused their position of authority to violate your trust and innocence. However, the instructor may not be the only party who is to blame when a karate school student is sexually assaulted.

Can I Sue the Martial Arts School for Sexual Assault by an Instructor?

Yes, you may be able to sue the business that employed the karate teacher who sexually abused you. These businesses also have a duty of care when it comes to a student’s safety. For example, they must ensure that the property is maintained on a regular basis in order to prevent accidents. They must also have through screening procedures for job applicants, along with training and supervision while they are on the premises. Supervision includes the recognition of inappropriate behaviors, like spending too much time alone with a particular student, showing clear favoritism toward the student in class, and meeting them outside of school without permission from the parents.

Sometimes, there are drastic behavior changes in the child, which are red flags for sexual abuse. Owners and employees of businesses that regularly work with children are legally required to contact child protective services or the police if they suspect that a child is being subjected to sexual abuse. Sadly, many schools disregard these signs, even when they are directly told by the student, others kids, parents, etc., that something suspicious is going on between the child and the karate instructor. These are act of negligence that can allow you to sue a karate school for sexual misconduct by one of their teachers.

Keep in mind that there may be other entities you can include in a lawsuit, like sports organizations and tournament organizers, who witnessed, heard about, or had reason to be aware of sexual assault by a martial arts instructor. In conclusion, the individuals that can be sued by the victim go far beyond the perpetrator in many of these cases. To discuss what happened to you and who is responsible for the harm you suffered, contact our office for a free consultation with a sexual abuse lawsuit attorney.

Filing a Child Sexual Abuse Lawsuit – What is the Deadline?

California’s Assembly Bill 218 provides a time period of 22 years starting from the victim’s 18^th birthday for a child sexual abuse lawsuit. So, if you were sexually assaulted or harassed by a karate teacher, you have until age 40 to file a claim for monetary damages.

What happens if you are already past the age of 40? Are you prohibited from suing the karate school for sexual abuse by one of their instructors?

You may have the opportunity to file a lawsuit if you experienced a delayed discovery of injuries resulting from the abuse. As you are probably aware, those who were sexually abused in their early years tend to stay quiet about what happened. This leads to a cycle of repression, which means the victim cannot receive justice or treatment to help with their feelings of shame, guilt, or anger. Eventually, the victim ends up with mental health disorders that were caused by the events, but they may be past the statute of limitations by the time they make the connection.

The discovery rule allows people in this situation to file a lawsuit within 5 years of learning about an abuse-related injury. We can talk to you about the discovery rule for child sexual assault in more detail during a free case review, so contact our office without delay.

Contact Kenmore Law Group

A lawsuit for sexual assault is about so much more than money, though it is certainly helpful to the victim’s recovery. However, the real point of a lawsuit is to ensure that negligent individuals do not get away with the harm they caused. This is the principle behind everything we do here at Kenmore Law Group.

We also believe in protecting a client’s finances as we right to secure the settlement they deserve. That’s why you won’t pay out of pocket when you choose one of our attorneys. All legal fees are paid at the end of your case, and only if you receive payment from a successful claim. This is our promise to you under the Zero Fee Guarantee, so there is nothing to lose by taking a chance on us.

We are here to help 24/7, so don’t hesitate to call and speak to a lawyer who can sue for sexual assault by a karate teacher.