Juvenile hall sex abuse

Were You a Victim of Sexual Abuse at One of California’s Juvenile Hall Facilities?

Contact McNicholas & McNicholas, LLP for help today

McNicholas & McNicholas, LLP is currently litigating cases on behalf of plaintiffs who suffered sexual assaults at Los Angeles County juvenile and detention halls. We are lead counsel on multiple mass tort cases related to systemic sexual abuse at California’s juvenile hall facilities and have filed more than 1,000 cases against the County of Los Angeles, alleging that the County concealed numerous cases of child sexual abuse perpetrated by facility employees. Since the complaints were filed in December 2022, Los Angeles County has already closed several juvenile correctional facilities and vowed to investigate.

Background on LA County’s juvenile and detention hall system

Per the Los Angeles Times:

The alleged assaults, dating from the 1970s through 2018, spanned a wide swath of L.A. County’s once-vast and now mostly closed juvenile hall system, including Camp Scott and Camp Kenyon Scudder — girls facilities; the Challenger Memorial Youth Center; and the Los Padrinos, Central and Barry J. Nidorf juvenile halls.

The latest suit follows two lawsuits filed earlier this year in which 70 women said they were sexually assaulted at Camp Scott and other probation facilities. It alleges that detention officers not only abused teenage girls, but also raped boys, and in some cases, female staff forced the same boys into sex acts.

Because the plaintiffs were not just minors, but incarcerated at the time, this puts the abuse under the “color of authority.”

I was abused decades ago. Am I still eligible to sue?

Most likely. The alleged assaults span from the 1970s to 2018, and if you have experienced a sexual assault, the LA Times notes (emphasis ours):

The lawsuit comes amid a window created by a 2020 state law that opened a rare three-year period for individuals to sue over sexual abuse claims from decades ago. The law effectively pauses California’s statute of limitations, enabling suits for civil damages to be filed. After 2022, people can file civil suits if the alleged incidents are less than 40 years old or if it has been five years since plaintiffs encountered psychological effects from alleged past sexual abuse.

Our attorneys are here to talk to you about filing a claim and help you throughout the process.

About McNicholas & McNicholas, LLP

For more than three decades, McNicholas & McNicholas, LLP, has represented adults, children, and former students throughout the state of California.

The attorneys of McNicholas & McNicholas have achieved exceptional client results:

  • $30,000,000 Child Sexual Abuse Award: Represented eight children and families of sexual abuse
  • $10,800,000 Child Sexual Abuse Verdict: Verdict on behalf of teenage boy sexually abused by teacher.
  • $2,300,000 Sexual Harassment: Verdict in favor of female Los Angeles Police Department officer who was subjected to sexual harassment, causing pre-term labor that led to the loss of her child at 23 weeks.
  • $2,200,000 Sexual Assault of Student: Represented 16-year-old special needs student against LAUSD for being sexually assaulted in a school bathroom by another special needs student.
  • $1,800,000 Victim of Sexual Coercion: Female motorist was forced to have sexual intercourse with a uniformed peace officer who threatened legal recourse against her if refused.

Our attorneys are routinely recognized by professional publications and organizations, and our founding partners are Fellows of the American College of Trial Lawyers and the American Board of Trial Advocates (ABOTA), invitation-only organizations made up a limited number of trial attorneys across the country, and member of the International Academy of Trial Lawyers. We are named a Tier 1 law firm for Mass Torts/Class Actions - Plaintiffs by U.S. News – Best Lawyers.

Were you sexually abused at a Los Angeles County juvenile hall? Call now

McNicholas & McNicholas, LLP is a respected trial law firm serving the greater Los Angeles area. At our law firm, we have the experience and the resources to help you seek the justice you deserve. Simply fill out the contact form above or contact us today.

Do keep in mind that every case is different and the strength and value of your case will depend on the specific facts. We are here to answer all of our questions.