Survivors of sexual abuse and assault deserve justice, accountability, and compensation. We provide compassionate, confidential representation through every step of the legal process.
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Overview
Sexual abuse and assault cause profound, lasting harm. The decision to come forward — to pursue legal accountability against a perpetrator or the institution that enabled the abuse — takes extraordinary courage. At Arns Davis Law, we approach these cases with the sensitivity and respect survivors deserve, while bringing the aggressive litigation skills necessary to obtain meaningful results.
We represent survivors in civil claims against both individual perpetrators and the institutions that allowed abuse to occur. Workplace sexual harassment, institutional abuse in schools and youth organizations, childhood sexual abuse, and abuse enabled by negligent supervision — these cases share a common thread: someone in a position of power or trust violated that trust, and the institutions that should have prevented it looked the other way.
California has taken significant steps to expand survivors' rights. Recent legislation has extended or revived the statute of limitations for sexual abuse claims, giving survivors more time to come forward. The legal landscape continues to evolve, and our attorneys stay current on every development that affects our clients' ability to seek justice.
Every aspect of our representation is confidential. We understand the deeply personal nature of these cases and we structure our approach to protect our clients' privacy at every stage — from initial consultation through resolution. Survivors should know that pursuing a civil claim is separate from the criminal justice process and does not require a criminal conviction.
Recent Results in Sexual Abuse
*Past results do not guarantee future outcomes.
See All Firm Results →What You Should Know
No. Civil claims for sexual abuse are completely separate from the criminal justice process. A civil lawsuit requires a lower standard of proof (preponderance of the evidence versus beyond a reasonable doubt), and you can pursue a civil claim regardless of whether criminal charges were filed or resulted in a conviction.
California has significantly extended the statute of limitations for sexual abuse claims in recent years. For childhood sexual abuse, survivors generally have until age 40 or within five years of discovering that psychological injury was caused by the abuse, whichever is later. Recent legislation has also revived previously expired claims in certain circumstances. Because the rules are complex and continue to evolve, consult an attorney to understand your specific situation.
Yes. If an institution — an employer, a school, a youth organization, a sports program — knew or should have known about the abuse and failed to prevent it, they can be held liable for negligent supervision, negligent hiring, or negligent retention. Institutional claims can result in significant recoveries and often force policy changes that protect others from future abuse.
We take every measure available to protect our clients' privacy. In many cases, survivors can proceed under a pseudonym (such as 'Jane Doe' or 'John Doe'). We discuss privacy considerations with every client at the outset and structure our approach to minimize exposure throughout the case.