Our attorneys have been assisting the Orange County and Southern California communities for over 40 years.
Many sexual abuse survivors are understandably reluctant to come forward. Since the abuser was in a position of trust, many victims do not want the abuser to “get in trouble.” Others fear retaliation against themselves or others. Still other cases involved delayed disclosure. The victim initially said there was no abuse, and later changes his…
When it comes to ending child sex abuse in the Catholic Church, policy and procedure statements, like the child protection policy, are an important step in the right direction. However, such documents only go so far. Initiatives like the Safe Environment Coordinator program are an important additional step. The SEC is basically the point person…
In 2004, largely in response to a Boston Globe expose on the subject, Church officials released the long-awaited Charter for the Protection of Children and Young People. This 30-page document has been revised and updated several times, most recently in 2011. Sexual abuse incidents, and the associated cover-ups, have rocked the Catholic Church in recent…
Sexual abuse includes any words or actions which are designed to gratify the abuser’s desires at the expense of the survivor’s self-esteem. Such abuse is especially common in unequal relationships, like clergy-parishioner and teacher-student. Legally, the institution which employs the abuser is usually responsible for damages. In clergy abuse cases, the Catholic Church is usually…
Reports of large-scale child sexual abuse in Catholic churches, like the 1,300-page report issued by a Philadelphia grand jury in August 2018, dominate the clergy sexual abuse headlines. The allegations themselves are disturbing enough. Even worse, there is evidence that Church officials quietly condoned this type of activity for many, many years. Yet statistically, such…
In California, all employers with one or more employees must carry workers’ compensation insurance. The state’s workers’ compensation system enables all injured or ill employees to obtain financial benefits without the burden of proof. An employee can receive compensation for medical bills and some lost wages with almost no questions asked. Thousands of residents in…