Student Sexual Abuse

In the state of Washington, the statute of limitations to report a claim of sexual abuse has been revised to allow for the victim of these actions time to recognize what happened to them and how it affected their lives.

It’s never too late to come forward and seek guidance from a trusted legal professional. You are not alone. Our attorneys have represented individuals just like you who were also wondering if they had a case because the sexual abuse happened so long ago. Don’t wait another day, contact the experienced sexual abuse lawyers at Washington Law Center.

Video Transcript: Why Seek Relief Now?

ATTORNEY SARA SHEIKH: As a victim, you have rights. You deserve to be heard. The law’s permissive when it comes to the amount of time you have to file your claim, but time is still important. We encourage victims to pursue their claims so abusers are held accountable. It will allow you to take the power back from your abuser. It will allow you to hold those accountable who failed to protect you.

Calling now will allow us to start collecting the relevant information. Calling now will help prevent your abusers from hiding assets. Calling now will help ensure that insurance policies are not exhausted and available to you. We are here for you. We will listen, and we will fight for you.

Washington Law Center is a pioneer in childhood sexual abuse litigation in the state of Washington. Our attorneys have filed claims on behalf of minors who were sexually abused in settings ranging from schools, churches, and sporting events, also in situations where there was failure to report suspected abuse.

Video Transcript: 

ATTORNEY SARA SHEIKH: 

We want to commend you on taking this step. You may have been living with this for years or even decades, and we know that coming forward is not easy. You may not have disclosed your abuse to your family or your friends, and that’s okay. You may be afraid of your abuser or the institution that failed to protect you, and that’s okay. You may not remember every detail, and that’s okay. You may have questions on how the process works, and that’s okay. You may have never told a soul about your abuse as a child, and that’s okay.

The first step is reaching out. We can have a phone consultation if that’s most comfortable for you. We can meet in person, and we most certainly have the ability to meet you in a virtual setting. Do not expect your first call with Washington Law Center to be an interrogation. We want to meet you and provide you with a space to tell your story. We will listen and discuss your options. We are here for you, and we’re ready to help.

It’s never too late to come forward and seek guidance from a trusted legal professional. You are not alone. Our attorneys have represented individuals just like you who were also wondering if they had a case because the sexual abuse happened so long ago. Don’t wait another day, contact the experienced sexual abuse lawyers at Washington Law Center.

VIDEO TRANSCRIPT: Was I Sexually Abused?

ATTORNEY SARA SHEIKH: Nearly any form of inappropriate of sexual conduct perpetuated against a minor can provide for a cause of action in Washington. The legislature allows minors to sue for many forms of childhood sexual abuse including molestation, sexual misconduct which could include sexual touching or rubbing, indecent liberties, voyeurism, and, of course, any form of rape. We believe victims deserve justice for all forms of childhood sexual abuse.

There is no one-size-fits-all type of abuse. Many victims are just groomed and then convinced to participate in sexual misconduct. These victims tend to believe they’re not victims at all. Nothing could be further from the truth. Our attorneys want to hear your story and will provide you safe space to talk. We want to know what has happened, no matter how long ago. We want to pursue justice for you.

The only redress for sexual abuse victims is typically monetary compensation to make them whole. The burden of proof for victims far lower in civil cases. We must only prove our case as ‘more probable than not’ instead of ‘beyond a reasonable doubt’.

Video Transcript: 

ATTORNEY SARA SHEIKH:

According to the National Children’s Alliance 600,000 children are abused in the U.S each year. A Washington State Healthy Youth Survey reports, that nearly 1 in 8 eighth graders and 1 in 5 high school seniors reported unwanted sexual contact. Sadly, this is more common than we like to think. Please know that you are not alone and more importantly, you did nothing wrong.

Washington’s long arm statute allows victims of childhood sexual abuse to sue their abusers even when they have moved to another jurisdiction. Washington Law Center’s Childhood Sexual Abuse Attorneys will track down your abuser and hold them accountable, no matter which state they live in.

VIDEO TRANSCRIPT: What If My Abuser Has Moved?

ATTORNEY ASHTON DENNIS: 

Leaving Washington does not provide a free pass to abusers. Washington’s long-arm statute allows victims of childhood sexual abuse to sue their abusers even when they’ve moved to another jurisdiction. Our attorneys have investigated and pursued abusers all across the country. Washington Law Center has the resources, the knowledge, and the skills to track down your abusers and hold them accountable, no matter which state they live in now.

If you’ve been sexually abused, please call our attorneys for a free consultation.

Who can be held liable in a childhood sexual abuse case? Anyone who abused you or failed to report childhood sexual abuse should be held accountable. At Washington Law Center, we have also filed many successful claims for victims where entities and institutions have failed children. This includes lawsuits against the following: Churches, The State of Washington, DSHS, CPS, DCYF, Schools, Daycares, Sports Clubs, and more.

Video Transcript:

ATTORNEY ASHTON DENNIS: 

Anyone who abused you or failed to prevent childhood sexual abuse should be held accountable. At Washington Law Center, that is at the core of our beliefs and part of our mission. In Washington, abusers themselves most certainly can be held liable for the harm and the damage they caused.

Beyond suing abusers, we have also filed many successful claims for victims where entities and institutions have failed children. This includes churches, the state, DSHS, CPS, DCYF, schools and administrators, the Scouts and other clubs, daycares, and sports clubs. Truly, any entity that has care of children and fails to vet its employees and volunteers can and should be held liable when their children are abused. Washington Law Center has and will continue to fight for victims against any individual, entity, or agency. Not all firms have the resources to pursue these claims. We do.

We will listen. We will investigate and learn about your claim. We will fight for you.

Are you trying to understand the law as it relates to sexual abuse in schools? Sexual Abuse Attorney Ashton Dennis explains the basics including who is responsible, who can be held liable, and how to handle sexual abuse that occurs in a school.

Video Transcript: Why Seek Relief Now?

ATTORNEY ASHTON DENNIS: When our children are at schools, the schools step into the position of the parents.

It’s a Latin term, “in loco parentis,” that they take on that role of being the parents. We expect schools to be vetting their teachers, we expect them to have policies related to relationships, and we expect schools to have the appropriate culture of oversight.

This means that it’s not just looking away or dismissing a teacher as just a bit goofy.

No, we expect our schools to be a place where our students are safe. We expect them to be vigilant, to be looking out for our kids’ best interests.

In Washington, there are two legal theories or ways schools can be held liable for the sexual abuse of students. The first and most common is negligence. Did the school fail to adhere to the standard of care? Were they being reasonable?

That specifically comes down to two different things: number one, did they have notice? Were there things that they knew about that they should have acted on? Did they know that this person had a past that shouldn’t have been overlooked? Were they properly vetted? Were they there when they were supposed to be there and interacting with the students they were supposed to be interacting with?

Failing to adhere to the standard of care, failing to be reasonable, failing to protect our children, all of those things can lead to a successful claim of negligence. Beyond negligence, schools can also be held liable for discrimination, for sexual harassment, which includes sexual abuse.

In 2020, the Supreme Court of Washington unanimously agreed that if students are abused in schools, that equates to sexual discrimination, which in turn is a claim for discrimination where you can recover all of your damages. That means attorney’s fees, that means costs incurred.

In Washington, you can be held liable for negligence, which is a failure of policy, and also be held liable for discrimination, which is a completely different standard and opens up many more remedies for victims. The difference between a negligence claim and a discrimination claim is what you’re required to prove. In a negligence claim, a school has to have notice or a bad policy. When it comes to a discrimination claim, it’s completely different in both what you have to prove and also the remedies available.

So when the Supreme Court said yes, sexual harassment or sexual abuse of children equals discrimination, what they were saying is that schools are liable for the conduct of their employees in no different way than if a truck driver was out driving for an employer and they hit and hurt somebody; we would say that that employer is liable. The same now applies, fortunately, to schools.

If a student is being sexually harassed or sexually abused, they are strictly liable, and they have a right to a remedy of both their damages, their attorney’s fees, and the costs, which is different than what you may get in a negligence claim. The reason that’s so important is that the Supreme Court says, “You, School, are acting as the parents. You need to implement proper policies, you need to implement proper vetting, proper protocol to protect these students, and if you don’t and children are abused, you’re responsible.

We’re not going to put that burden on the parents to prove different elements. You’re liable just as any other employer would be liable in Washington.

Are you trying to get a better idea of what an initial meeting with a sexual abuse attorney might look like? Sexual Abuse Attorney Ashton Dennis is here to talk you through what you can expect when you meet with Washington Law Center.

Video Transcript: What To Expect During Your Initial Meeting with a Sexual Abuse Attorney?

ATTORNEY ASHTON DENNIS: At Washington Law Center, a consultation is going to be done in a way that makes you most comfortable.

Very often, clients have been holding onto these stories, their story for a very long time and need time to write it out. And we give you the space to do that.

Or if it’s in person and you want to meet with me and the team and talk through it, or if it’s via Zoom or other virtual program.

Or in the comfort of your home if that’s where you feel safe and that’s where you want to share your story, we’ll come to you and we’ll meet with you and we’ll talk through that with you.

And if that means that you need to have someone with you when sharing that story, we’d be happy to do that as well.

We will go out of our way to make sure it’s done in a way that makes you the most comfortable.