Los Angeles Sexual Abuse Lawyer
| Feher Law
- Top Rated Trial Firm
- Over $170 Million Recovered For Clients
- No Fees Unless We Win
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Sexual abuse can leave harm that lasts for decades, and many survivors in Los Angeles do not come forward for years. Abuse happens in schools, religious organizations, youth programs, care facilities, workplaces, and homes, and the institutions that failed to protect a child or vulnerable adult can be held responsible.
A Los Angeles sexual abuse lawyer at Feher Law listens first, explains your options at your pace, and keeps your case as private as the law allows. Our consultations are confidential.
You pay nothing unless we win. Reach out whenever you are ready.
Key Takeaways
- Deadlines in these cases differ from ordinary injury claims. An adult survivor generally has the later of 10 years from the last act or three years from discovering an injury under Code of Civil Procedure 340.16, and a limited revival window for some older adult claims runs through December 31, 2026.
- Childhood sexual assault is governed by Code of Civil Procedure 340.1, which has changed repeatedly. Abuse on or after January 1, 2024 has no civil deadline (AB 452), and older abuse depends on age and discovery rules a lawyer needs to check.
- A civil claim stands on its own. Under Civil Code 1708.5 a survivor can sue the person who committed a sexual battery, and an employer or institution can be liable alongside them, with or without criminal charges.
- Workplace harassment is covered for employers of any size under Government Code 12940(j), while the five-employee threshold applies to discrimination claims.
- We handle every sexual abuse case on contingency.
Why Survivors Choose Feher Law
Survivors choose a lawyer for trust as much as skill. We aim for both:
- You set the pace: you decide how much to share and when, and we explain every step before it happens.
- Institutional cases are our focus: when a school, a program, a care facility, or an employer failed to protect someone, we investigate what it knew and when.
- Privacy: we work to keep your information protected, including asking the court for protective measures in appropriate cases.
- Courtroom experience: Tom Feher has taken more than 50 cases to a jury verdict, which matters when an institution weighs whether to settle.
Verdicts & Settlements
$170M+ Recovered for California Workers & Injury Victims
Real case outcomes from Feher Law across personal injury and employment matters, resolved under California law.
See what your case could be worth.
Free, confidential case assessment. Available 24/7.
Past results do not guarantee future outcomes. Every case is evaluated on its specific facts under California law. View full results on our Case Results page.
Why Acting Fast Protects Your Case
Deadlines in sexual abuse cases are unusual, and some are about to close. Under Code of Civil Procedure 340.16, claims for sexual assault of an adult that would otherwise be barred can be revived until December 31, 2026 in some situations, including conduct on or after January 1, 2009. Certain claims already decided or settled before January 1, 2023 are not revived.
- If you were assaulted as an adult and were told your claim was too old, talk to a lawyer before the end of 2026
- Records, witnesses, and institutional files become harder to find over time
- Institutions may change or destroy records unless they receive a preservation letter
- You can speak with us confidentially and decide later what to do
Free, confidential consultations. No fee unless we win.
What Our Clients Say
Why California Clients Choose Feher Law
Super Lawyers 2022-2026 | Avvo 10.0 Superb | Gerry Spence Trial Lawyers College Graduate
Meet Our Team
Thomas Feher, Esq.
Founding Attorney
Stephen Wiard, Esq.
Senior Trial Attorney
Sandy Luu, Esq.
Associate Attorney
Alex Ballard, Esq.
Associate Attorney
Karen Parra, Esq.
Associate Attorney
Chase Nielsen, Esq.
Associate Attorney
Betsy Gomez
Managing Paralegal
Erica Feher
Chief of Operations
Austin Wallick, Esq.
Associate Attorney
Samantha Marquez
Legal Secretary
Marcela Guzman
Intake Specialist (Employment)
Alejandro Zelaya
Intake Specialist (Personal Injury)
Daniela Ramirez
Litigation Assistant
Marvin Rodriguez
Paralegal
Cassandra De Vera
Law Clerk
The Cases We Handle
We represent survivors in civil cases involving:
- Childhood sexual abuse by teachers, coaches, clergy, caregivers, relatives, or other trusted adults, and by the institutions that put them in contact with children
- Adult sexual assault by a stranger, an acquaintance, a partner, or someone in authority
- Sexual abuse in care settings, including nursing homes, group homes, and treatment programs
- Workplace sexual assault and harassment, which can involve both a civil claim and a Civil Rights Department complaint under Government Code 12960
California Laws That Support Survivors
Civil claims for sexual abuse are separate from the criminal case. Several laws matter:
- CCP 340.1 governs claims arising from childhood sexual assault, and it has changed in recent years, with no civil deadline for abuse on or after January 1, 2024.
- CCP 340.16 governs adult sexual assault claims and includes a limited revival window for some older claims that closes December 31, 2026.
- Civil Code 1708.5 gives a survivor a claim for sexual battery against the person who committed it.
- The Fair Employment and Housing Act prohibits sexual harassment at work, and for harassment it applies to employers of any size under Government Code 12940.
- Penal Code provisions such as sections 243.4, 261, and 288 define the crimes, but a civil case does not require a conviction.
Your Rights as a Survivor
As a survivor, you have the right to seek compensation in court whether or not charges were filed, to be treated with dignity in the process, to ask for privacy protections, and to decide whether and when to proceed. A civil case is also a way to hold an institution accountable and to learn how the abuse was allowed to happen.
What a Civil Case May Recover
Compensation in a civil case may include:
- Economic damages: therapy and medical care, lost earnings, and lost earning capacity
- Non-economic damages for the emotional and personal harm the abuse caused
- Punitive damages in some cases, where the defendant acted with malice, oppression, or fraud, under Civil Code 3294
- Enhanced damages in some childhood cases involving a cover-up
How a Civil Case Moves Forward
What to expect:
- A private consultation where you share what you are ready to share.
- Review and investigation: we assess deadlines, identify responsible parties, and gather records.
- Filing: we prepare a complaint, and we ask for privacy protections in appropriate cases.
- Discovery and mediation: written questions, documents, and depositions, with a chance to resolve the case.
- Trial if necessary.
Every case moves differently, and you may step back or pause at any point.
What to Do First
- Get safe and, if you need it, medical care.
- Call a support line such as the RAINN National Sexual Assault Hotline at 800-656-4673.
- Preserve evidence if you can: clothing, messages, photos, and notes.
- Write down what you remember in your own words, when you are ready.
- Talk to a lawyer before you speak with an institution’s insurer or investigator.
Evidence in Sexual Abuse Cases
Evidence in sexual abuse cases is different from other injury cases. It can include medical or counseling records, messages and emails, journals, statements from people you told at the time, personnel files, prior complaints about the same person, and institutional policies. Many survivors have little physical evidence, and that does not end a case. We investigate the institution’s records and other people’s accounts.
What to Expect: Privacy, Pace, and Support in Los Angeles
You decide how much to share and when. We can ask the court to protect your identity in appropriate cases, and we do not push you to relive events before you are ready. Counseling and support run alongside the legal process. If you need to talk to someone now, the RAINN National Sexual Assault Hotline is available at 800-656-4673. If you are in danger, call 911.
Who Can Be Held Responsible in Los Angeles Sexual Abuse Cases
The person who committed the abuse is not the only one who can be responsible. Schools, churches, youth organizations, camps, care facilities, and employers can be liable when they knew or should have known about the danger and did not act, or when they failed to screen, supervise, or remove someone. When a public agency is involved, special claim rules apply, so talk to us before you assume a deadline has passed. California law has changed the filing deadlines for abuse of a child in recent years, and deadlines depend on your age and when the abuse happened.
Filing Deadlines, Including the 2026 Revival Window
The deadline depends on your age at the time and the date of the abuse. For adult assault, the rule is the later of 10 years from the last act or three years from discovering that an injury resulted, under Code of Civil Procedure 340.16, with a limited revival window for some older claims that closes December 31, 2026. For childhood abuse, the law has changed several times, and for abuse on or after January 1, 2024 there is no civil deadline under Code of Civil Procedure 340.1. Claims against public entities may involve special claim rules. Because the deadline depends on facts only a lawyer can check, please talk to us before you assume a claim is too old.
Fees for Sexual Abuse Cases
No fee is due unless we recover for you, and consultations are free and confidential.
Confidentiality and Privacy
Your consultation is confidential. We tell you in advance what will and will not be shared, and we discuss privacy options such as asking the court to use initials or a pseudonym where the law allows. You choose whether to proceed.
Notable Recent Settlements
Examples of California cases Feher Law has resolved on behalf of clients in this practice area:
- $2.82M – Premises Liability – Foot Injury
- $2M – Trip & Fall – Brain & Back Injury
- $1.61M – Slip & Fall – Shoulder Injury
- $1.45M – Premises Liability
Past results do not guarantee future outcomes. Every case is evaluated on its specific facts under California law.
How Civil Recoveries in Sexual Abuse Cases Are Measured
Time limits for sexual abuse claims have expanded in recent years, as summarized below.
| Case Type | Typical Settlement | Severe / Class Action Cases |
|---|---|---|
| Single-Plaintiff Adult Survivor | $100,000 – $500,000 | $1,000,000 – $5,000,000+ |
| Childhood Sexual Abuse | $500,000 – $3,000,000 | $5,000,000 – $15,000,000+ |
| Institutional Abuse (church/school) | $1,000,000 – $5,000,000 | $10,000,000 – $50,000,000+ |
| Class Action / Multiple Plaintiffs | $5,000,000 – $50,000,000 | $150,000,000 – $1B+ |
The ranges in this table are general illustrations and not a prediction of what any case is worth. Every case depends on its own facts, the evidence, the law that applies, and the insurance available. Past results do not guarantee a similar outcome. This is not legal advice.
We represent survivors in Los Angeles County and across California.
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Talk to Us, Confidentially and for Free
If you are ready to talk, or just want to learn your options, contact Feher Law or call (310) 340-1112. The call is confidential and free.
Services We Offer
When it comes to your recovery and peace of mind, it’s vital to have an expert by your side that really understands the bigger picture of employment law. Explore the full range of services we offer below.
Frequently Asked Questions
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Our team is standing by and ready to assist you. Consultations are completely free and confidential. We will help you determine if you have a case.
Last reviewed by Thomas Feher, Esq. – October 2026
- Over $170 Million Recovered For Clients
- No Fees Unless We Win
- We Fight for Maximum Compensation
- Get The Justice You Deserve
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Other Los Angeles Practice Areas
Feher Law also serves Los Angeles clients in these related practice areas:
- Los Angeles Brain Injury Lawyer
- Los Angeles Spinal Cord Injury Lawyer
- Los Angeles Amputation Lawyer
- Los Angeles CRPS Lawyer
- Los Angeles Electrocution Lawyer
- Los Angeles Slip and Fall Lawyer
- Los Angeles Premises Liability Lawyer
For a general overview of how we represent Los Angeles County clients across all practice areas, see our Los Angeles Personal Injury Lawyer page.