Attorney for Sexual Assault in San Diego County Organized Sports Programs

Sexual assault can occur almost anywhere in San Diego County, yet participation in certain types of organizations or involvement in particular activities may increase the likelihood of encountering a perpetrator of sexual assault. In recent years, a significant amount of news has centered around sexual assault in organized sports programs, including sexual assaults perpetrated by coaches, team doctors, and even other athletes. While there are some forms of recourse for addressing sexual assault in K-12 and university-organized sports programs through Title IX, it is essential to remember that Title IX does not hold perpetrators accountable civilly, and it does not allow the survivor of the assault to seek any form of recompense for harm.

Our experienced San Diego County sexual assault attorneys assist clients with civil lawsuits against perpetrators in Southern California, and we can talk with you today about your options for filing a claim.

Sexual assaults are commonly perpetrated in organized sports programs. These assaults occur in San Diego County and throughout Southern California. According to a study in BMJ, “sexual harassment and abuse occur in all sports and all levels, with an increased risk at the elite level.” Sexual harassment and assault usually involve perpetrators who are supposed to be figures who are trustworthy and who are often in positions of power over the athletes, such as:

• Coaches;
• Trainers; and
• Team physicians.

When sexual assault occurs in organized sports programs, regardless of the age of the athlete who survives the assault, it results in significant physical and psychological harm. According to the BMJ study, sexual harassment and abuse in organized sports can include, for example, any of the following:

• Verbal abuse of a sexual nature or of a harassing nature;
• Unwanted sexual attention;
• Grooming of young athletes or coercing athletes to collaborate in sexual acts; and
• Any sexual interaction perpetrated against the will of the other party, regardless of age.

All civil lawsuits in California have a statute of limitations or a timeframe in which a claim can be filed. While many injury-based civil lawsuits in California have a statute of limitations of only two years, it is important for survivors of sexual assault in organized sports to know that they may have additional time to file a lawsuit.

Under state law, a recent expansion to California’s sexual assault law means that you may have at least three years and up to 10 years to file a lawsuit. But some statutes are shorter, so if you are thinking of speaking to a lawyer do not delay.

If you or your child survived a sexual assault while involved in an organized sports program in San Diego County, it is important to know that you may be able to file a civil lawsuit in order to hold the perpetrator accountable and seek compensation. While we know that financial compensation cannot undo the significant physical and emotional harm you have experienced, it is an important way of demonstrating the perpetrator’s liability and providing you with some of the compensation you need to seek care on your path to healing. Contact an experienced San Diego County sexual assault lawyer at the Walton Law Firm today to seek confidential legal advice about filing a claim in California.