Child Abuse Lawyers

When a child is harmed by the very people and institutions trusted to protect them, the damage can last a lifetime. California law gives survivors and families powerful tools to hold abusers and the organizations that enabled them accountable — from individual perpetrators to the schools, churches, camps, and agencies that failed in their duty of care. At L&F Brown, we represent survivors of child sexual abuse, physical abuse, and neglect with the discretion, patience, and determination these cases demand.


Why Choose L&F Brown?

  • Survivor-Centered Representation: We handle every case with confidentiality, trauma-informed care, and respect for your pace.
  • Direct Attorney Relationship: You will work with a Senior Attorney from your first call through resolution.
  • No Upfront Fees: These cases are taken on contingency. You pay nothing unless we recover compensation for you.
Call Us Now: 800-953-0075

Cases We Handle

We represent survivors and families in cases involving:

  • Childhood Sexual Abuse: Abuse by teachers, coaches, clergy, scout leaders, foster parents, and other trusted adults.
  • Physical Abuse: Harm inflicted in schools, daycares, group homes, and juvenile facilities.
  • Neglect and Failure to Supervise: By daycares, schools, camps, and foster care providers.
  • Institutional Cover-Ups: Cases where organizations concealed abuse or quietly moved known abusers to new locations.

Who Can Be Held Accountable

California law allows survivors to pursue claims not only against individual abusers but also against the institutions that enabled, ignored, or concealed the abuse, including:

  • Schools and School Districts: Public, private, and charter schools.
  • Religious Institutions: Churches and affiliated schools and camps.
  • Youth Organizations: Scouts, sports leagues, and after-school programs.
  • Foster Care Agencies and Group Homes.
  • Summer Camps and Residential Programs.
  • Daycares and Childcare Providers.
  • Juvenile Detention and Treatment Facilities.

California's Expanded Statute of Limitations

Under California Code of Civil Procedure §340.1, survivors of childhood sexual abuse generally have until age 40 — or five years from the date they discovered that psychological injury was caused by the abuse — whichever is later. In cases involving institutional cover-ups, California law allows for treble damages (up to three times the actual damages), making accountability real and meaningful. Claims involving physical abuse and neglect of minors are subject to different deadlines depending on the circumstances. The sooner you speak with an attorney, the more options you have.


Compensation You May Be Entitled To

Survivors and families may recover compensation for:

  • Medical and Psychological Treatment: Including long-term therapy and counseling.
  • Pain, Suffering, and Emotional Distress: Compensation for the lasting impact of the abuse.
  • Lost Earning Capacity: Where trauma has affected the survivor's ability to work.
  • Punitive and Treble Damages: In cases involving cover-ups or reckless disregard.
  • Attorney's Fees and Costs: Often recoverable under California law.

How L&F Brown Can Help

These cases are built slowly, carefully, and with the survivor always in the center. Our attorneys will:

  • Listen First: We move at your pace, not ours.
  • Investigate Thoroughly: Obtain personnel files, prior complaints, training records, and internal communications that reveal what institutions knew and when.
  • Protect Your Privacy: Claims can often be filed using pseudonyms, and settlements can include confidentiality protections for the survivor.
  • Pursue Every Responsible Party: Individual abusers rarely have the resources to make a survivor whole. The institutions that enabled them often do.

Popular Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
  • How long does a child abuse survivor have to file a civil lawsuit in California?
    For childhood sexual abuse, California Code of Civil Procedure §340.1 gives survivors until age 40, or five years from discovering that psychological harm was caused by the abuse, whichever is later. Physical abuse and neglect claims involving minors have different deadlines depending on when the abuse occurred and who the defendant is. Because statutes of limitations in these cases can be complex, speaking with an attorney as early as possible protects your options.
  • Can I sue a school, church, or organization — not just the individual abuser?
    Yes. California law allows survivors to hold institutions liable when they knew or should have known about an abuser and failed to act, or when they concealed abuse to protect their reputation. Schools, churches, youth organizations, and foster care agencies can all face liability for negligent hiring, supervision, or retention of abusers. In cases involving cover-ups, California law allows for treble damages — up to three times actual damages — against the organization.
  • What if the abuser has died, moved away, or cannot be found?
    Your claim may still be viable. Civil cases are typically brought against the institution — school district, church, organization — rather than relying solely on finding the individual abuser. The focus is on what the institution knew, when it knew it, and what it failed to do. Even decades-old abuse can support a claim if the institutional knowledge and cover-up can be documented.
  • Will my identity be kept private if I file a lawsuit?
    California courts permit survivors in childhood sexual abuse cases to file under a pseudonym (e.g., “Jane Doe” or “John Doe”). Settlements can also include confidentiality provisions. Our attorneys will work to protect your privacy at every stage of the case while pursuing maximum accountability for the responsible parties.
  • Does L&F Brown charge upfront fees for child abuse cases?
    No. We handle child abuse and survivor cases on a contingency fee basis — you pay nothing unless we recover compensation for you. There are no upfront fees, no hourly charges, and no out-of-pocket costs to get started. Call for a free, completely confidential consultation.
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See how we can help today—
and prepare you for tomorrow.