Newport Beach Sexual Assault Lawyers
Sexual assault includes heinous acts such as rape and attempted rape, but it also includes other forms of forceful, coercive or nonconsensual sexual touching or contact. Sexual assault can cause painful physical injury and lasting trauma, including emotional scars that never fully heal. Sadly, sexual assaults are often committed by people in positions of trust or authority over the victim, or in places where victims and their families think they would be reasonably safe, cared for and protected. The Garza Firm pursues legal actions against perpetrators of sexual assault in Los Angeles and Orange County, including organizations and institutions that also bear responsibility when their negligent hiring, supervision or inadequate security facilitated the assault. We work hard to hold all responsible parties accountable while also pursuing the full amount of compensation for legal damages such as the costs of medical expenses, absences from work, pain and suffering, and emotional distress. Contact our experienced Newport Beach sexual assault lawyers today for a no-cost evaluation of your potential claims.
Fighting All Forms of Sexual Assault in Newport Beach
Sexual assaults are often perpetrated on society’s most vulnerable, including the youngest, oldest, and most helpless, but sexual assaults can and do happen to anybody. Most assault victims are women between 12 and 34 years old, and statistics show that one of every six women in the U.S. will be the victim of an assault or attempted assault at some point in their life. The Garza Firm represents victims and families of sexual assaults committed on children, teens, college students, adults, and elders or seniors. Sharyl Garza and The Garza Firm played key roles in obtaining justice for victims of Drs. George Tyndall and James Heaps, gynecologists who preyed on women at the University of California and the University of Southern California for decades. Our attorneys worked with other law firms to recover over a billion dollars in compensation for the victims and send a strong message to the universities about their obligations to prevent such assaults and abuse from occurring.
Sexual assault is not just rape or attempted rape but includes any nonconsensual sexual contact. Forms of sexual assault can include:
- Nonconsensual touching
- Forcing someone to watch a pornographic video or look at pictures
- Forcing someone to watch sexual acts in person
- Taking pictures of another without their consent
- Exposing oneself to others
- Fondling another person
- Forcing the victim to touch the abuser
- Forcing the victim to perform sexual acts on the abuser
- Sexual talk that is unwelcome or threatening
The Garza Firm pursues justice on behalf of sexual assault victims by fighting to hold the abuser accountable as well as going after the organization or institution which facilitated the assault through its negligent or intentional acts, including failing to conduct proper screening of employees, failing to provide sufficient security, and turning a blind eye to past complaints of assault by a student or employee. Our Newport Beach sexual assault lawyers take cases against institutional defendants of any size, including:
- Elementary and Secondary Schools
- Colleges and Universities
- Sports Leagues
- Camps
- Hospitals and Nursing Homes
- Jails and Prisons
- Owners of Apartment Buildings, Government Buildings, Office Buildings, Shopping Malls, and Underground Parking Garages
- Rideshare Companies
Sexual Assault Can Be Punished in Civil and Criminal Courts
Most instances of sexual assault are crimes that can be charged as misdemeanors or felonies, depending on the offense and surrounding circumstances. It’s important to call the police after an assault to document the attack and allow the police to gather evidence and file criminal charges. But you do not need to wait on a criminal case to get justice. Sexual assault is also a tort, or civil wrong, meaning the law provides a civil remedy in the form of monetary damages against an assailant for the harm they have caused. A criminal conviction for sexual assault is definitive evidence of assault that can be used in a civil case, but it is not the only good evidence, and it is not required to pursue a civil judgment. Criminal defendants have many Constitutional rights and protections, and it takes a much higher standard to find someone guilty of a crime than it does to hold them liable in civil court. Even if the assailant is not convicted or even arrested, a skilled and knowledgeable sexual assault attorney can use evidence such as police reports, medical records, statements or admissions, and other forms of proof to establish the facts of a sexual assault and the damage done. With hard work and dedication, a civil attorney can get justice and compensation for sexual assault victims that hold all responsible parties fully accountable for their role in perpetrating or facilitating an assault.
Contact The Garza Firm Today
If you or a member of your family has been victimized by sexual assault in Los Angeles or Orange County, The Garza Firm offers a free consultation to review your case and let you know how we can help. Call our experienced Newport Beach sexual assault lawyers today.
