California Public School Sexual Abuse Lawyers for Adult Survivors
Written by Alex E. Cunny, Partner · Updated October 2026
The short answer. If a teacher, coach, aide or other staff member sexually abused you while you were a student at a California public school, you can sue the school district, not only the abuser, any time before your 40th birthday. You do not have to file a government claim first, and you can file as “Jane Doe” or “John Doe” so your name stays out of the public record. LMMB Law represents adult survivors in these cases across California.
Under 40? You may be entitled to substantial compensation.
It was not your fault
The adults at your school had one job: keep you safe. Many survivors we talk to are in their 20s and 30s. Many never told anyone, or told someone and nothing happened. Many aren’t sure it was “bad enough,” or assume it’s too late. None of that decides whether you have a case. What matters is what happened, who was responsible for supervising the person who hurt you, and whether you file before your 40th birthday.
Can I sue the school district, or only the person who abused me?
You can sue the school district. California law recognizes a special relationship between a school district and its students, and a duty to protect them from foreseeable harm, including harm from district employees (C.A. v. William S. Hart Union High School Dist. (2012) 53 Cal.4th 861).
When a district fails to protect a student, the claims we bring commonly include:
Negligent supervision. Failing to monitor staff who were alone with students, investigate red flags, or step in.
Negligent hiring and retention. Failing to vet staff, or keeping someone in contact with children after warning signs.
Failure to train and educate. Failing to teach staff, students and families to recognize grooming and boundary violations.
Failure to report. California’s Child Abuse and Neglect Reporting Act (CANRA) requires teachers, coaches, aides and administrators to report suspected abuse (Penal Code § 11166). Districts must also train their staff as mandated reporters (Penal Code § 11165.7).
Responsibility for employees. A district can be liable for the acts and failures of its employees (Government Code §§ 815.2, 820).
The person who abused you can usually be sued as well, for example for sexual battery (Civil Code § 1708.5).
How long do I have?
Under 40: You can bring a case against a California school district any time before your 40th birthday.
Why 40: California’s AB 218, sometimes called the California Child Victims Act, set the age-40 deadline in 2019. It still applies to abuse that happened before 2024 (Code of Civil Procedure § 340.11).
Abuse on or after January 1, 2024: There is no deadline (Code of Civil Procedure § 340.1).
No government claim first: Childhood sexual assault claims against public school districts are exempt from the usual government claim-filing requirement (Code of Civil Procedure § 340.11(s); Government Code § 905(m)).
40 or older: Different and stricter rules apply, so talk to a lawyer promptly. LMMB currently evaluates California school cases for survivors under 40.
Every case is different. This is general information, not legal advice. A confidential review can confirm what applies to you.
What changed in 2026 (SB 577)
California enacted SB 577 in September 2026; it takes effect January 1, 2027. For survivors under 40, the core rule is unchanged: you can still sue a school district any time before your 40th birthday, with no government claim first. The new law mainly affects survivors who are 40 or older when they sue a public entity over abuse that happened before 2024. They must now meet a higher standard of proof.
Who can be responsible
Districts are responsible for every adult they place around students, not just teachers. Our cases involve:
teachers and substitute teachers
coaches and assistant coaches
teaching aides and classroom assistants
counselors and administrators
campus security officers
after-school program staff
custodians, bus drivers and other staff
How abuse becomes possible at school
Supervision in a school is about governing the pathways adults use to get a child alone. When a school fails to govern those pathways, abuse becomes possible and predictable. Warning signs we investigate include:
pulling a student out of class, or keeping a student in a classroom at lunch, recess or after school
closed-door or blinds-down sessions in classrooms, offices, portables, locker rooms or weight rooms
detention or “tutoring” used as a reason to keep a student alone
rides in a staff member’s car, or off-campus trips
private texting and social-media messages
gifts, money and favoritism
staff known for being “too close” to students
complaints from students or parents that went nowhere
Institutional liability does not depend on proving the school knew this specific person was dangerous. It depends on proving the school failed to create and keep systems that make any predator’s conduct structurally difficult.
What you do not need
A police report or criminal charges. A civil case is separate from any criminal case. Many abusers are never charged.
Records or proof in hand. Investigating is our job. We gather school records, staff files, witness accounts and other evidence.
To have told anyone at the time. Most survivors don’t. Delayed disclosure is normal.
To relive everything on the first call. Share what you’re comfortable sharing.
Your privacy
Survivors of childhood sexual assault can ask to file under a pseudonym such as “Jane Doe” or “John Doe,” so their name doesn’t appear in public court filings. LMMB files most of its school cases this way. Your first conversation with us is confidential.
What compensation can cover
Survivors can seek compensation for:
emotional, mental and psychological injury, such as depression and anxiety
physical injury
counseling and medical costs
lost earnings and lost earning capacity
California does not allow punitive damages against public school districts. Every case is different, and no lawyer can promise a result.
What it costs
Nothing up front. We work on contingency: fees and expenses are charged only against money recovered from responsible parties. You owe nothing as a fee or expense unless we first make a recovery for you.
What happens when you contact us
A confidential conversation. We listen, answer your questions, and ask only what we need to understand your situation.
A free case review. We look at where and when the abuse happened, who was involved, and the deadlines that apply to you.
Investigation. If we take your case, we investigate the school and district.
Filing. We file in the Superior Court of the county where the abuse happened, usually under a pseudonym.
Accountability. We pursue compensation through settlement or trial, and we keep you informed and in control throughout.
Contacting us does not create an attorney-client relationship. No attorney represents you until you and the firm sign a written agreement.
Our California school abuse lawsuits
In 2026 LMMB Law has filed lawsuits on behalf of survivors against school districts across California, in Los Angeles, San Bernardino, Kern, Alameda, San Mateo, Santa Clara, Sonoma, Tehama and Yuba counties, among others. Each summary below describes what a lawsuit alleges. Allegations are not proof.
Los Alisos Middle School
Norwalk-La Mirada Unified School District · Los Angeles County
Filed September 24, 2026
A lawsuit alleges the district ignored warning signs about teacher Scott Waln and failed to protect a student.
Read the case summary →
Palmdale High School
Antelope Valley Union High School District · Los Angeles County
Filed September 24, 2026
A lawsuit alleges the district kept a teaching aide in contact with a student after questioning her about driving the student.
Read the case summary →
Juan Rodriguez Cabrillo High School
Long Beach Unified School District · Los Angeles County
Filed September 22, 2026
A lawsuit alleges the district let a campus security officer take a student out of class and off campus.
Read the case summary →
Corning Union High School
Corning Union High School District · Tehama County
Filed September 17, 2026
A lawsuit alleges the district left a summer school teacher with secluded, unsupervised access to students.
Read the case summary →
Menlo Avenue Elementary School
Los Angeles Unified School District · Los Angeles County
Filed September 8, 2026
A lawsuit alleges LAUSD let an after-school program supervisor take a student away from the other children.
Read the case summary →
Barstow High School
Barstow Unified School District · San Bernardino County
Filed August 31, 2026
A lawsuit alleges the district gave coach Jose Tapia unsupervised access to a student in locked campus rooms.
Read the case summary →
Guerneville Elementary School
Guerneville Elementary School District · Sonoma County
Filed August 20, 2026
A lawsuit alleges administrators knew a teacher kept a “tutoring” van on campus where he was alone with students.
Read the case summary →
Newark Memorial High School
Newark Unified School District · Alameda County
Filed August 20, 2026
A lawsuit alleges the district let a teaching aide take a student off campus during school hours.
Read the case summary →
Entrepreneur High School
Real Journey Academies, Inc. (charter school operator) · San Bernardino County
Filed August 18, 2026
A lawsuit alleges the charter school kept a coach on staff after a teacher reported concerns.
Read the case summary →
Crenshaw High School
Los Angeles Unified School District · Los Angeles County
Filed August 13, 2026
A lawsuit alleges LAUSD let a teacher use detention to keep a student alone after school.
Read the case summary →
Desert View Elementary School
Lancaster School District · Los Angeles County
Filed August 7, 2026
A lawsuit alleges the district ignored a teacher keeping students alone in an isolated portable classroom with the blinds closed.
Read the case summary →
Edwin Markham Middle School
Los Angeles Unified School District · Los Angeles County
Filed August 7, 2026
A lawsuit alleges LAUSD ignored reports about PE teacher Ralph Hastings.
Read the case summary →
Anna McKenney Intermediate
Marysville Joint Unified School District · Yuba County
Filed July 31, 2026
A lawsuit alleges the district ignored warning signs about teacher Steven Cunningham in the 2000s.
Read the case summary →
Frequently asked questions
Can I sue a California school district for sexual abuse that happened when I was a student?
Yes. School districts have a legal duty to protect students and can be held responsible when they fail to supervise staff, act on warning signs, train employees or report suspected abuse.
Can I sue a teacher for sexual abuse?
Yes. The teacher, coach or staff member who abused you can usually be sued, along with the school district that employed and supervised them.
How do I sue a school district for sexual abuse?
Start with a free, confidential review. If we take your case, we investigate and then file a lawsuit in the Superior Court of the county where the abuse happened, usually under a pseudonym. You do not have to file a government claim first.
I’m in my 30s. Is it too late to sue my school?
No. You can bring a case against a California school district any time before your 40th birthday.
Is AB 218 still in effect?
Yes. The age-40 deadline from AB 218 still applies to abuse that happened before 2024 (Code of Civil Procedure § 340.11). SB 577, which takes effect January 1, 2027, adds stricter rules for survivors who are 40 or older.
Do I have to file a government claim before suing a school district?
No. Childhood sexual assault claims against public school districts are exempt from California’s government claim-filing requirement.
Can I sue without my name being made public?
Yes. Survivors can ask to file under a pseudonym such as Jane Doe or John Doe.
The teacher was never arrested or charged. Can I still sue?
Yes. A civil lawsuit is separate from criminal charges. Many cases are brought where no criminal case was ever filed.
What if I don’t have any records?
That’s common. Investigating and gathering records is the law firm’s job.
Who can be responsible besides the abuser?
The school district that employed and supervised the abuser, and sometimes other responsible parties.
Do you represent men who were abused at school?
Yes. Many of our clients are men, including men abused by female teachers and aides.
How much does it cost to talk to a lawyer?
Nothing. The consultation is free and confidential, and we charge fees and expenses only from a recovery.
What if I’m 40 or older?
Stricter rules apply after 40. Please talk to a lawyer promptly. LMMB currently evaluates California school cases for survivors under 40.
Does contacting LMMB make me a client?
No. Only a signed written agreement creates an attorney-client relationship.
Free, confidential case review
If you are a survivor, contact us for a free and confidential consultation about your legal options.
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