Child Sexual Abuse Attorney in Santa Rosa

Advocacy for Santa Rosa Survivors & Families Since 1920

Civil claims can seek accountability from an individual abuser and from institutions whose conduct was a legal cause of the abuse. At Abbey, Weitzenberg, Warren & Emery, we represent survivors and families in Santa Rosa and throughout Northern California in these serious cases. Since 1920, we have represented people facing personal injury and abuse-related harm.

Scott R. Montgomery obtained a $46 million jury verdict for a child sexual abuse survivor in October 2024. The California Daily Journal recognized it as one of the Top 10 Verdicts in California. He also obtained a $24.8 million jury verdict in December 2023 for three foster-care children sexually abused after a Santa Rosa-based placement agency failed to screen and supervise the foster home properly. Both cases were tried in Sonoma County Superior Court, but prior results don’t predict the outcome of another claim.

Speak with our child sexual abuse attorneys about your legal options. Call (707) 542-5050 for a free, no-obligation consultation.

Accountability for Abuse by Individuals & Institutions

A civil claim can name the person who committed the abuse. It can also name an organization when its wrongful, negligent, or intentional conduct was sufficiently connected to the harm to establish legal responsibility. An institution’s liability is separate from the individual abuser’s responsibility and must be supported by facts involving that organization.

Potential institutional defendants may include:

• Schools
• Religious organizations
• Youth-serving nonprofits
• Care facilities
• Employers

Negligent hiring refers to an organization’s failure to use reasonable care when selecting someone for a position. Negligent supervision concerns failures to monitor or control that person’s conduct. Depending on the facts, these theories may apply when an institution fails to screen an applicant, ignores warning signs, or neglects complaints and that conduct legally contributes to the abuse.

Evidence & Civil Damages in an Abuse Claim

A rape kit or other physical evidence isn’t required to pursue a civil claim. Relevant evidence may include testimony, records, communications, reports, and information about an institution’s conduct. No single type of evidence automatically establishes liability.

Civil damages may account for:

• Medical treatment costs
• Mental health treatment costs
• Lost income
• Emotional distress and broader life impact

California law recognizes delayed disclosure, particularly among people abused as children. A survivor’s inability to disclose the abuse immediately doesn’t by itself prevent a civil case. Filing deadlines and procedural requirements still depend on when the abuse occurred, the survivor’s age, and other claim-specific facts.

Discuss Your Claim at No Cost or Obligation

We offer free consultations in English and Spanish so survivors and families can discuss what happened and learn about possible next steps. Consultations are available in person, by phone, or online. You can also begin by submitting our contact form.

There’s no fee unless the client recovers, so you can explore a civil claim involving childhood abuse without paying an attorney’s fee upfront.

Call (707) 542-5050 to request a free consultation with our Santa Rosa child sexual abuse attorneys.