San Francisco Clergy Sexual Assault Lawyer

Were you sexually assaulted in San Francisco, CA?

At Kellogg & Van Aken LLP, we provide sexual assault victim representation on a contingency basis, with no attorney fees unless we recover compensation for you.

If you were sexually assaulted in San Francisco, you may be weighing whether to report, how to pay for counseling, and whether anyone besides the assailant bears responsibility. Civil court is where that last question gets answered.

Our San Francisco, CA sexual assault victim lawyer pursues damages from the person who committed the assault and from the employers, schools, and organizations that allowed it to happen. Kellogg & Van Aken LLP represents survivors only, never the accused. Contact our office for a free and confidential case review.

Sexual Assault Victim Lawyer San Francisco, CA

A sexual assault victim lawyer in San Francisco represents survivors in civil court, a proceeding separate from any criminal case. The district attorney decides whether to prosecute. The survivor decides whether to sue. A civil lawsuit seeks money damages from the person who committed the assault and from any business, school, or institution whose negligence made the assault possible.

The Trauma Recovery and Rape Treatment Center at Zuckerberg San Francisco General collected and submitted 149 sexual assault evidence kits between July and December 2024, according to an SFPD semi-annual report. A civil claim does not depend on whether a survivor had a forensic exam, reported to police, or saw the assailant convicted.

Types of Sexual Assault Cases We Handle in San Francisco

Many claims reach past the assailant to the organization that hired, supervised, or protected that person. Our San Francisco sexual assault victim attorneys represent adult survivors and those abused as children.

• Rape. Many of these claims involve an assailant the survivor knew, such as an acquaintance, a coworker, or a date. When the assault happened on someone else's property or in the course of employment, we examine whether the owner or employer disregarded a known risk.

• Doctor sexual assault. Physicians and other providers sometimes disguise abuse as an examination or procedure. Hospitals, clinics, and university health centers can be liable when they received complaints and allowed the provider to keep treating patients.

• Teacher sexual assault. Public, private, and charter schools owe students a duty of supervision. Claims against teachers, aides, and administrators often depend on what the school knew and whether it acted.

• University sexual assault. Students may be harmed by professors, staff, team physicians, or other students. We review campus reporting records and the school's response to earlier complaints.

• Clergy sexual assault. Dioceses, parishes, and other religious organizations may be responsible when leaders transferred an accused member of the clergy instead of removing that person from contact with congregants.

• Coach sexual assault. Coaches control playing time, travel, and training. Clubs and athletic programs must screen and supervise the adults they place in that role.

• Molestation. Survivors of childhood abuse frequently come forward years later. Abuse before 2024 is subject to different filing rules than abuse after it, so the date of the abuse matters to every claim.

• Summer camp sexual assault. Overnight programs hold custody of children around the clock, which raises the level of supervision the law expects.

• Massage and rideshare assault. These cases involve someone the survivor trusted to provide a service in a private setting. The business that hired or contracted with that person may share liability.

• Workplace sexual assault. An employer that knew of a supervisor's or coworker's conduct and kept that person in place can be held responsible for the harm that followed.

Why Choose Kellogg & Van Aken LLP as my Sexual Assault Victim Lawyer in San Francisco, CA?

Attorneys Who Learned Litigation on the Defense Side

Mikayla G. Kellogg and Kelly D. Van Aken began their careers at a large San Francisco defense firm, representing manufacturers, utilities, and pharmaceutical companies. That work taught them how institutions and their insurers evaluate claims. A survivor who retains a sexual abuse lawyer in San Francisco, CA from our firm has that knowledge applied to the claim.

Ms. Kellogg serves on the Board of Directors of the Consumer Attorneys of California and has been named a Super Lawyer.

Recoveries for Survivors

Our record includes millions of dollars recovered for survivors and injured clients:

• A confidential eight-figure settlement for students in a sexual misconduct case against a private school

• A confidential settlement for 80 former patients of a university physician

• $1,125,000 for former college students in a case against their university and its doctor

• $900,000 for a young woman assaulted while incapacitated at the perpetrator's home

We handle these cases on contingency. No attorney fees are owed unless we recover compensation.

What Is Important to Understand About a Sexual Assault Victim Case?

Damages, Liability, and Compensation for Sexual Assault Victim Cases

In most San Francisco sexual assault victim cases, two kinds of defendants may be liable. The person who committed the assault is responsible for that intentional act. An employer, school, or other organization can also be responsible under California's general negligence statute, which makes everyone accountable for injuries caused by a lack of ordinary care. Organizational liability usually rests on negligent hiring, meaning a person was placed in a position of trust without reasonable screening. It may also rest on negligent supervision or on negligent retention, where an employer kept someone on after learning of misconduct.

The damages available to survivors fall into two groups. Economic damages cover measurable losses: therapy, medical treatment, and lost income. Noneconomic damages compensate for emotional distress, post-traumatic stress disorder, and the loss of ordinary enjoyment of life.

California also permits punitive damages when clear and convincing evidence shows the defendant acted with malice, oppression, or fraud. Against an employer, punitive damages require additional proof about what its officers knew, authorized, or ratified.

What Are Important Aspects of a Sexual Assault Victim Case?

Filing deadlines and proof of what an institution knew are central to these claims. The applicable deadline depends on the survivor's age at the time of the assault and on when it occurred.

• Adult survivors. Under CCP § 340.16, a survivor who was 18 or older generally has 10 years from the last act of assault, or 3 years from discovering a resulting injury, whichever is later.

• Revived adult claims. AB 250 opened a window through December 31, 2027, for certain time-barred adult claims against private entities that covered up or attempted to cover up an assault.

• Childhood abuse on or after January 1, 2024. CCP § 340.1 sets no time limit.

• Childhood abuse before 2024. Under CCP § 340.11, these claims generally must be filed by age 40 or within five years of discovering the psychological injury, whichever is later. California has extended these deadlines repeatedly.

• Institutional notice. Prior complaints, personnel files, and internal emails show what an organization knew and when it knew it.

We also take steps to protect each client's identity and privacy throughout the case.

What Is the Sexual Assault Victim Case Timeline?

The length of a case depends on how many defendants are involved and whether the institution contests liability.

1. Free consultation and case evaluation

2. Investigation into the assailant's history and the institution's records

3. Filing the complaint and serving each defendant

4. Discovery, including document requests and depositions

5. Mediation or settlement negotiations

6. Trial, if the case does not resolve

Settlement remains possible at every stage.

What Should You Bring to Your Sexual Assault Victim Consultation?

You do not need to gather everything before we speak. These items, if you have them, help us assess the claim:

• A written account with any dates, places, and names you remember

• Messages, emails, or social media contact with the assailant

• Police reports, campus reports, or complaints made to an employer or school

• Medical or counseling records

The consultation is free and confidential, and nothing you tell us obligates you to file. Survivors who need medical care before meeting with a sexual assault lawyer in San Francisco can go to the Rape Treatment Center, which provides forensic exams and treatment through the ZSFG emergency department within five days of an assault. RAINN's national hotline offers confidential support 24 hours a day.

Reach Out to Kellogg & Van Aken LLP to Schedule a Consultation

Our San Francisco sexual assault victim lawyer can meet with you at no cost. Kellogg & Van Aken LLP takes these cases on contingency, so there are no attorney fees unless we recover compensation. During the consultation, we review what happened, explain the deadline that applies, and identify who may be responsible. You decide whether to proceed. Contact us to arrange a confidential meeting.