Santa Clara County Sexual Abuse Lawyer

Santa Clara County sexual abuse attorneys who represent survivors across the region, led by two founding lawyers with more than a decade of California trial experience each.

If you or your child was harmed by sexual abuse anywhere in Santa Clara County, a civil claim may let you hold the responsible people and institutions accountable. Our Santa Clara County, CA sexual abuse lawyer represents survivors across the region, from schools and youth programs to workplaces, medical offices, and places of worship. We gather the evidence, identify who is responsible, and manage the legal process from start to finish. Kellogg & Van Aken LLP offers a free, confidential consultation to talk through what your case may involve.

Sexual Abuse Lawyer Santa Clara County, CA

A sexual abuse lawyer represents survivors who were harmed by another person and helps them pursue accountability through the civil courts. This work is separate from a criminal case. Prosecutors bring criminal charges to punish an offender, while a civil claim belongs to the survivor and seeks money damages for the harm they endured.

We represent survivors throughout Santa Clara County, including in Cupertino, Palo Alto, San Jose, and the surrounding communities. Many of these cases involve an institution that should have prevented the abuse, such as a school, an employer, a clinic, or a youth organization. Survivors often carry a lasting harm that reaches well beyond the events themselves, and we help families pursue what California law allows them to recover.

Types of Sexual Abuse Cases We Handle in Santa Clara County

Sexual abuse happens in many settings, and the institution involved often shares responsibility for allowing it to occur. We represent survivors across the full range of these cases, whether the harm happened at a school, in youth sports, at work, or in a care setting. Responsibility frequently extends past the individual who caused the harm to the organization that enabled it. The list below reflects the kinds of matters we handle throughout the county.

• School and campus abuse. Students depend on the adults a school places in front of them every day. When a district or private school fails to screen or supervise its staff, it can be held responsible. We handle school sexual abuse matters from the elementary grades through college.
• Coach sexual assault. Coaches and athletic staff often have private, repeated access to young athletes. When a coach commits abuse, the league, club, or school that employed them may share liability for what occurred.
• Clergy and religious organizations. Faith communities place deep trust in their leaders. We pursue claims against churches and religious institutions that shielded an abuser or looked past clear warning signs.
• Doctors and medical providers. Patients are vulnerable during examinations and treatment. We represent survivors abused by physicians, therapists, and other providers, and we pursue the practices or hospitals that enabled the misconduct.
• Workplace sexual abuse and assault. Employers can be responsible when they ignore complaints or fail to act on a known danger. These matters frequently involve adult survivors, and California law gives them clear paths to recovery.
• Residential and care facilities. Group homes, nursing facilities, and similar settings serve people who rely on staff for daily care, which creates real risk when supervision breaks down.
• Childhood sexual abuse. Many survivors come forward years after the abuse. California law has expanded the time available to file these claims, and we help families understand exactly where they stand.
• Institutions that concealed abuse. When an organization learned of misconduct and worked to keep it quiet, that concealment can sit at the center of a claim and may affect the compensation a survivor can recover.

Why Choose Kellogg & Van Aken LLP as my Sexual Abuse Lawyer in Santa Clara County, CA?

Years of Experience Representing Survivors

Sexual abuse claims are demanding, and their result often reflects the experience of the attorneys who prepare them. Kelly Van Aken has practiced for fourteen years and has written and presented on civil litigation for other attorneys in the field. Mikayla Kellogg brings fifteen years of practice, recognition on the Top 40 Under 40 list from The National Trial Lawyers, and Super Lawyer honors in consecutive years. She also serves on the board of the Consumer Attorneys of California and has handled cases involving coaches, teachers, clergy, and others who held positions of trust. Both attorneys completed their legal training at UC Davis. Families who turn to our sexual assault lawyer in Santa Clara County, CA can count on that depth of experience throughout every phase of a claim.

Results for Survivors and Their Families

Our firm has recovered millions of dollars for clients across sexual abuse, assault, and injury matters. A financial recovery cannot undo what happened, but it can pay for treatment and give a family room to heal. Our focus stays on advocacy for survivors, and we handle these cases on a contingency basis. There are no attorney fees unless we recover compensation for you, which keeps the process within reach for families who need it most.

Understanding Sexual Abuse Cases

Damages, Liability, and Compensation for Sexual Abuse Cases

Most claims against an institution rest on negligence. California law makes a person or organization responsible when a lack of reasonable care leads to harm. For an institution, that can mean negligent hiring, weak supervision, or a failure to act on a complaint that called for a response. Responsibility may fall on more than one party, including the individual who committed the abuse and the entity whose choices allowed it. Naming every responsible party matters, because it can widen the sources of compensation available to a survivor and strengthen the case overall.

Damages are the compensation a survivor may recover. California law allows recovery for the full range of harm the wrongful conduct caused. What a claim seeks depends on the specifics, and it commonly includes:

• Compensation for psychological harm, including the trauma, anxiety, and emotional distress that frequently follow abuse
• Pain, suffering, and the diminished quality of life a survivor may carry for years
• The cost of counseling and mental health care, both at present and well into the future
• Medical expenses connected to the abuse and the treatment it requires
• Lost income, interrupted education, and other forms of economic harm

What Are Important Aspects of a Sexual Abuse Case?

What often separates these cases is how much rides on the conduct of the institution and the records it kept. We build a clear account of what the institution knew and when it knew it. A handful of factors tend to carry the most weight.

• How the institution screened, trained, and supervised the individuals it placed in positions of trust
• The documents that may reveal prior complaints, internal reports, or earlier concerns about the conduct at issue
• Whether the institution had notice of a foreseeable risk and nevertheless failed to take reasonable action

We give protecting survivors and their privacy the same attention we give the legal claim itself. We also recognize how hard coming forward can be, and we work at a pace that respects each person. Moving before records are lost helps protect the evidence a case relies on. Early action also gives a survivor more control over the timing of the case and more room to make decisions without pressure.

What Is The Sexual Abuse Case Timeline?

No two cases share the same schedule, and the pace depends on the institution, the number of responsible parties, and whether the other side is willing to negotiate. Some matters resolve through settlement within a year or two, while others take longer when an institution refuses to engage. Most claims, though, follow the same order.

• A first consultation, where we review the facts and discuss the options open to you
• Investigation, covering the gathering of records, the identification of responsible parties, and the filing deadlines that apply
• Filing the complaint and serving each of the responsible parties named in the claim
• Discovery, when both sides exchange documents and take sworn testimony
• Settlement discussions or mediation, where the parties work to resolve the matter before trial
• Trial, when a fair resolution cannot be reached through those efforts

What Should You Bring to Your Sexual Abuse Consultation?

You do not need to gather everything before you reach out. Bringing what you already have helps us understand the situation more quickly. Useful items include:

• Any records or communications from the institution involved
• Reports made to staff, law enforcement, or child protective services
• Medical or counseling records, if you have them
• A written timeline of events, as best you can recall

If you are unsure where to begin, we use the consultation to walk through the steps after an assault and answer your questions. We will also explain your legal rights and what to expect, at no cost and in confidence.

What Are Important California Legal Resources for Sexual Abuse Cases?

The resources below can help you confirm how California law works and locate official information. Treat them as research starting points, not as advice about your own case.

• Code of Civil Procedure: For childhood sexual abuse on or after January 1, 2024, sets no time limit on civil claims, while earlier abuse follows separate deadlines.
• Santa Clara County superior court publishes self-help resources for residents with civil cases.
• The California courts explain civil filing deadlines, including the statute of limitations.
• If you want in-person guidance, the courts can help you find a self-help center in your area.

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

Our Santa Clara County sexual abuse lawyer can explain your rights and give you a clear sense of what a claim may be worth. Kellogg & Van Aken LLP works on a contingency basis, so you owe nothing in attorney fees unless we recover for you. Contact us for a free, confidential consultation, and we will walk you through the next steps.