San Francisco Sexual Abuse & Sexual Assault Lawyer

Were you sexually abused or assaulted by someone in a position of trust in San Francisco?

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

If you were sexually abused or assaulted in San Francisco, a civil claim may allow you to hold the abuser financially accountable, along with any organization that enabled the abuse. Our San Francisco, CA sexual abuse & sexual assault lawyer can investigate what a school, church, employer, or medical provider knew. We then obtain the records that prove it and pursue compensation from each responsible party.

Kellogg & Van Aken LLP is a women-owned firm that has represented survivors of sexual abuse for seven years. Contact our office to arrange a confidential review of your situation.

Sexual Abuse & Sexual Assault Lawyer San Francisco, CA

A sexual abuse and sexual assault lawyer represents survivors in civil lawsuits for money damages. That case is separate from any criminal prosecution. It does not depend on an arrest or a conviction. The survivor decides whether to file, what to accept, and when to resolve the claim.

The San Francisco Police Department counted 244 reported rapes citywide in 2024, according to SFPD CompStat data. That figure reflects only incidents reported to police. Many of the civil cases we handle involve abuse that went unreported for years. Often, the person responsible held authority within a school, parish, clinic, or workplace.

Types of Sexual Abuse & Sexual Assault Cases We Handle in San Francisco

Most survivor cases involve two defendants: the individual who committed the abuse and the institution that hired, supervised, or protected that person. As sexual abuse attorneys in San Francisco, we pursue claims against both.

• Clergy sexual assault. We bring claims against the Roman Catholic Diocese and other religious institutions. Many of these cases involve a priest, minister, or youth leader who stayed in ministry after reports reached church officials. Personnel files, transfer records, and prior complaints are often central to the case.
• Coach sexual assault. Club teams, school athletic programs, and private trainers place coaches with young athletes during travel, in locker rooms, and in one-on-one sessions. We examine background checks, supervision policies, and how the organization responded to earlier concerns.
• Doctor sexual assault. Misconduct presented as medical care can occur at hospitals, private practices, nursing homes, and university health centers. Our attorneys have represented former students in claims against a university and its physician.
• Molestation. These claims usually involve a child and an adult the family trusted. We pursue the individual and any organization that employed or supervised that adult. We also protect the child's privacy at each stage.
• Rape. A rape claim often extends to the employer, property owner, or institution that failed to protect the victim. We investigate whether that defendant had prior warnings and ignored them.
• School sexual abuse. We handle cases against public schools, private schools, charter schools, and group homes. The central question is usually what staff knew and when. We establish that through incident reports, emails, and witness accounts.
• Summer camp sexual assault. Day camps and overnight programs often rely on seasonal staff who receive limited screening. We review hiring practices, staffing ratios, and the camp's rules on unsupervised contact.
• Teacher sexual assault. Grooming by a teacher frequently begins with private messages, special attention, or time alone after class. We pursue the school or district that saw those signs and did not act.
• University sexual assault. College survivors may have claims involving faculty, staff, team physicians, or other students. We hold universities accountable when they mishandle reports or allow a known risk to continue.

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

Leadership in a Case Involving More Than 80 Survivors

Before founding our firm, Kelly Van Aken and Mikayla Kellogg worked as defense-side trial attorneys. They represented manufacturers in high-stakes injury litigation. Both later served as lead plaintiff's liaison counsel in a case brought by more than 80 survivors. Most of those survivors identified as LGBTQ+, and they alleged sexual assault by a university physician at their student health center.

Mikayla was named to Super Lawyers from 2020 through 2023. In 2016, she was selected for the National Trial Lawyers Top 40 Under 40. She serves on the board of the Consumer Attorneys of California. Plaintiff Magazine profiled her in December 2022. Both attorneys earned their law degrees at UC Davis, where each was selected for the Order of the Barristers.

A sexual assault attorney in San Francisco should bring that kind of trial preparation to every case. It is the standard we hold ourselves to as a personal injury lawyer in San Francisco, CA.

Results in High-Value Civil Cases

Our clients have seen millions of dollars recovered through settlements, including:

• $1,125,000 for former college students in a sexual abuse case against their university and a university doctor
• $900,000 for a young woman who was sexually assaulted at the perpetrator's home
• $900,000 for a guest seriously injured in a three-story fall at a property
• $690,000 for tenants wrongfully evicted from a rent-controlled apartment

Every survivor case is handled on contingency, so you pay no attorney fees unless we recover compensation.

What Is Important to Understand About a Sexual Abuse & Sexual Assault Case?

Damages, Liability, and Compensation for Sexual Abuse & Sexual Assault Cases

The person who committed the abuse is always a potential defendant. Institutions can be liable as well. Under California law, an organization is responsible for its own negligence when it knew or should have known that an employee or volunteer posed a risk. Liability can follow when the organization then failed to take reasonable steps, such as proper screening, supervision, or removal after a complaint.

California law permits survivors to recover:

• Economic damages: Therapy, medical treatment, medication, and lost income, both past and future
• Non-economic damages: Emotional distress, loss of enjoyment of life, and conditions such as PTSD after an assault
• Punitive damages: Available when clear and convincing evidence shows the defendant acted with malice, oppression, or fraud

No fixed formula applies. What survivors can recover depends on the documented effect of the abuse on health, work, and relationships.

What Are Important Aspects of a Sexual Abuse & Sexual Assault Case?

Survivor cases differ from other civil injury claims in how evidence is gathered and how privacy is protected.

• Confidentiality matters from the first conversation. We take steps to limit public disclosure of your identity throughout the case.
• Prior complaints, personnel files, and internal emails often prove what an organization knew before the abuse occurred.
• Physical injury is not required. Non-violent sexual assault causes real harm that the law recognizes.
• Support services and the legal claim can proceed together. SF Women Against Rape operates a 24-hour crisis line. The DA's Victim Services Division assists survivors during the criminal process. RAINN's national hotline also offers confidential support at any hour.

What Is The Sexual Abuse & Sexual Assault Case Timeline?

Filing deadlines depend on the survivor's age when the abuse happened. For adult survivors, CCP § 340.16 generally allows 10 years from the last act of abuse or three years from discovering the resulting injury, whichever is later. A separate revival window, open through December 31, 2027, allows certain expired adult claims to be filed. Those include claims against private organizations that concealed earlier allegations. Childhood abuse occurring on or after January 1, 2024, has no filing deadline under CCP § 340.1. For earlier childhood abuse, CCP § 340.11 generally sets the limit at age 40 or five years after discovering the harm.

Once we accept a case, it typically moves through these stages:

1. A confidential consultation, where we review the facts and confirm which deadline applies
2. Investigation through records requests, witness interviews, and review of the institution's prior complaints
3. Filing the complaint against the individual and each responsible organization
4. Discovery and depositions, during which both sides exchange evidence
5. Mediation and settlement negotiations, with trial if the case does not resolve

What Should You Bring to Your Sexual Abuse & Sexual Assault Consultation?

You do not need every document before we speak. Bring what you have, including:

• Names of the people involved and the school, church, employer, or program connected to the abuse
• Approximate dates and locations
• Messages, emails, or photos related to the abuser
• Records from therapists, doctors, or a forensic exam, if any exist

The first meeting is free and confidential. We will explain whether a claim appears viable and which deadline applies. You are under no obligation to proceed.

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

Our San Francisco sexual abuse lawyer can review your situation, identify each responsible party, and explain the filing deadline that applies to you. Kellogg & Van Aken LLP represents survivors on contingency, with no attorney fees unless we recover compensation. Consultations are confidential. Contact us through our online form. We will follow up to schedule a time that suits you.