A:In California, and in every state across the country, there are statutes of limitations concerning civil lawsuits for sexual abuse and sexual harassment. The limitations and the laws that control when and where you can file a claim based on sexual impropriety are seemingly changing every day. Under California Code of Civil Procedure Section 340.16, sexual assault victims over the age of 18 have 10 years from the date of the assault to pursue a civil action.
As of 2020, victims who were under the age of 18 at the time of the abuse have until their 40th birthday or 5 years from the date they discover their emotional trauma is related to childhood sexual abuse to file. State law also grants a three-year grace period for civil claims that were previously barred under the old statute of limitations.
Don’t assume that because the abuse occurred years, even decades ago, that you cannot file a claim. We have recovered millions for our clients for events that happened as much as 30 years ago.