Primary Location
Seal Beach Personal Injury Lawyers
207 Main St, Seal Beach, CA 90740
Phone: (213) 214-1592
Call us at (855) 855-8910
Call us at (855) 855-8910
A criminal case punishes the offender. A civil lawsuit puts money in your hands for the harm done to you.
You don't need a criminal conviction to file. You don't even need an arrest. Civil claims operate under a lower standard of proof called "preponderance of the evidence." That means you only need to show it more likely than not happened.
California Civil Code 1708.5 [1] defines sexual battery as a tort. It gives survivors a direct legal path to compensation, separate from any criminal proceeding. And confidential settlements can protect your privacy from start to finish.
Our office is right on Main Street in Seal Beach, at 207 Main. It's quiet. It's private. And it's a safe place to have that first hard conversation. Walk in or call us at (855) 374-1714.
Sexual assault takes many forms. We handle civil claims for all of them.
Elder abuse in care facilities is a serious and underreported problem across California. Seal Beach's Leisure World community is home to more than 10,000 residents over 55. Protecting vulnerable adults from institutional abuse is a legal and moral obligation, and facilities that fail in that duty can be held accountable.
Here's what we tell clients on that first call: your case is not a file number to us. It's personal. Every one of these cases is.
Here's something people don't always realize: the institution that looked the other way is often more valuable as a defendant than the individual who committed the assault.
Schools, churches, nursing homes, employers. When these organizations ignore red flags or skip background checks, California law says they share the blame. These cases often overlap with premises liability claims when unsafe property conditions enabled the assault. And they should.
We handled a case where an employer failed to supervise an abuser in their workplace. The result? A $2.65 million settlement for the survivor. That money came because the institution had insurance, and the law held them responsible for what happened under their roof.
That's the pattern we see over and over. The abuser hides behind the organization. The organization claims they didn't know. But the evidence tells a different story. And when it does, we go after both.
California gives survivors some of the strongest legal protections in the country. Here's what actually matters for your case.
AB 218 is the big one for childhood abuse. It wiped out the statute of limitations completely. Took effect January 1, 2020. Doesn't matter if the abuse happened 5 years ago or 40 years ago. You can file.
Civil Code 1708.5 treats sexual battery as its own civil cause of action [1]. You don't wait for a prosecutor to bring charges. You bring your own case.
CCP 340.16 gives you 10 years from the assault for adults. Or 3 years from when you first connected the injury to what happened. Whichever is later.
CCP 340.1 covers childhood victims specifically. You can file before turning 40.
And the burden of proof? "More likely than not." Compare that to criminal court, where they need "beyond a reasonable doubt." Big difference.
Legislators built these laws knowing that survivors don't always come forward right away. Sometimes it takes years. The law gives you that space.
A civil claim converts what happened to you into dollars. That sounds cold, but here's the reality: money pays for therapy. Money replaces lost wages. Money lets you rebuild.
Economic damages are the straightforward ones. Medical bills, counseling costs, wages you lost, future earnings you won't have. These are numbers we can prove with records and receipts.
Non-economic damages cover the rest. Pain. Suffering. Emotional distress. Damaged relationships. Loss of enjoyment of life. And here's what most people don't know: California does not cap non-economic damages in sexual assault cases [2].
Punitive damages punish defendants who acted with extreme recklessness or malice. Not every case qualifies, but when they do, the numbers go up fast.
Some cases settle for under $50,000. Others reach into the millions. It depends on the harm, the evidence, and the defendants involved. We build for maximum value regardless.
You don't need perfect evidence to start. But the more we have, the harder your case hits.
What we typically gather:
Here's the thing about civil court. The bar is "more likely than not." Your testimony counts. Your story, backed by whatever supporting evidence exists, can carry a case. Nobody needs DNA results or a taped confession for a civil claim to succeed.
We bring in private investigators when it helps. We use expert witnesses, from psychologists to forensic specialists, to fill gaps. Building the strongest possible case is what we do every day.
Your safety comes first. Everything else can wait.
But when you're ready, a few things can protect both your health and your legal options down the road.
Get medical attention. Long Beach Medical Center and Los Alamitos Medical Center are both close to Seal Beach. Ask for a forensic exam. It's free in California, by law [3].
Report if you're ready. A police report creates a paper trail. But here's what matters: you do NOT need a police report to file a civil lawsuit. Criminal and civil are two completely separate systems.
Save everything digital. Every text, email, voicemail, and DM. Screenshot things before they disappear. If there's clothing involved, don't wash it.
Find support. The National Sexual Assault Hotline is 1-800-656-4673, and it's staffed 24 hours. Local rape crisis centers offer free counseling too.
Call us. The earlier an attorney gets involved, the easier it is to lock down evidence before it vanishes. Our consultation costs nothing and stays between us. Schedule a confidential case review to discuss your options.
Nobody expects you to handle all of this at once. Or alone.
Come see us at 207 Main St in Old Town Seal Beach. Or just pick up the phone. (855) 374-1714. First call is free, and everything you share stays confidential.
Here's how it works.
We sit down, we listen, and we give you honest answers. Can you file a claim? What's it worth? What are the risks? No pressure and no sales pitch. Just the truth about your legal options.
When you decide to move forward, we take over. Evidence gathering, filing deadlines, insurance negotiations. All of it. Your job from that point is to focus on healing and let us handle the fight.
And we do fight. If the defense offers something insulting, we go to trial. We don't take lowball numbers just to close a file.
You pay us nothing upfront and nothing out of pocket. We work on contingency, meaning we only collect a fee when you collect money. That's the deal.
The Simon Law Group has over 250 years of combined legal experience and has recovered more than $600 million for clients. But the thing that actually matters? You're not just a case here. From the first phone call, you're treated like family.
If your identity or case records were exposed without your consent, you may have an invasion of privacy claim in addition to your assault case.
Sources:
[1] California Civil Code Section 1708.5 - Sexual Battery
[2] California Attorney General - Sexual Assault Evidence Outreach and Resources
[3] RAINN - The Laws In Your State: California
Survivors who walk into our Seal Beach personal injury office get the same resources every catastrophic-injury client receives — and the same commitment to confidentiality.
Our attorneys have handled personal injury cases across California and Arizona. We know how Seal Beach insurance companies operate, and we know how to push back.
That number reflects real results for real families — medical bills paid, lost wages recovered, and futures protected.
You pay nothing upfront. Our fee comes out of your settlement or verdict. If we do not win your case, you owe us nothing.
Accidents do not follow business hours. Neither do we. Call (602) 905-7766 any time — nights, weekends, and holidays.
Our Seal Beach team works out of 207 Main St. We know the roads, the courts, and the insurance adjusters you are up against.
“After a crash, you need a team that answers the phone, explains your options, and fights for every dollar you are owed. That is what we do at The Simon Law Group.”
Over 250 years of combined attorney experience
Seal Beach office at 207 Main St | Licensed in California and Arizona
Yes. Survivors can file a civil lawsuit separate from any criminal case. Civil claims seek money damages, not jail time. You can file even if the abuser was never charged or found not guilty. The burden of proof is lower in civil court.
Adult victims have 10 years from the assault or 3 years from discovery of injury under CCP 340.16. Childhood sexual abuse has no statute of limitations under AB 218, and victims may file before age 40. Time limits vary, so talk to an attorney to protect your rights.
Settlements range from under $50,000 to multi-million-dollar verdicts. The amount depends on severity of harm, therapy needs, lost income, and punitive damages. California does not cap non-economic damages in sexual assault cases. Our team builds each case for full value.
Schools, churches, nursing homes, and employers that failed to prevent abuse. Property owners with inadequate security. Organizations that skipped background checks or ignored complaints. These third parties often carry insurance, which increases your recovery.
AB 218 eliminated the statute of limitations for childhood sexual abuse claims. It took effect January 1, 2020. It allows survivors to file claims regardless of how long ago the abuse occurred and opened a revival window for previously time-barred claims.
No. A police report is not required to pursue a civil case. A criminal case and a civil case are separate legal processes. But police reports and criminal evidence can strengthen your civil claim. We help you decide the best path forward.
Our Location
Primary Location
207 Main St, Seal Beach, CA 90740
Phone: (213) 214-1592