Ballet Instructor Sexual Assault

Ballet is one of the most popular forms of dance all over the world, and many children take part in ballet classes starting from the age or 4 or 5. Not all these kids will grow up to be dancers, but the discipline and physicality of taking ballet are highly beneficial to any one of any age.

For most kids, a ballet instructor is a teacher, mentor, role model, and perhaps a confidante. There is no denying that dance teachers play an important part in shaping their students and helping them succeed in many areas of their life. Sadly, not everyone that takes ballet has a positive experience, as they may be targeted by a sexually depraved individual.

Sexual assault and exploitation during childhood can have a devastating impact on the victim’s life. It’s extremely common for survivors to struggle with physical and mental health issues due to the trauma of the abuse. Many of them end up doing poorly in school, have trouble keeping a job, and have many other problems that make it hard for them to live a decent quality of life.

If you or your child was sexually abused by an instructor at a dance studio, we invite you to contact our office and learn about your rights and legal options.

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Who is Liable for Sexual Abuse by a Dance Instructor?

In a legal sense, liability refers to the state of being responsible for something, like another person’s safety. For example, those who operate a dance school have a duty to clean and maintain the property in order to minimize the possibility of an accident. They must also provide security so that students, guests, and visitors are protected from assault and battery and other criminal activity.

In addition, those who work with children on a regular basis must keep an eye out for signs of physical and sexual abuse. This can be abuse that may be happening in the home, as well as inappropriate relationships between instructors and students. Sadly, we know that a lot of dance schools don’t do through backgrounds checks when they hire teachers and assistants. And even if they do find out about previous incidents of sexual misconduct, they tend to give the teacher another chance instead of firing them immediately.

Even worse, they may ignore accusations from students and parents of lewd comments, sexual touching, and other disturbing behavior. But even if no one complains, there are likely to be signs of sexual abuse between certain teachers and students, and those in charge at a dance studio are mandated by law to contact the police or child protective services.

Recognizing the red flags of sexual assault and abuse are especially important in places like dance studios, where it’s not unusual for instructors to have physical contact with their students. This can be done in order to correct their form, help them get into certain positions, and treat minor injuries, among other things. However, a sexual predator will use these opportunities to sexually assault the student, who is left feeling confused, scared, and disgusted by what happened.

The rate negligence and blatant disregard for sexual assault victims at these schools is frankly astounding. However, those who were sexually assaulted by a ballet instructor may have grounds to sue the teacher, the dance studio, and others who failed in their duty of care to report or prevent the abuse.

What is Child Sexual Abuse?

Essentially, child sexual abuse refers to any type of interaction between minors and adults in which the adult obtains some form of sexual gratification. Please note that underage individuals, i.e., those under 18 years old, cannot legally consent to sexual activity, whether it’s sexting or having intercourse. So, the excuse that the victim did not say no and seemed to enjoy the act is not acceptable under California law.

Sexual assault and exploitation of a minor can take place in many different ways, including:

• Sexual grooming
• Sexual harassment
• Molestation
• Exposing oneself in front of a minor
• Exchanging porn, nude photos and other sexually explicit content
• Rape
• Attempted rape
• Vaginal intercourse or sodomy
• Oral sex

Sexual Harassment versus Sexual Assault

Both sexual assault and sexual harassment fall under the category of sexual abuse. However, sexual assault refers to “sexual contact or behavior, often physical, that occurs without the consent of the victim,” according to RAINN.

Sexual harassment, on the other hand, is a broader category of abuse that includes “unwelcomed sexual advances, requests for sexual favors, and other verbal or physical harassment of sexual nature in the workplace or learning environment.” This type of child sexual abuse does not need to be directed at a specific individual, as a ballet instructor can make sexual comments of engage in behaviors that make some or all of the students in the class uncomfortable

Sexual harassment is often a violation of civil laws, whereas sexual assault counts as a criminal act, meaning the victim can file criminal charges, along with a claim for monetary compensation. Which legal options you should take advantage of depend on many details that we will need to discuss with you during a free case review.

Deadline for a Ballet Instructor Sexual Assault Lawsuit

Lawsuits for child sexual abuse have two deadlines that victims can go by, depending on their circumstances:

• 22 years from the victim’s 18^th birthday, or when they turn 40 years of age
• Up to 5 years from discovering the physical or psychological impact of sexual assault as a minor

The delayed realization of sexual abuse and its impact on your life is very common among child victims. With that in mind, the discovery rule gives you 5 years to file a lawsuit, even if you have passed the age of 40. However, you will need an attorney who can prove to the court that you still qualify for a lawsuit. No matter how long it’s been since you were taken advantage of by a ballet teacher, it may not be too late to seek justice from the responsible individuals. Contact our office to learn more about the statute of limitations for a sex abuse during childhood claim.

Compensation You can Claim as a Victim of Sexual Abuse

A lawsuit by survivors of child sexual abuse is meant to provide compensation for the harm they suffered. Please note that you do not have to file criminal charges to seek damages from a lawsuit. This is often the case for adults who are suing for sex abuse while they were younger, who may be eligible to receive the following payments:

• Cost of therapy and other medical treatments
• Lost wages or loss of earning potential
• Pain and suffering
• Emotional distress
• Loss of consortium
• Punitive damages
• Legal fees

A ballet instructor sexual assault lawyer can help you figure out the damages you are entitled to and ensure that you are properly compensated by the people who failed to protect you.

Contact Our Law Firm

The legal system is not user-friendly, and most victims are confused and intimidated by the process of filing a lawsuit. That’s why our attorneys are here to guide you through the legal process if you were sexually assaulted or harassed by a ballet instructor.

If you are interested in filing a child sex abuse claim, we will represent you on contingency, so you don’t have to pay a single penny upfront. Once your settlement is recovered, we will deduct an agreed upon percentage to cover all legal fees. According to the Zero Fee Guarantee, this is the only way we get paid, so you lose absolutely nothing if we fail to win your case.

For a free, private consultation with a ballet instructor sexual abuse lawyer, please contact our office.

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