Are you dealing with the physical and emotional trauma of sexual abuse while you were staying at Camp Kenyon Scudder? Were you subjected to beatings and other acts of assault and battery by employees at the facility? Sadly, there is a long history of abuse, neglect, and sexual assault within Camp Kenyon Scudder, which is located at 28750 North Bouquet Canyon Rd, Saugus, CA 91350.
The culture of abuse is so toxic at this juvenile camp that in April of 2022, permanent closure of the facility was proposed by LA County 5th District Supervisor Kathryn Barger. According to Barger, juvenile halls that are not “focused on rehabilitation” must be closed in order to protect youths that are on the wrong track. Her motion was supported by Juvenile Justice Coordinating Council Member, Dr. Nicole Vienna, who worked at various juvenile camps within Los Angeles County. She said, “I can attest to the fact that Camp Scudder was a very challenging environment. Space was lacking and security breaches were common…Our youth deserve a setting that is both rehabilitative and secure.”
Obviously, it would appear that security is a major issue at Camp Scudder. But what does this mean in terms of keeping the children safety within the walls of this facility? Both officials have hinted at the lack of “rehabilitation” at juvenile camps, which typically implies incidents of abuse. This is a very common issue at youth detention centers in California, where neglect, physical abuse, and sexual assault occur on a frequent basis.
This is due to the fact that adults with predatory intent often infiltrate the system in order to take advantage of children who are emotionally and physically vulnerable. However, responsibility also lies with the system that failed to supervise the workers and children, or failed to take appropriate action when there were complaints of sexual abuse.
If you were sexually abused at Camp Kenyon Scudder, it’s important to understand your rights and explore the available legal options with a childhood sexual assault lawyer. For a free case evaluation with one of our attorneys, contact us today.
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Child Abuse Incidents at Juvenile Camps in Los Angeles County
Los Angeles County currently has the largest juvenile justice system in America, with 21 facilities that serve as temporary and long-term detainment centers for children between 12 to 17 years old. Throughout these locations, there are hundreds of employees that are in charge of supervising, monitoring, and taking care of these children on a daily basis. In reality, some of these employees are there for the purpose of sexual exploitation and other forms of child abuse.
Camp Scudder is just one of many juvenile camps that have been under investigation by county, state, and federal authorities. Over a period of several years, it’s been revealed that assault and battery, particularly sexual assault, is rampant at facilities that are in charge of our youth. In an investigation by the Los Angeles Times, here are some examples of abuse that have taken place at a California juvenile hall:
- Three youths in a juvenile hall were sexually assaulted by a female probation officer. Following her arrest, she pled guilty to 5 counts of sexual abuse against a minor and was sentenced to 4 years in prison.
- An officer at a juvenile detention center was sentenced to probation for 24 months after the discovery of video footage that showed him beating one of the inmates.
- A probation officer at a juvenile hall ordered 5 teenage inmates to beat up one of the youths, who she believed had stolen her cell phone. While she did not participate in the beating, she was clearly the person in charge of the incident. The boys she ordered to commit the assault were victimized as well, considering their refusal to participate would have resulted in retaliation by the officer or other inmates.
Criminal prosecution is essential when it comes to juvenile hall inmate abuse, but this is not the only form of justice that’s available to victims and their loved ones. A Camp Kenyon Scudder sexual abuse lawsuit can provide the funds you need to obtain therapy and other medical services. It can also provide you with compensation towards your pain and suffering and the emotional anguish of living with the impact of sexual assault during childhood.
The juvenile hall sexual assault lawyers of Normandie are here for you 24 hours a day, 7 days a week if you need advice on your legal rights as a victim of inmate abuse at Camp Scudder. Please don’t hesitate to give us a call and speak to a lawyer with experience in sexual abuse lawsuits against Los Angeles County.
Can I Sue for Sexual Abuse While I was at Camp Scudder?
Yes, you have the right to sue for being sexually abused by a probation officer or another employee at a juvenile hall. However, it’s important to understand exactly who is responsible for the abuse, which is likely to include multiple entities. Clearly, there is the person that committed the assault against you, but you will notice that most of these lawsuits involve numerous defendants, including government agencies.
For detention centers like Camp Kenyon Scudder, the agency in charge is the Los Angeles County Office of Education, which is part of the California Department of Education. What these agencies knew or should have known, what they did or didn’t do, and how their actions enabled predators to keep abusing children is crucial to a juvenile hall sexual assault lawsuit.
During out many years of fighting back against institutional sexual abuse, one thing has remained constant: agencies go to great lengths to silence victims and make abuse allegations “go away.” They do this in many ways, including destruction of evidence, pressuring families into a settlement, and moving the employee to another county detention center when there are one too many complaints. In the meanwhile, victims are denied the justice they deserve, while the abuser is free to sexually abuse children at a new facility.
As you can see, your right to sue goes beyond the individual that took advantage of you in such a cruel and degrading manner. The institutions in charge of juvenile hall employees also play a role in these incidents, and they should not be allowed to get away with their negligence. But taking legal action against a government entity is incredibly challenging, so we recommend that you seek help from a Camp Kenyon Scudder abuse attorney as soon as possible.
Can I Join a Class Action Lawsuit with Other Victims?
Yes, if you are a victim of juvenile hall sexual abuse, you can file a class action lawsuit with others who were abused in similar ways while being detained at Camp Kenyon Scudder. And there have been multiple class action lawsuits filed in recent years by former and current inmates of juvenile halls in Los Angeles County.
Essentially, class action lawsuits are an efficient and powerful way for multiple victims to receive justice at the same time. We’ve all heard the saying, “There’s strength in numbers,” and that’s precisely what you achieve with this type of lawsuit. With multiple people making the same type of allegations, it’s hard to refute that these incidents happened, and exactly who is responsible for them.
Joining or starting a class action starts with contacting the class action lawsuit lawyers of Normandie. When you reach out to us, we will provide you with a free consultation, where you can ask anything that’s on your mind. Then, we will go over the process of joining in a lawsuit with other victims and ensure that this is the path you want to take. For some claimants, it’s better that they file a lawsuit on their own, i.e., a personal injury lawsuit.
No matter which option you choose, you can be sure that we will fight for every penny you deserve if you were sexually assaulted at Camp Scudder or another juvenile hall in Los Angeles County.
Average Value of a Lawsuit for Sexual Assault at Camp Scudder
The settlement value for a sexual abuse lawsuit against Camp Kenyon Scudder is around $1,000,000 to $3,500,000 on average if we go by the results achieved by our attorneys. However, the value of a child sexual abuse claim is based on factors that are unique to each and every victim. The impact of sexual abuse on one person is different than what someone else goes through, and that’s why case values must be determined on an individual basis.
For some claimants, they may settle for an amount of $450,000 to $750,000, and this is fair based on their level of harm and suffering. On the other hand, there are situations where extensive abuse and gross negligence by prison officials merit higher levels of compensation, like punitive damages and treble damages. This can bring up the value of a lawsuit to $4,000,000 and above, so we recommend that you contact an attorney who can advise you on the value of your Camp Scudder sexual abuse injury claim.
Statute of Limitations to Sue a Juvenile Hall for Sexual Abuse
Sexual abuse lawsuits against underage individuals (under 18 years of age) have complex guidelines when it comes to the statute of limitations. It’s in your best interest to verify the deadline for a lawsuit with a child sexual abuse lawsuit attorney, but essentially, you can go by either of these dates:
- Within 22 years of turning 18 years old, or up until your 40
th
birthday.
- Within 5 years from the discovery of sexual abuse or the effects of sexual abuse (physical or emotional).
You have the option of choosing the date that comes later, so that you have as much time as possible to seek justice through the civil courts. But understanding which of these dates applies to your situation can be difficult, and that’s why we urge you to contact us and verify the deadline for a Camp Kenyon Scudder sexual assault lawsuit.
How Long Do these Cases Take to Settle?
This is usually the question that follows “How much can I receive from my lawsuit?” when we meet with clients for a free consultation. And we can definitely understand why this is so important, as adult survivors of child sexual abuse have waited long enough to seek the remedies they deserve by law.
Reaching a settlement can take anywhere from a few months to several years, though it’s worth noting that these are exceptionally complex cases. Based on the evidence that’s needed, the procedures to file a lawsuit the government, and many other challenges, most juvenile hall sexual assault claims take one or more years from start to finish. This is particularly true in cases involving numerous defendants, where each side is desperate to avoid liability and place the blame on the other people named in the lawsuit.
Sexual abuse lawsuits by juvenile inmates have been in the news quite often lately, and you may be wondering about the possibility of taking your case to trial. This is a possible outcome, though less than 5% of all childhood sexual assault cases are tried before a judge and jury. The ideal solution is for the involved parties to negotiate a settlement on their own, which is the quickest and most cost-efficient way to resolve these cases.
Nevertheless, our job is to bring you a settlement that reflects what you’ve gone through and will continue to endure as someone that was betrayed by the juvenile justice system. That’s why we account for the fact that it can take 2 or more years to obtain your compensation award, though we will strive to bring you a positive resolution within 6 to 12 months.
Free Legal Services from a Camp Kenyon Scudder Sexual Abuse Lawsuit Attorney
Sexual conduct between minors and adults is unacceptable under any circumstance, and there’s no excuse when juvenile justice workers fail to set clear boundaries in their relationships with children. Unfortunately, there is no magic solution to stopping these incidents altogether, but vigilance, consistent supervision, and accountability by the agencies in charge can help prevent most incidents of juvenile hall child abuse.
Those who were sexually assaulted and exploited by staff members at a California juvenile hall should not be burdened by legal expenses if they wish to exercise their rights. That’s the principle behind the Zero Fee Guarantee, which is our way of providing you with free legal services. We charge nothing upfront, and instead, ask for the defendant to cover all legal fees associated with your case. That means our payment is included in your settlement check, and there is no cost to you whatsoever if we don’t win your case.
Please get in touch with us at your earliest convenience and schedule a free case review with one of our attorneys.
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