Metropolitan State Hospital Sexual Abuse and Assault Lawyer

Are you a former patient of Metropolitan State Hospital, who was sexually abused by a staff member, another patient, visitor, or someone that was trespassing on the property? Are you related to someone that was sexually assaulted while they were committed to Metropolitan State Hospital? Our attorneys would like the opportunity to educate you on your rights and legal options, including a lawsuit for the sexual abuse of a patient.

Metropolitan State Hospital is a medical facility for psychiatric patients, ranging from those that are under conservatorship to criminals with severe mental health issues. There are no voluntary commitments to this hospital; all patients must be placed through a court order. Located at 11400 Norwalk Blvd, Norwalk, California, the hospital has had its share of controversy over the years. In the 1970s, for example, Metropolitan State Hospital was the subject of a documentary called “Hurry Tomorrow,” which alleged that patients were forcefully drugged with sedatives on a regular basis.

Sadly, manipulation and outright abuse of patients is an on-going issue at state mental health wards. In recent years, more and more people have spoken out about the rampant sexual abuse that goes on at these hospitals. While this is a difficult subject to talk about, it’s essential to recognize that mental health patients are at risk at many state hospitals. In addition, victims and their loved ones deserve the chance to seek justice in the form of monetary compensation.

Our attorneys have been representing sexual abuse victims for several decades and know what it takes to secure the highest possible settlement from a Metropolitan State Hospital sexual assault lawsuit. Contact us today and schedule a free consultation if you would like to explore the option of suing for abuse of a mental health patient.

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Can I Sue for a Case of Sexual Abuse at Metropolitan State Hospital?

Yes, you can file a lawsuit for sexual abuse that you were subjected to while staying at Metropolitan State Hospital. You can sue the person that committed the acts of abuse, but it’s more than likely that conditions at the hospital were a contributing factor. Lack of supervision and understaffing are common issues, along with lack of security, especially late at night. As a result, patients are likely to be assaulted by people sneaking onto the premises, or predatory staff members throughout the hospital.

Some of these patients are also groomed by manipulative clinicians, who take advantage of the hold they have over a mentally ill patient. Even if they were not forced into a sexual act, this is still a form of sexual abuse, not to mention a complete abuse of the trust that should exist between a patient and the person that’s in charge of their treatments.

You may also be aware of problematic hospitals that stay open year after year, decade after decade, even though there are countless complaints from patients and their family members. Essentially, the county of state agency in charge tells them to clean up their act, but there is little follow-through by these agencies to ensure that the necessary changes were made. This is only an example of negligence, and possibly misconduct if there was an attempt to cover up or destroy evidence. It’s only when there is a major criminal case or multimillion-dollar lawsuit that these places are held accountable, and possibly shut down.

Our ultimate goal is to help you feel a sense of resolution and move forward from what happened to you, though we fully acknowledge that money cannot make up for the devastating consequences of sexual abuse. Nevertheless, it is a way to punish those who abuse the mentally ill, while providing you with medical expenses, pain and suffering, and other valuable forms of compensation.

What is the Deadline to File a Sexual Abuse Lawsuit? 

As someone that was sexually abused during your stay at Metropolitan State Hospital, you have 10 years to file a lawsuit against your abuser, the people in charge of the facility, and anyone else that failed in their duty of care to you as a patient. The 10-year statute of limitations applies to adult sexual assault victims, meaning you were 18 or older at the time of the incident.

Another possibility is to file a lawsuit within 3 years of realizing a sexual abuse-related injury. In some cases, the psychological damage or bodily harm from sexual abuse may not be realized right away. This is particularly relevant to psychiatric patients, who may not be in the right state of mind or be under the influence of medications at the time they are assaulted. Thus, the courts have a discovery rule that allows you to file a lawsuit within 3 years of finding out about an injury from sexual abuse, even if you are past the statute of limitations.

We can help you figure out how much time you have left for a lawsuit against Metropolitan State Hospital, so call us right away and talk to a mental health patient sexual abuse lawsuit attorney.

How Much can I Receive in Compensation?

Sexual abuse lawsuit settlements range from $450,000 to $5,000,000 on average, depending on the type of abuse, the injuries you suffered, and many other factors. Generally, multiple incidents involving sexual assault – physical acts of sexual abuse, like inappropriate touching, intercourse, oral sex, etc. – generate the highest settlements. These cases may be settled for around $2,000,000 to $7,500,000.

Negligence by the hospital is another critical factor, especially when it comes to a psychiatric center. The patients at these places are extremely vulnerable, as many of them have severe mental illnesses. Thus, administrators and staff have the highest duty of care when it comes to supervision and ensuring that patients are not subjected to abuse. If there is gross negligence by officials at the hospital or by the California Department of State Hospitals, the amount of compensation can exceed $10,000,000.

How Long Does it Take for a Metropolitan State Hospital Sexual Abuse Case to Settle?

Settling a lawsuit for sexual abuse of a mental health patient often takes 1 to 2 years, though a settlement may be reached within 6 months. But this is not a realistic timeline for the majority of cases we come across, and as a result, we would have to say that the average case takes 1 or more years. This is due to many complications, including the additional requirements to sue a government agency (California Department of State Hospitals).

Almost all of our cases are resolved through private negotiations with the defendant. That means the prospect of going to trial is highly unlikely. If, however, taking your case to trial is the best course of action, 3 or more years may be needed to settle a sexual abuse lawsuit against Metropolitan State Hospital.

Contact Normandie Law Firm

Psychiatric hospitals serve a vital role in our community, and we generally assume that people at these facilities are taken care of by compassionate and dedicated professionals. Unfortunately, physical abuse and sexual assault are common occurrences at state-run institutions like Metropolitan State Hospital. Those who were victimized by neglect and abuse have the right to seek compensation for their harm and suffering.

The sexual abuse lawyers of Normandie are ready to listen and help you determine the best course of action. If filing a lawsuit is part of that journey, we will charge you $0 for the cost of legal fees and wait to receive a percentage of your settlement. That only happens if we win your lawsuit, so there is no out of pocket cost to you if we fail to secure your compensation award.

Please reach out to us and schedule a free case evaluation if you or someone you know was sexually abused as a patient at Metropolitan State Hospital.

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