Jeremy Hanson, a teacher at St. Paul’s School in Visalia was recently arrested for acts of molestation against a 13-year-old student. Prior to working at St. Paul’s, Hanson was an English teacher at Tulare Union High School. On May 22, 2023, Hanson pled guilty to 8 counts of sexual abuse against a minor and is being held in jail on a $300,000 bond.
Police have not commented on the exact method of communication between Hanson and the student, but it’s likely that chat and social media apps were involved. According to Visalia Police Lt. Verissmo, “If your kids have phones, check your kid’s phones, I can’t stress that enough. Look at their social media apps.” In addition, it appears that Hanson took his time building a friendship with his victim and gradually coercing them into a sexual act. This is based on the following comment by Verissmo:
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A lot of these cases they’re groomed by the teachers. It’s a gradual trust building that’s developed between them until eventually it crosses the line into an illegal and inappropriate relationship.”
This advice rings true for many adult survivors of child sexual assault, who were manipulated by teachers, guidance counselors, coaches, and other trusted adults at a school. While understanding this dynamic is important, so are criminal and civil actions that hold the abuser accountable for their actions. Those that enable sexual predators – school and board of education officials, for example – are also to blame for most of these incidents.
As a victim of sexual assault by a teacher, you may be entitled to monetary compensation, such as medical expenses, pain and suffering, and loss of consortium. If you or your child was a victim of Jeremy Hansen or any other employee of St. Paul’s School or Tulare Union High School, please contact us for a free consultation.
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How is the School Responsible if I was Sexually Abused by a Teacher?
Civil lawsuits for student sexual abuse are complicated for a number of reasons, including the fact that multiple parties may be liable for what has happened to the child. There is, of course, the perpetrator of the attack, who is directly responsible for the student’s harm and suffering. But a school system is overseen by administrators and other officials. What were these individuals doing to protect the children from a sexual predator? Did they call the police when they received a complaint from a student or parent? Was the teacher fired, or at the very least, suspended pending a thorough investigation?
With Jeremey Hanson, for example, this was a teacher who worked at two different schools before he was arrested. There’s a good chance that multiple victims are out there, and that some of them sought help from other teachers, the principal, and other school officials. Perhaps there were issues at Tulare Union High School, and that’s why Hanson only taught at the school for two years. If so, did St. Paul’s conduct the necessary background checks before they hired Hanson?
As you can see, there are many ways that a school system can be party to an act of sexual abuse against a student. Of course, uncovering the school’s involvement, or that of any other entity, is a complicated process. Legal representation from an experienced sexual assault lawyer is the key to a successful outcome in these cases. Please contact our law firm to learn how we can assist you if you have been the victim of molestation, grooming, rape, attempted rape, or any other form of sexual abuse by a teacher.
Deadline to File a School Sexual Abuse Lawsuit
If you or your loved one was sexually abused by a teacher, the law provides you with 22 years from turning 18 years old (or up until the age of 40) to file a civil lawsuit. In addition, there is a provision that allows you to seek compensation within 5 years from the time of discovering the effects of sexual abuse during childhood. Your statute of limitations is based on the later of these dates, which was intentionally put into place as a way to give adult survivors as much time as possible to seek justice. However, acting on a claim of sexual assault right away is in your best interest. This will allow us to build the strongest case possible, while ensuring that you can settle your case in a timely manner.
Average Case Value of a Child Sexual Assault Lawsuit
At the end of the day, the impact of sexual abuse as a minor is different for each victim. Thus, there is no universal payment amount that can serve as just compensation for every single victim. But, we can still acknowledge that settlements are generally high for cases of sexual abuse at schools and other educational facilities. Compensation awards can start at around $450,000 and go all the way into the multimillion-dollar range. Where you fall within this range is something you will need to figure out with help from one of our legal experts.
How Long will it Take to Recover my Settlement?
As with all injury cases, claims of sexual abuse at a school can take anywhere from a few weeks to several years to resolve. However, it’s more than likely that the process will take at least a few months, as the process of filing a claim and negotiating a settlement must all be done in writing. That’s why a realistic timeline for these lawsuits is around 1 to 2 years, though we have certainly had claims that were settled faster. In the event your lawsuit goes to trial, receiving a jury verdict on your case can take another year or two, though it should be noted that over 90% of cases are settled out of court.
Free Second Opinion
The lawyers of Normandie are available to meet with you for a free second opinion if you have an existing sex abuse claim against a private school or public school district. If you suspect that your case is headed in the wrong direction due to apathy or inexperience by your lawyer, don’t hesitate to call us. Or, if you just need advice or clarification on an important issue in your case, we are here for you 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. To schedule a free second opinion consultation, contact us as soon as possible.
Speak to an Experienced Sexual Abuse Lawsuit Attorney
Coming to terms with an act of sexual abuse is incredibly difficult, and there are no right or wrong answers as to how you should handle the situation. But guidance on your rights and legal options is essential, whether you are the abuse victim or the parent of a student that was abused. That’s exactly wat we can do for you here at Normandie Law Firm.
If proceeding with a lawsuit is right for you, our lawyers will provide you with free legal services from day one. As a contingency-based law firm, we never bill our clients and instead, ask for payment from the party you are suing. As we only get paid by winning your case, there is no risk to your finances in the event we fail to recover your settlement.
We hope you will take advantage of the Zero Fee Guarantee and contact us to schedule a free case evaluation. Our attorneys look forward to fighting for you and the compensation you are entitled to.
Other Pages on Our Website Related to This Topic
Statute of Limitations for a Juvenile Hall Sexual Abuse Lawsuit in California
Can I get a Pre-Settlement Loan on my Catholic School Sexual Abuse Case
Federal Prison Sexual Abuse in California – Lawsuit Attorneys
