California Personal Injury Lawyers Blog
On December 14, 2017, a teenage girl, who was molested by her Los Altos High School teacher over three years ago, finally got some closure. U.S. News reported that a California jury awarded her “nearly $3 million in damages” in her personal injury lawsuit. The teen filed a personal injury suit because, as a result of the molestation, she now suffers from depression and post-traumatic stress. U.S. News stated that the suit named as defendants both her teacher, David Park, who had served time in prison for the criminal charges, as well as the Hacienda La Puente Unified School District, located just east of Los Angeles. The school district commented that “the verdict mostly blames Park but serves as a reminder that it must be vigilant in protecting students.” While certainly nothing can take away what this young girl experienced, she now can move forward with both closure and some form of compensation.
In this case, the young girl brought this personal injury claim not only against her abuser, Mr. Park, but also the school district. Legally, both can be held liable for the harm that befell the young girl. While Mr. Park’s fault is obvious, the Hacienda La Puente Unified School District can also be named as a defendant in the case because they not only have responsibility over the teacher who is an employee of the district, but the District also has a responsibility to protect their students from harm. There is also an economic benefit for naming the school district—they have more money to provide compensation for the student’s injuries.
Sexual abuse in any form can result in severe personal injuries, both physical and emotional. While emotional injuries like depression and post-traumatic stress may not be as visible as perhaps a broken arm, they can still be the basis of a personal injury claim.
If you or someone you love has been the victim of molestation or sexual abuse, you can seek compensation for your injuries whether they be physical or emotional, by filing a Los Angeles personal injury lawsuit. If these injuries happened at school or in the workplace, there may be other parties that should share in the liability. At Walch Law, we are here to help you with these tough cases. We understand the impact this type of injury can have in your life. While nothing will take away the pain caused by these types of injuries, a California personal injury lawsuit can help provide closure and compensation. Fill out our contact us form to set up your obligation-free consultation with us today! We look forward to helping you!