Making the decision to seek justice after experiencing sexual assault is an act of immense courage. It is a profound step toward reclaiming your power, holding responsible parties accountable, and starting a new chapter of healing. If you are an adult survivor, you may be navigating a complex mix of emotions and have urgent questions about what comes next. Know this: in California, recent changes in the law are creating unprecedented new opportunities for justice, and a dedicated California adult sexual assault lawyer can help you understand your options for pursuing a civil claim for the compensation and closure you deserve.
At Fight for Survivors, a division of Greenberg Gross LLP, we focus solely on representing survivors of sexual abuse. We understand the deep and lasting impact that sexual violence has on a person’s life, and we are fiercely committed to providing compassionate, determined, and powerful legal advocacy. Your story deserves to be heard, your voice matters, and the time to act has never been better.
Why Choose Fight for Survivors for Your California Adult Sexual Assault Case?
Our firm was founded with one clear mission: to provide the highest level of service to clients in high-stakes legal battles. We have grown into a leading litigation firm recognized nationwide for our groundbreaking work on behalf of survivors of sexual assault and abuse. We believe in fighting relentlessly for the justice you are owed, and our record reflects that unwavering commitment. We have secured more than $300 million in verdicts and settlements because we believe in our clients and are fully prepared to take on the most powerful individuals and institutions.
What sets us apart is our approach to your case and our dedication to your well-being.
- We Listen to You. Your story is the heart of your case. We take the time to understand your experience, your needs, your concerns, and your goals. This allows us to build a legal strategy that is tailored specifically to you and your path toward healing.
- We Are Always Trial-Ready. We prepare every case from day one as if it will go to trial. This meticulous, aggressive preparation signals to the opposition that we are serious and will not back down. This often forces them to offer more favorable and just settlement offers.
- We Take on Powerful Opponents. Our team is fearless. We do not shy away from challenging high-profile individuals, multi-billion-dollar corporations, and well-funded institutions that may have enabled or actively covered up abuse. We have the resources, experience, and tenacity to level the playing field.
- We Work on a Contingency Fee Basis. You pay absolutely no legal fees unless and until we recover compensation for you. This means you can access world-class legal representation without any upfront financial burden or risk. Your ability to seek justice should not depend on your financial situation.
Our attorneys are consistently recognized as leaders in their field, named among the experienced lawyers in California and the nation. We bring that elite level of commitment, skill, and passion to every survivor we have the honor to represent.
Understanding Your Legal Rights as an Adult Survivor in California
The legal system can seem intimidating, but its purpose in a civil case is to provide a path for you to seek accountability and financial compensation for the harm you have suffered. This process is entirely separate from any criminal proceedings and, most importantly, is controlled by you. A civil lawsuit can be a powerful tool for healing, as it allows you to regain control of the narrative, expose the truth, and demand that those responsible answer for their actions.
A knowledgeable California adult sexual assault lawyer can help you navigate the specific laws that protect you and the multiple avenues now available for seeking justice.
Civil vs. Criminal Cases: What’s the Difference?
Many survivors are only familiar with criminal cases from television, where the state prosecutes someone for a crime. Understanding the difference between civil vs. criminal cases is important, because a civil case is a different and often more empowering path for a survivor. It is a lawsuit filed by one person (the plaintiff) against another person or entity (the defendant) to recover damages—a legal term for monetary compensation.
Here are the key differences:
- Purpose: The goal of a criminal case is to punish the offender with penalties like fines or jail time. The goal of a civil case is to provide financial compensation to the survivor to help them recover from their losses and suffering.
- Who Files the Case: In a criminal case, the prosecutor (representing the state) decides whether to press charges. In a civil case, you, the survivor, decide whether to file a lawsuit, against whom, and when. You are in control.
- Burden of Proof: The standard of proof is extremely high in a criminal case ("beyond a reasonable doubt"). In a civil case, you only need to prove your case by a "preponderance of the evidence," which means showing it is more likely than not that the assault and harm occurred.
Because the standard of proof is lower, it is entirely possible to win a civil lawsuit even if the perpetrator was never arrested, charged, or found not guilty in a criminal trial. Your right to seek justice is not dependent on the decisions of a district attorney.
California’s Landmark Lookback Windows: A New Era for Justice
For decades, arbitrary time limits on filing lawsuits—known as statutes of limitations—slammed the courthouse doors on countless adult survivors before they were ready to come forward. California has now acknowledged this profound injustice. In a historic legislative push, the state has passed two groundbreaking laws creating special “lookback windows,” which temporarily reopen the door for survivors to file civil lawsuits that would have otherwise been blocked forever.
Understanding which law applies to your situation is critical.
1. The First Window: The Sexual Abuse and Cover-Up Accountability Act (AB 2777)
This law was the first major step forward. It created a special window from January 1, 2023, to December 31, 2026, for claims that were previously time-barred.
To be eligible under AB 2777, your claim must meet certain criteria:
- The sexual assault occurred on or after January 1, 2009.
- Your claim alleges that one or more entities were responsible for the damages and engaged in a “cover-up.”
This law was a powerful tool, but its limitation to more recent cases of assault left many survivors behind. Now, a new law has expanded justice even further.
2. Breaking News: The Justice for Survivors of Sexual Assault Act (AB 250)
Signed into law in October 2025, AB 250 is a historic victory that creates a new, broader path to accountability. This new law establishes a second lookback window, allowing adult survivors to file previously time-barred claims between January 1, 2026, and December 31, 2027.
AB 250 is critically important for several reasons:
- It Applies to Older Claims: Unlike the previous law, AB 250 has no date restriction on when the assault occurred. It opens the door for survivors of assaults from years or even decades ago to finally seek the justice they have long been denied.
- It Targets Private Institutions: The law is specifically aimed at holding private employers and organizations accountable—including corporations, private universities, hospitals, rideshare companies, and religious organizations—for covering up sexual assault. (Note: AB 250 does not revive claims against public entities like government agencies or public school districts).
- It Revives Related Claims: AB 250 powerfully allows survivors to also revive related claims that were tied to the assault and its concealment, such as wrongful termination, retaliation, and sexual harassment. This is crucial for survivors who were pushed out of their jobs or careers for speaking up.
Both of these laws require an allegation of a "cover-up," a term that can include a wide range of actions, such as using non-disclosure agreements (NDAs) to silence victims, hiding or destroying evidence, conducting sham investigations, or quietly transferring an abuser to another department or location where they could harm others.
Holding Institutions Accountable for Sexual Assault
Often, sexual assault does not happen in a vacuum. It can be enabled, ignored, or actively concealed by the culture, policies, or negligence of an institution. A California adult sexual assault attorney can help investigate whether an organization shares responsibility for what happened.
Suing an institution is often a vital part of seeking justice because while individuals may lack the resources to compensate you for a lifetime of harm, an institution does. The new AB 250 is specifically designed to target these private institutions and their attempts to conceal wrongdoing.
These lawsuits also send a powerful message that protecting predators over people is unacceptable, which can lead to meaningful policy changes that protect others in the future.
Entities that can be held accountable include:
- Corporations and Employers: From Hollywood film sets and Silicon Valley tech campuses to hotels and restaurants, employers have a duty to protect their employees. We can hold them liable for negligent hiring, failing to act on complaints, or fostering a toxic work environment—with guidance from a hotel sexual assault victim lawyer when abuse occurs in hospitality settings.
- Universities and Colleges: Institutions like USC, UCLA, and Stanford can be held responsible for failing to protect students from assault in dorms, at fraternity parties, or by faculty members, and for prioritizing their reputation over student safety.
- Hospitals and Medical Facilities: Doctors, nurses, therapists, and other healthcare workers can abuse their positions of trust. Hospitals and clinics can be held liable for their employees’ actions and for failing to properly supervise staff or investigate patient complaints.
- Rideshare Companies: Companies like Uber and Lyft have a legal responsibility to ensure their passengers are safe. We fight to hold them accountable when their drivers commit assault and the company’s safety measures fail.
- Religious Organizations: Churches, dioceses, and other religious groups can be held liable for abuse committed by clergy, staff, or volunteers—especially when there is a history of covering up misconduct making it critical to speak with an experienced church sexual abuse lawyer.
Holding these institutions accountable is not just about financial recovery; it is about exposing systemic wrongdoing and demanding change.
What Kind of Compensation Can a California Adult Sexual Assault Lawyer Help You Pursue?
No amount of money can ever undo the trauma of sexual assault. However, financial compensation, called damages, can provide the essential resources needed for recovery and a tangible sense of justice. It is a legal acknowledgment of the profound harm you endured and can provide stability for your future.
A civil lawsuit can seek compensation for various types of harm:
- Economic Damages: These are tangible financial losses with a clear monetary value. This can include the cost of past and future therapy, medical bills, lost wages from time off work, and diminished future earning capacity if the trauma has impacted your career path.
- Non-Economic Damages: These are intangible but deeply felt losses that do not have a specific price tag. This includes compensation for physical pain and suffering, emotional distress, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), anxiety, depression, loss of enjoyment of life, and damage to your relationships.
- Punitive Damages: In cases where the defendant's conduct was particularly malicious, fraudulent, or reckless, a court may award punitive damages. These are not meant to compensate the survivor but to punish the wrongdoer and make an example of them to deter similar conduct in the future.
An experienced legal team will work with experts to document the full extent of your losses and build a powerful case for the maximum compensation you deserve.
Your Privacy Is a Priority: Filing a Lawsuit Anonymously
One of the biggest concerns for survivors is the fear of their identity becoming public. The thought of friends, family, or employers learning the details of what happened can be a major barrier to coming forward.
Fortunately, California law protects your privacy. Under California Penal Code Section 293, survivors of sexual assault have the right to keep their names and identifying information confidential throughout the legal process. This means you can file a lawsuit using a pseudonym, such as "Jane Doe" or "John Doe."
Your sexual assault lawyer can file the necessary motions with the court to ensure your identity is protected from the public record. The decision to proceed anonymously is always yours, and we will support you completely. This crucial legal protection allows you to seek justice without sacrificing your privacy and peace of mind.
California Adult Sexual Assault Lawsuits FAQs
We have answered some common questions to help you better understand your rights and the legal process.
What if I don't have any physical evidence from the assault?
Many survivors do not have physical evidence, especially if a significant amount of time has passed. This does not mean you don’t have a case. A civil lawsuit can be built on your testimony, witness statements, digital evidence like texts or emails, and expert testimony about the nature of trauma and its effects. The absence of a police report or DNA is common and is not a barrier to seeking civil justice.
Can I still file a civil lawsuit if the person who assaulted me was never convicted in criminal court?
Yes, absolutely. The outcome of a criminal case has no legal bearing on your right to file a civil lawsuit. The standards of proof are different, and a civil case is a completely separate process. You can pursue and win a civil claim for damages regardless of whether criminal charges were ever filed or if the person was found not guilty.
What if the sexual assault happened at my workplace?
If you were assaulted at work by a coworker, manager, or client, you may have a claim against both the individual and your employer. Under the new AB 250, if you were fired or forced out after the assault, you may also be able to revive a related claim for wrongful termination. Companies have a duty to provide a safe work environment. If they were negligent in their hiring practices, failed to respond to prior complaints, or fostered a culture that allowed harassment to occur, they may be held legally responsible.
How much does it cost to hire a California adult sexual assault lawyer?
At Fight for Survivors, we handle these cases on a contingency fee basis. This means you do not pay any upfront costs or hourly fees. Our legal fees are paid as a percentage of the financial compensation we recover for you. If we do not win your case, you owe us nothing. This approach allows every survivor to access dedicated, high-caliber legal representation, regardless of their financial situation.
Can I sue if I was forced to sign a non-disclosure agreement (NDA)?
Yes. In California, an NDA cannot be used to prevent you from reporting a crime or speaking about your experience in a legal context. In fact, both AB 2777 and the new AB 250 specifically identify the use of NDAs and confidentiality agreements as potential evidence of an institutional "cover-up," which can strengthen your case. You should not let an NDA stop you from exploring your legal options.
Fight for Survivors: Trusted California Adult Sexual Assault Lawyers
You have already demonstrated incredible strength. Taking the next step to learn about your legal rights is another move toward healing and accountability. You do not have to do this by yourself. The legal team at Fight for Survivors is here to provide the support, guidance, and powerful advocacy you need to see this through.
The new laws in California have opened a window of opportunity, but these windows will close. We urge you to act now to protect your rights.
We invite you to contact us for a free, confidential, and compassionate consultation. We will listen to your story with respect, answer your questions, and explain your legal options with no obligation. Let us be your voice and fight for the justice you have long deserved.
Contact us today at (833) 55-FIGHT or through our online form to connect with one of our California adult sexual assault attorneys.