California child sex abuse law brings justice for survivors, growing financial strain for schools
Summary
A California law that helps survivors of childhood sexual abuse sue for justice is causing financial problems for many school districts. The law has uncovered abuses that were hidden for years, but the resulting lawsuits and settlements are making insurance more expensive and forcing some schools to cut programs and jobs.Key Facts
- California passed a law (AB-218) in 2019 that extended the time survivors have to file childhood sexual abuse lawsuits.
- Many survivors, like Joelle Casteix, have come forward after decades to seek accountability for past abuse.
- School districts are facing high costs from legal settlements linked to abuse cases from many years ago.
- Some districts share insurance, so claims in one district can raise costs for other districts statewide.
- Sierra Sands Unified School District paid $1.42 million to settle a lawsuit from abuse in 1974-75.
- District leaders say these costs reduce funding for current students by forcing cuts in teachers and programs.
- The age of cases makes investigations hard due to missing records and the passage of time.
- Districts often settle claims to avoid costly court trials that can cost hundreds of thousands of dollars.
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