Few decisions are as difficult as entrusting the well-being of an elderly loved one to a professional caregiver or nursing home facility. Just like children, the elderly are at risk of being sexually abused. So, when you trust someone to look after your elderly family member, it can be devastating to learn that they have been sexually abused by the person you trusted to provide care and companionship.

In California, elderly sexual abuse is defined as any inappropriate and undesired sexual content against a person who is 60 years or older. This form of sexual assault inflicts harm when an elderly person is manipulated, tricked, or forced into unwanted sexual contact. This includes any form of sexual contact with an elderly person who is not in a position to communicate non-consent.

Sexual predators who abuse the elderly include live-in nurses, family members, home assistants, friends, or other health providers trusted to take good care of the elderly patient while he/she is alone. In most cases, a staff member is usually the perpetrator of sexual abuse in a nursing home. In other cases, the abuse is caused by another resident, especially when the victim is unable to communicate disapproval or non-consent or is too weak to resist.

Unfortunately, sexual abuse among the elderly is rarely understood or reported because many victims usually have serious medical conditions such as memory loss, confusion, and communication problems. However, even if the victims have difficulty communicating, here are some of the visible warning signs family members should look for:

• Bruising and bleeding in the genital area
• Unexplained blood stains on beddings or clothing
• Depression and refusal to communicate
• Bruising and handprints on the inner thighs, buttocks, and breasts
• Presence of a sexually transmitted disease or infection in the genital area
• Unusual fear and anxiety, particularly when a certain individual such as a suspected staff member is nearby

If you believe that your elderly loved one has been sexually abused, the attorneys at Stop Sexual Abuse Law Firm can help. We stand ready to review your case, assess your options, and aggressively pursue the compensation your family deserves. We understand the need for privacy and the emotional turmoil caused by these situations. Our team has deep compassion, a high degree of sensitivity, and enthusiasm to the matters that must be addressed.

Migrants and low-wage workers share similar risk factors. Undocumented workers who can’t read or write or legal citizens who are not educated are often hired through a complex web or barely accountable subcontractors. They usually have to work in isolated locations where there are few people around. Such people are often battling poverty and willing to do everything to keep their jobs or at least get a better one. For this reason, they can easily become the perfect target for predators. When sexual advances and contacts come in, it becomes difficult to defend themselves because they want to keep their jobs. So, they deal with all the harassment and abuse. Sexual offenders often include supervisors, employers, or co-workers.

Regardless of a person’s status in society, sexual abuse against undocumented workers and low-wage workers is unconscionable and criminal. At Stop Sexual Abuse Law Firm, we have been fighting for the rights of the adults and minors for years. We are committed to fighting for the rights of those who have been victimized by sexual predators. Everyone deserves justice and compensation for the pain and suffering at the hands of a sexual perpetrator. We’ll relentlessly pursue the best possible outcome in your case.

There’s generally an unstated bond of trust between patients and their doctors. Patients often share their embarrassing and intimate concerns with their healthcare professionals and depend on their advice for the betterment of their health and well-being. Patients expect medical professionals to treat them with respect and adhere to the standards of medical care. However, given the advanced training of a healthcare professional and the vulnerability of a patient, many healthcare providers tend to exploit the power dynamic that exists. It is an atrocity when a medical professional exploits the trust received from a patient.

Patients who are sexually abused are usually in a vulnerable state of mind or body, are more likely to be ashamed of the physician’s sexual behavior, or are less likely to report the incident out of fear of being judged. When a healthcare provider engages in sexual misconduct in the course of treatment or examination, he/she fails to abide by the code of ethical guidelines. Unfortunately, many healthcare facilities tend to cover up for the sexual predator among its employees by either ignoring complaints or even tampering with evidence. For instance, they can help the perpetrator retain his/her position in the hospital or another facility or “accidentally” delete security footage that captured the incident.

At Stop Sexual Abuse Law Firm, we represent adults and children who have been sexually abused by physicians and doctors, dentists, nurses, holistic healers, therapists and psychotherapists, and other medical professionals. We have the experience and resources to investigate and prosecute individual professionals and the involved medical facilities. We build strong cases and relentlessly fight for proper compensation. Moreover, if the case involved injury, the threat of violence, an administered substance, use of a deadly weapon, or kidnapping, we’ll ensure you get every dime for the pain and suffering you endured.

In most cases, sexual abuse is all about power, and many perpetrators are in a position of authority over their victims. While community leaders are caring, trustworthy people who want to give back to the community, there are many who see it as an ample opportunity to abuse their power and further an agenda of abuse, pain, and exploitation. Teachers, Boy Scout Leaders, Girl Scout Leaders, Social Workers, Landlords, and Property Managers, and Elected Leaders or Officials have a duty to provide a safe environment for those they serve. Community leaders have unquestioned, legal access to their victims, such as a teacher with a student or a landlord with a tenant. Using this relationship to his/her advantage, a sexual abuser in a position of power will then prey on the vulnerability of their victim.

If a person who is trusted by the community as a leader commits the heinous crime of sexual abuse, they must be held accountable for the actions. However, community leaders are usually employed by private or public organizations. These organizations have a duty to carefully screen potential employees before hiring. When sexual abuse occurs, the perpetrator is not the only responsible party. Employers who fail to act with due diligence when hiring employees, and after receiving complaints regarding the employee’s behavior, must be held accountable for their negligence. This is very crucial because the perpetrator may not have the money to compensate for the damages, especially if he/she is unable to work or is incarcerated.

Sexual abuse cases committed by community leaders can be difficult to litigate. In an effort to protect their public image, many institutions move to protect the defendant and conceal evidence of sexual abuse. At Stop Sexual Abuse Law Firm, we want to bring these assailants to justice and hold the institutions that could have stopped the abuse from happening accountable for their inaction.

The law recognizes that some individuals in society hold a special position or trust. When you seek someone’s professional help, it means that you trust them to make decisions in your best interest. Sexual exploitation by a helping professional is a violation of your trust as well as the law. Sexual abuse by a professional includes any form of sexual conduct between a professional and an individual seeking or receiving a service, where the professional holds a great deal of power over the client.

There is a very low reporting rate for sexual abuse by helping professionals. In most cases, victims fear retaliation, are concerned no one will believe them or do not realize that they were sexually exploited until much later. You trust a professional to protect your interests and respect your boundaries at a time when you’re vulnerable and dependent on their expertise. Due to the nature of the relationship, sexual exploitation can feel like an act of betrayal, and such professionals should be held liable for their actions. Sexual exploitation by a helping professional is unethical and can be grounds for malpractice and loss of license in a licensed profession.

While we cannot undo what has already happened, we can force those responsible to recognize the harm and acknowledge the wrong they have committed through appropriate monetary compensation to the victim. We have significant experience handling cases involving sexual abuse by:

• Attorneys
• Real Estate Agents
• Accountants and CPA’s
• Bankers
• Financial Planners
• Trustors or Trust Officers (executor, trustee or administrator)

We’ll fight for you and make sure your voice is not silenced.

There have been several cases, and allegations of sexual abuse in Hollywood’s entertainment industry reported against individuals associated with this medium of cinema. These accusations go back to 1921 and have gained strength during the last decade as a result of the allegations against casting directors, actors, producers, and other related publicists.

In general, Americans have a hard time when their favorite celebrities have committed sex crimes. They are in our living rooms on a daily basis or once a week; we watch their press junkets; we read their interviews and follow them on social media. It’s easy to believe that we know them. This defines the tricks employed by sexual predators.  They’ll do everything to gain the trust of the public so that they can commit their sex crimes behind the scenes.

Sexual assault in the film industry is not limited to rape. It also includes the following:

• Inappropriate touching, including groping, hugging, and kissing
• Using alcohol or drugs to ensure a victim’s pliancy
• Forcibly penetrating an individual with a foreign object
• Making threats against a person if he/she doesn’t agree to engage in sexual acts

Cases of sexual harassment, abuse, and assault in the entertainment industry have one thing in common: the perpetrator is someone in power. While abusers may seek sexual gratification, their main interest is gaining power over a victim and maintaining that power to ensure his/her actions are not exposed. For actors, upcoming artists, PAs, stunt people, and others on a set, this exploitation of power is behind their fears. They worry that they could lose their job, will never find another job, or their reputation will be ruined.

At California sexual assault attorneys, we’ve commended every survivor who despite the intimidation, came out of the closet to speak the truth to power concerning sexual assault in the entertainment industry. We are proud to continue representing clients who’ve gathered the strength to stand up against their abusers and see justice done. At Stop Sexual Abuse Law Firm, we fight on behalf of clients who have been victims of abuse or harassment in the TV, film, or music industry. It can be terrifying to fight on your own, especially when facing famous and resourceful defendants. Let us put our expertise and resources at work for you. We also value the privacy of our clients. We’ll keep your name out of the spotlight but should you speak publicly in a lawsuit; we want you to know that we’re not afraid to handle high-profile or high-conflict cases.