Los Angeles Rape And Sexual Assault Lawyer
Few crimes are as heinous as sexual assault crimes, such as rape. Victims are often scarred for life and unable to come to terms with it.
Many are reluctant to come forward, fearing no one will believe them or will blame them for what happened. And to make matters worse, most sex crimes are perpetrated by someone known to the victim.
While you go through the healing process, a sexual assault lawyer can help you with a civil claim to ensure those who directly or indirectly caused you harm are held accountable.
According to statistics:
- Every 68 seconds, an American is sexually assaulted.
- On average, there are 463,634 victims (age 12 or older) of rape and sexual assault each year in the United States.
- 1 out of every 6 American women has been the victim of an attempted or complete rape in her lifetime.
Men and boys are also affected by sexual violence.
- About 3% of American men (1 in 33) have been the victim of an attempted or completed rape in their lifetime.
- 1 out of every 10 rape victims are male.
If you or a loved one has been the victim of a sexual assault, you might be entitled to compensation. It can never erase what happened, but it can help take care of your financial needs.
Cohen & Marzban is one of the top Los Angeles sexual assault attorney firms.
We help clients who are victims of rape and sexual assault to receive the compensation they deserve.
Our sexual assault lawyers stand ready to help you!
24 Hours a Day, 7 Days a Week To Schedule an Appointment.
Let us know if you’re unable to travel to our office. We’ll gladly send one of our rape and sexual assault lawyers to visit you at home or in hospital, anywhere in Southern California.
Why Choose Cohen & Marzban Personal Injury Attorneys?
Our sexual assault lawyers have the experience and expertize to handle rape and sexual assault cases in a professional manner, while taking the utmost care of your needs.
We understand it’s not easy for you to talk about what happened and that you would rather forget than recall the details. We also understand that a civil lawsuit may seem like a daunting prospect to you.
At Cohen & Marban, our rape and sexual assault lawyers know how to manage the process to make it as less stressful as possible. We are there to help, support, and fight for you every step of the way.
With over 45 years of experience, we know how to get the best results for our clients.
We have already recovered over $2,000,000,000 in damages for our clients!
If you’re looking for a top Los Angeles sexual assault lawyer to act in your best interests, Cohen & Marzban is the place to go.
Frequently Asked Questions
What’s does sexual assault mean in california?
There are many definitions of sexual assault and what it covers.
Don’t let semantics cloud any atrocity committed against you.
From a legal perspective, California Code of Civil Procedure Section 340.16 (b) (1) says sexual assault means:
“Any of the crimes described in Section 243.4, 261, 262, 264.1, 286, 287, or 289, or former Section 288a, of the Penal Code, assault with the intent to commit any of those crimes, or an attempt to commit any of those crimes.”
It includes:
Penal Code Section 243.4 covers the inappropriately touching of the intimate parts of another person.
Penal Code Section 261 deals with the rape of a person who isn’t the spouse of the perpetrator.
Penal Code Section 262 deals with the rape of a person who is the spouse of the perpetrator.
Penal Code Section 264.1 deals with the rape of children.
Note that “assault” in the context of sexual assault does not necessarily infer violence.
For example, in the case of rape as per Penal Code Section 261 (2), (3) and (4):
“Where it is accomplished against a person’s will by means of force, violence, duress, menace, or fear of immediate and unlawful bodily injury on the person or another.”
“Where a person is prevented from resisting by any intoxicating or anesthetic substance, or any controlled substance, and this condition was known, or reasonably should have been known by the accused.”
“Where a person is at the time unconscious of the nature of the act, and this is known to the accused.”
In 2013, the FBI UCR Program that collects rape data issued a revised definition of rape for reporting purposes and removed the word “forcible” from it.
The revised UCR definition of rape is:
“Penetration, no matter how slight, of the vagina or anus with any body part or object, or oral penetration by a sex organ of another person, without the consent of the victim.”
Will my sexual history or the way I dress be held against me?
Under California’s Rape Shield Law, the defense cannot use the victim’s sexual history to prove they consented to a sexual act. The same applies to the way the victim dresses.
As per extracts from California Evidence Code 1103:
(c) (1) “Opinion evidence, reputation evidence, and evidence of specific instances of the complaining witness’ sexual conduct, or any of that evidence, is not admissible by the defendant in order to prove consent by the complaining witness.”
(2) “Evidence of the manner in which the victim was dressed at the time of the commission of the offense shall not be admissible when offered by either party on the issue of consent.”
Note that the court may decide that certain evidence is relevant and admissible in the interests of justice. For more information on what constitutes relevant and admissible evidence, speak to a rape lawyer or sexual assault attorney.
Where do sexual assaults most frequently occur?
Statistics show that the majority of sexual assaults (55%) occur at or near the victim’s home. 15% occur in an open public space, 12% at or near a relative’s home, 10% in an enclosed public area, and 8% on school property.
What’s the statute of limitations in california?
The California Code of Civil Procedure Section 340.16 specifies the statute of limitations for sexual assault cases.
Except for minors under 18 years, you should file a claim within ten years after the sexual assault or within three years from the date you discover or should have discovered an injury or illness caused by the sexual assault.
Here are the relevant extracts:
(a) “In any civil action for recovery of damages suffered as a result of sexual assault, where the assault occurred on or after the plaintiff’s 18th birthday, the time for commencement of the action shall be the later of the following:
(1) Within 10 years from the date of the last act, attempted act, or assault with the intent to commit an act, of sexual assault against the plaintiff.
(2) Within three years from the date the plaintiff discovers or reasonably should have discovered that an injury or illness resulted from an act, attempted act, or assault with the intent to commit an act, of sexual assault against the plaintiff.”
To learn more about what party or parties you can hold liable and the amount of damages you might be able to recover, call our sexual assault lawyers now at (310) 888-4555.