Washington Sex Abuse Lawsuits

If you were the victim of sexual abuse or assault in Seattle or anywhere in Washington, either as a child or an adult, you may have the right to bring a civil lawsuit. The lawsuit may name not only the abuser but also a school, facility, company, government agency, church, or other organization that enabled the abuse or failed to protect you. Our sex abuse attorneys help survivors hold these institutions accountable.

This page looks at sexual abuse lawsuits in Washington, including recent cases, settlement amounts, the statute of limitations, and what you actually have to prove to bring a claim.

Washington has also changed its statute of limitations for childhood sexual abuse. For qualifying abuse occurring on or after June 6, 2024, there is no civil statute of limitations. Older claims are different. We explain those rules below because, unfortunately, the answer for an older survivor is not nearly as simple.

If you have a Washington sex abuse case, contact us today for a free consultation at 800-553-8082.

• Washington Juvenile Detention Center Sex Abuse Lawsuits
• Sex Abuse Lawsuits Against Washington DCYF

Washington Sex Abuse Lawsuit Updates

September 7, 2026: $21 Million University Place School District Sex Abuse Settlement

University Place School District has agreed to pay $21 million to settle sexual abuse claims brought by six former students who alleged they were abused by Michael Basse, a substitute nurse and classroom assistant who worked in district schools between 2008 and 2016.

The plaintiffs alleged that Basse used his access to students to groom and sexually abuse boys and that the school district failed to protect them. The district disputed responsibility and argued that much of the alleged conduct happened away from school. The settlement came shortly before trial.

This is a big Washington sexual abuse settlement. Six individual claims produced a $21 million resolution on the eve of trial. That tells you more about current Washington school abuse exposure than a national settlement average ever could.

August 7, 2026: Tumwater School District Faces Three Sex Abuse Lawsuits

Three men are pursuing civil lawsuits against the Tumwater School District alleging that former Tumwater High School football coach Paul Beattie groomed and sexually abused them when they were children in the 1980s.

The plaintiffs say they were between 9 and 15 years old when the abuse occurred. Their lawsuits allege the school district negligently hired or retained the coach despite information that should have raised concerns. Trials are currently expected later in 2026.

Decades have passed. The cases are still being litigated. That is a good illustration of why you cannot determine whether an old Washington child sex abuse lawsuit is time-barred just by looking at the year the abuse happened.

July 31, 2026: Two Families Sue Blaine School District Over Sexual Assault Response

Two families filed separate federal lawsuits against the Blaine School District alleging that the district mishandled sexual assault reports involving their daughters during the 2024-2025 school year.

The lawsuits allege the girls were assaulted by the same male student on school grounds and that the district’s response violated Title IX and Washington discrimination law. The families also allege that the students were retaliated against or unfairly burdened after they reported what happened.

Schools often hide behind procedure in these cases. They say they investigated. They say the evidence was inconclusive. They point to a policy manual and tell you everyone followed the rules. But a civil lawsuit asks what actually happened after the school learned there was a problem and whether its response protected the student.

More Washington Sex Abuse Lawsuit Updates

July 16, 2026: More Than 100 Women Join Mulholland Litigation

The civil litigation involving former Richland OB-GYN Dr. Mark Mulholland continues to grow. A new lawsuit filed in King County involves more than 100 women alleging sexual abuse, inappropriate examinations, unnecessary medical procedures, or other misconduct while under his care.

The complaint also names Providence Health & Services and Kadlec Regional Medical Center. Plaintiffs allege the institutions failed to protect patients despite years of complaints and warning signs.

Medical abuse cases are particularly disturbing because the patient is told to trust the professional. Patients are undressed, examined, and placed in vulnerable positions because they reasonably believe the doctor is acting for a legitimate medical purpose. That trust is exactly what can make medical sexual abuse so damaging.

July 3, 2026: Northwest ICE Processing Center Sexual Abuse Lawsuit

Three men detained at the Northwest ICE Processing Center in Tacoma filed a lawsuit against GEO Group, the private company that operates the facility.

The men allege sexual assault, violent beatings, retaliation, and cover-ups by guards. The complaint alleges that one detainee was repeatedly groped during pat-down searches, another was slammed into concrete and kneed while handcuffed, and a third was beaten after asking for computer access to prepare his immigration appeal.

People in custody report abuse. The facility controls much of the evidence. An internal investigation goes nowhere. Then the institution insists there is nothing to see. We keep seeing variations of that story in detention abuse litigation.

June 19, 2026: Puyallup Wrestling Sexual Assault Lawsuit

A Washington high school wrestler and her mother filed a federal lawsuit after Pierce County prosecutors declined to bring criminal charges over an alleged sexual assault during a wrestling match. The lawsuit names the Washington Interscholastic Activities Association, OSPI, the Puyallup School District, and school officials.

The plaintiff alleges she was sexually assaulted during a 2025 tournament and that school and athletic officials failed to properly respond after the incident was reported.

The fact that prosecutors declined criminal charges does not end the civil case. A prosecutor has to prove a crime beyond a reasonable doubt. A civil sexual assault lawsuit is a different case with a different burden of proof.

June 16, 2026: Longview School District Sexual Assault Investigation

The Longview School District came under intense scrutiny after Superintendent Karen Cloninger was arrested in connection with an investigation involving allegations of sexual assault among students at Mark Morris High School. Multiple staff members were placed on administrative leave, and the district hired an outside investigator after accusations that officials mishandled or obstructed the investigation.

The second failure is often what creates the civil lawsuit. The first question is whether someone was sexually assaulted. Then you ask what the adults responsible for student safety knew and what they did about it.

June 1, 2026: $15 Million Federal Way School Settlement Reported

Federal Way Public Schools paid $15 million to resolve claims brought by two former students who alleged they were sexually abused and assaulted by a middle school teacher.

The lawsuit alleged that the abuse occurred for years and that school employees ignored obvious warning signs. The allegations included a remarkable claim that an assistant principal entered a dark classroom while one of the assaults was occurring and failed to report what had been seen.

The district did not admit wrongdoing. But $15 million for two survivors is obviously another important data point when evaluating serious Washington school sexual abuse cases.

May 31, 2026: Kaiser Permanente Pediatrician Abuse Allegations in Vancouver

Multiple people reportedly contacted lawyers with allegations tied to Dr. Michael Wilmington, a former Kaiser Permanente pediatrician in Vancouver, Washington. A lawsuit filed in May 2026 names Kaiser entities and alleges that the health system knew or should have known about abuse connected to Wilmington’s medical practice and failed to stop it.

A medical abuse claim may not stop with the individual provider. Hospitals, clinics, and health systems can face liability when the evidence shows a legally actionable failure to investigate warnings, supervise employees, or protect patients.

April 7, 2026: Additional Lawsuits Filed Over Green Hill School Abuse

Several new civil lawsuits were filed against the Washington Department of Children, Youth, and Families alleging sexual abuse of minors at the Green Hill School juvenile detention facility in Chehalis. Former residents claim staff members and other detainees engaged in sexual misconduct that went unreported or was ignored by supervisors.

Victims say they reported abuse to facility staff but were dismissed or threatened with retaliation. The lawsuits accuse DCYF of inadequate supervision, ignored warning signs, and allowing an environment where sexual abuse could continue unchecked.

February 11, 2026: More Women Join Richland OB-GYN Abuse Lawsuits

Additional women came forward with civil claims accusing Richland OB-GYN Dr. Mark Mulholland of sexual misconduct during medical examinations. The plaintiffs described inappropriate touching, sexually suggestive comments, and procedures they allege lacked a legitimate medical purpose.

The lawsuits also target Kadlec Regional Medical Center and Providence Health & Services based on allegations that administrators failed to adequately respond to complaints and warning signs.

October 2, 2025: LDS Church Sex Abuse Lawsuits

Two Seattle families sued the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, accusing it of enabling sexual abuse by a high priest during the 1980s. The LDS church lawsuits allege church leaders knew the man had a history of child sexual abuse but still permitted him to interact with children at church programs and a daycare.

Both families say their daughters, ages 4 and 5, were assaulted and that warnings were brushed aside or minimized by church leaders.

August 4, 2025: $15 Million Foster Care Settlement

Washington agreed to pay $15 million to settle a lawsuit brought on behalf of three sisters who were placed in a foster home in Centralia, where they were allegedly sexually abused by biological children of the foster provider over the course of years.

The plaintiffs were ages four, five, and six when placed in the home. They accused the Department of Social and Health Services of failing to conduct adequate safety visits and maintain meaningful contact with them. The lawsuit also alleged the state continued supporting the foster family’s adoption petition despite significant red flags.

When the state takes responsibility for placing a child in a home, it also takes on responsibility for taking reasonable steps to keep that child safe. That is why foster care sexual abuse cases can become very large claims against Washington agencies.

August 1, 2025: Healing Lodge of the Seven Nations Investigation

Our attorneys are investigating sexual abuse allegations involving the Healing Lodge of the Seven Nations, a residential treatment center in Spokane Valley, Washington.

We are reviewing reports from former residents involving alleged sexual abuse, exploitation, or misconduct by staff or other residents and whether administrators failed to adequately supervise vulnerable youth or respond to warning signs.

July 21, 2025: $8 Million DSHS/DCYF Settlement

Washington state agreed to pay $8 million to settle a lawsuit brought on behalf of a severely disabled woman who endured horrific abuse while under her family’s care. Despite more than a dozen warnings from doctors, neighbors, and government officials, some dating back to when she was an infant, the lawsuit alleged that state agencies failed to intervene.

The settlement included substantial funding for her lifelong care.

May 8, 2025: Washington Supreme Court Decision on Continuing Abuse Claims

In M.R. v. State, the Washington Supreme Court rejected an attempt to automatically separate childhood sexual abuse from later abuse when the alleged course of intentional sexual abuse began before the survivor turned 18 and continued afterward.

M.R. alleged that a coach began sexually abusing and grooming her when she was 17 and that the abuse continued after she turned 18. The defendants argued that the ordinary limitations period should automatically bar the post-18 conduct.

The Supreme Court held that RCW 4.16.340 does not preclude a claim involving continuing abuse merely because some acts occurred after adulthood when the claim is predicated on intentional childhood sexual abuse. That makes sense. Abuse does not magically become a different human experience at midnight on a survivor’s 18th birthday.

April 13, 2025: Tacoma Military Doctor Abuse Claims

Dr. Michael Stockin, an anesthesiologist and pain specialist who practiced at Madigan Army Medical Center at Joint Base Lewis-McChord, faced allegations from former patients involving sexual abuse during medical treatment.

February 9, 2025: Olympia School District Settles Sex Abuse Case for $3.2 Million

The Olympia School District agreed to pay a sex abuse survivor $3.2 million after allegations that he was groomed and sexually abused by his teacher beginning in middle school and continuing into high school.

The lawsuit alleged the district was aware of the teacher’s history of sexually inappropriate conduct but negligently failed to take adequate action.

January 15, 2025: Hudson’s Bay High School Allegations

Our law firm has followed troubling allegations involving Hudson’s Bay High School in Vancouver, Washington.

Students staged a walkout over the district’s handling of sexual misconduct allegations involving a teacher. In a civil case, the questions are familiar: What warnings did administrators receive? When did they receive them? What happened next?

January 13, 2025: Bainbridge Island School District Cases

The Bainbridge Island School District faced separate legal cases involving allegations of sexual abuse linked to the district. One lawsuit concerned allegations dating to the 1980s involving former teachers. Another involved allegations that the district and Bainbridge Youth Services failed to protect a student from sexual assaults by other students.

January 5, 2025: Hundreds Allege Abuse at State Juvenile Facilities

The State of Washington faces extensive civil litigation brought by former residents who allege they were sexually abused or assaulted while confined in state juvenile facilities. The Washington Department of Children, Youth and Families is a central defendant in this litigation.

June 6, 2024: Washington Eliminates the Deadline for Future Childhood Sexual Abuse

House Bill 1618 took effect on June 6, 2024. For qualifying childhood sexual abuse occurring on or after that date, Washington law now provides no civil statute of limitations.

It was an important step forward. Lawmakers did not make the no-limitations rule fully retroactive, however, which means survivors of older abuse still have to deal with the discovery-based rules discussed below.

Washington Sex Abuse Settlement Amounts and Jury Payouts

How do you put a price on pain and suffering in these awful cases? There is no formula for Washington sex abuse settlements, and an “average settlement” is not going to tell you much about an individual survivor’s case.

Start with collectability. A judgment against an individual abuser with no money may provide accountability but very little actual compensation. Cases involving schools, churches, healthcare systems, government agencies, foster care systems, or other institutions are different because there may be insurance or substantial assets available to satisfy a settlement or verdict.

Then you get to the case itself: what happened, how old the survivor was, how long the abuse continued, what damage it caused, what the institution knew, and whether somebody ignored the chance to stop it.

Here are examples of reported Washington sex abuse settlements:

• $21,000,000 Settlement (2026): Six former students alleged that a University Place School District substitute nurse and classroom assistant sexually abused them while they were children. The plaintiffs alleged the district failed to protect students from the employee. The case settled shortly before trial for $21 million.
• $15,000,000 Settlement (2026): Federal Way Public Schools paid $15 million to two women who alleged they were groomed and sexually abused by a middle school teacher. The lawsuit alleged the teacher abused the girls over a period of years and that school employees failed to act on warning signs.
• $15,000,000 Settlement (2025): Three sisters who entered a Centralia foster home at ages four, five, and six alleged they endured years of sexual abuse after Washington state agencies failed to adequately monitor the placement or respond to red flags.
• $8,000,000 Settlement (2025): The plaintiff was a severely disabled woman whose lawsuit alleged Washington agencies ignored years of warnings that she was being abused and neglected in her family home. The settlement included substantial funding for her lifelong care.
• $3,750,000 Settlement: A woman alleged she was molested by a church deacon when she was 16 years old. According to the lawsuit, the church failed to adequately prevent or respond to the abuse.
• $3,500,000 Settlement: The plaintiff sued the Washington Department of Social and Health Services for negligently placing her in foster care despite receiving reports of suspected abuse. The plaintiff was sex trafficked and sexually abused by her foster parent from age 3 to age 16.
• $3,200,000 Settlement: The plaintiff alleged that he was sexually abused by his teacher beginning in middle school and continuing until his freshman year of high school. The lawsuit claimed the teacher had a long history of inappropriate behavior toward students that the district repeatedly ignored.
• $2,850,000 Settlement: Two ranches licensed to provide 24-hour care for children ages 11-17 were repeatedly reported for extreme physical, sexual, and emotional abuse, as well as chronic neglect. State agencies allegedly ignored warnings and failed to adequately investigate or address the reports.
• $2,000,000 Settlement: A Thurston County foster child was placed in a home the lawsuit alleged was obviously unsuitable and where there was a known sexual abuse risk. DSHS was accused of failing to supervise or protect the child despite prior warnings.
• $1,875,000 Settlement: The plaintiff sued the State of Washington for negligently ignoring numerous reports that he and his siblings were being abused and neglected. His father later pleaded guilty to sexual abuse.
• $1,520,000 Settlement: Two male minors suffered sexual abuse while in the care and custody of DSHS after being placed in a home where the abuse occurred. The plaintiffs alleged the state knew of abuse involving other children in the home and failed to provide adequate supervision.
• $250,000 Settlement: The plaintiff alleged sexual abuse by a teacher employed by Seattle Public Schools. The lawsuit claimed the district negligently hired and supervised the teacher and failed to adequately respond to disturbing behavior.

You should not assume the $21 million or $15 million school settlements establish an average Washington sex abuse settlement. They do not. They are useful for a different reason. They show what defendants have actually been willing to pay when the abuse is serious and the institutional liability case gives the defense something substantial to fear at trial.

What Impacts the Settlement Value?

Strength of the evidence. A survivor’s testimony may be the heart of the case. Corroborating witnesses, contemporaneous reports, prior complaints about an offender, personnel files, disciplinary records, emails, or evidence from other survivors can make an already credible case much harder to defend.

Severity and duration of the abuse. More serious and prolonged abuse often means greater damages. But do not turn that observation into a rule. One incident can profoundly alter someone’s life.

The harm. PTSD, depression, anxiety, substance abuse, damaged relationships, lost earnings, therapy expenses, and pain and suffering can all affect value. Two survivors subjected to similar conduct may have dramatically different damages.

What the institution did. This is often where cases change value. Did somebody complain before? Was the employee already crossing boundaries? Did administrators investigate? Did they move the offender instead of removing him? Was the survivor punished for reporting?

Insurance and resources. A large judgment means little if there is no way to collect it. Institutional defendants present a very different financial picture from many individual abusers.

The lawyer. You want a lawyer who knows how to investigate old institutional abuse claims, find records that defendants would rather not produce, locate witnesses and other survivors, and actually prepare the case for a jury. That preparation is often what creates the settlement.

Stories move people. That remains true no matter how many spreadsheets lawyers build to value cases.

Can I File a Civil Lawsuit for Sexual Assault in Washington State?

Potentially, yes. A survivor can bring a civil lawsuit even if no criminal charges were ever filed. The absence of an arrest or conviction does not decide the civil case. Neither does the fact that the survivor waited years to report what happened.

But there is not one generic “sexual assault lawsuit.” The claims depend on the facts. A case may include assault or battery claims against the offender and negligence, discrimination, negligent supervision, breach of a protective duty, trafficking claims, or other causes of action against an institution.

A police report is not mandatory. Neither is an eyewitness. Some cases begin with the survivor’s testimony and little else. Then the lawyers investigate.

That investigation can uncover medical or therapy records, school files, disciplinary histories, prior complaints, personnel records, electronic communications, or other survivors who describe the same offender.

Holding Schools and Other Institutions Liable

Washington survivors can sometimes bring claims against more than the individual who committed the abuse.

Washington law recognizes a special protective duty when certain institutions take custody or control of vulnerable people. That issue can be particularly important in foster homes, juvenile facilities, group homes, and residential treatment settings.

A school case can be different. In W.H. v. Olympia School District, the Washington Supreme Court held that a school district may be strictly liable under the Washington Law Against Discrimination for discriminatory sexual misconduct committed by an employee. That can be a powerful theory in the right Washington school sex abuse lawsuit.

The larger point is simple. An employee’s criminal act does not automatically insulate the institution that put the employee in a position to hurt someone.

Seattle Child Sex Abuse Lawsuits

The same Washington laws apply to a child sex abuse lawsuit in Seattle, but Seattle and King County produce their own recurring institutional defendants: public and private schools, churches, foster care agencies, medical providers, youth organizations, and detention facilities.

Some Seattle child sex abuse lawsuits focus on the abuser. Many do not stop there. The real financial and evidentiary fight is often with an institution accused of ignoring warning signs or failing to protect a child.

That is why an old employee file can matter. So can a complaint from another parent fifteen years earlier. The case you thought was your word against one abuser may look very different after discovery.

Washington School Sex Abuse Lawsuits

When parents send their children to school, they trust that classrooms will be safe places for learning. Too often in Washington, that trust has been broken. Teachers, coaches, nurses, and other school employees have abused authority that gave them access to children.

The recent settlements are getting very large. University Place agreed to pay $21 million involving six former students. Federal Way paid $15 million involving two survivors. Olympia paid $3.2 million in 2025.

Those cases do not tell you what the next school claim is worth. They tell you that Washington districts have very real exposure when plaintiffs can show serious abuse and a viable basis for holding the school system responsible.

These lawsuits are of course about settlement compensation. Our lawyers do not run from that fact. Survivors deserve compensation for what they endured. But cases also force school districts to answer questions they sometimes spent years avoiding.

Washington Foster Care Sexual Abuse Lawsuits

Some of Washington’s largest sex abuse settlements have arisen from foster care placements.

Why? Because when the state decides where a child will live, it assumes an extraordinary responsibility. The child generally does not choose the home. The child may have no realistic way to leave. Social workers and state agencies may be the only adults outside the home with both access to warning signs and the authority to do something about them.

A Washington foster sexual abuse attorney will usually want to know what the state knew before the placement, what happened during required home visits, whether prior complaints existed, and what social workers did when concerns surfaced.

The $15 million Centralia settlement and other multimillion-dollar Washington foster care cases show how serious the exposure can become when the evidence suggests the state had chances to protect a child and missed them.

Washington Juvenile Detention Center Sex Abuse Lawsuits

Washington has faced a growing number of civil lawsuits involving sexual abuse at juvenile detention and correctional facilities. These cases have focused substantial attention on the Department of Children, Youth & Families and facilities including Green Hill School and Echo Glen Children’s Center.

Hundreds of former residents have now brought claims involving Washington juvenile facilities. Additional Green Hill lawsuits were still being filed in 2026.

Children in detention have almost no control over who supervises them, when they can leave a room, whether anyone believes their complaint, or whether reporting an officer will make their daily life worse. That imbalance of power is central to these cases.

Facilities relevant to Washington juvenile detention abuse litigation include:

• Green Hill School, Chehalis
• Echo Glen Children’s Center, Snoqualmie
• Sunrise Community Facility, Ephrata
• Touchstone Community Facility, Olympia

Sex Abuse in Washington Residential Treatment Facilities

Victims’ lawyers are also investigating abuse and neglect allegations at residential treatment facilities.

The setting changes. The liability questions sound familiar. Was staffing adequate? Were vulnerable residents supervised? Were complaints investigated? Did someone with a history of misconduct continue to have access to children or dependent patients?

Facilities or operators that have received scrutiny over patient safety or treatment practices include:

• Fairfax Behavioral Health, Kirkland
• Smokey Point Behavioral Hospital, Marysville
• Cascade Behavioral Health, Tukwila, which closed in 2023
• Ridgefield Recovery Village, Ridgefield
• Healing Lodge of the Seven Nations, Spokane Valley

Listing a facility here does not mean that facility has been proved liable for sexual abuse. Individual claims require individual evidence.

 

Statute of Limitations on Sexual Abuse Lawsuits in Washington

The first question is when the abuse happened.

Childhood Sexual Abuse on or After June 6, 2024

For qualifying intentional childhood sexual abuse occurring on or after June 6, 2024, Washington law provides no civil statute of limitations under RCW § 4.16.340.

House Bill 1618 made that important change. It will take a lot of the burden off present and future survivors.  But most of our clients in sexual abuse lawsuits in Washington were abused before 2024. For them, the statute of limitations is not erased and is something we have to deal with.

Child Sex Abuse Statute of Limitations for Older Washington Claims

For qualifying childhood sexual abuse occurring before June 6, 2024, RCW § 4.16.340 generally requires a claim to be filed within the later of:

• Three years from the act alleged to have caused the injury or condition;
• Three years from when the survivor discovered or reasonably should have discovered that the injury or condition was caused by the act; or
• Three years from when the survivor discovered that the act caused the particular injury for which the claim is brought.

RCW § 4.16.340 also tolls the limitations period while the survivor is a minor, until age 18.

The statute recognizes another practical reality. A survivor does not need to identify which specific act in a continuing series of sexual abuse incidents caused the injury. A parent’s knowledge is also not automatically imputed to the child.

The Discovery Rule

The idea behind the discovery rule is that some victims do not really connect the abuse to their emotional injuries until after the statute of limitations has passed.  So a survivor may be able to file a lawsuit years or even decades after the abuse if the discovery provisions of RCW § 4.16.340 apply. Knowing that sexual abuse happened is not necessarily the same as understanding that a particular psychological injury was caused by it.

But it is a trap to assume this rule will apply to you.  You cannot assume the discovery rule will rescue every old claim.  There are many nuances to this rule but victims need to understand that

Adult Sexual Assault Claims

Sexual assault that occurred when the survivor was already an adult generally falls under Washington’s ordinary limitations rules rather than the special childhood sexual abuse statute.

A three-year period commonly applies to personal injury claims, but accrual and the causes of action asserted can change the analysis. If the deadline is close or the assault happened years ago, get actual legal advice instead of trying to calculate it from a search result.

Can a Washington Sexual Abuse Survivor Use a Pseudonym?

Privacy is understandably a major concern for survivors. So our lawyers are very focused on this issue to protect our clients.

Washington courts can permit a sexual abuse plaintiff to proceed using a pseudonym or initials when the circumstances justify protecting the survivor’s identity. But anonymity is not automatic. Civil proceedings are generally public, and the survivor may need to ask the court for permission.

For many clients, this is one of the first questions they ask. It should be. Filing a lawsuit does not mean you should casually assume every intimate detail of what happened will be published under your full name.

How to Sue for Sexual Assault in Seattle or Elsewhere in Washington

For many survivors, the hardest part is not deciding whether what happened was wrong. You already know that. The hard part is figuring out what comes next.

Usually, it begins with a conversation with a lawyer. You explain where the abuse occurred, approximately when it happened, who was involved, and whether a school, church, hospital, foster care agency, detention center, employer, or other institution may have played a role.

Then the investigation starts.

Medical records, therapy notes, text messages, emails, school records, personnel files, grievance forms, disciplinary records, and old complaints can all become useful. Sometimes they are critical. Sometimes the client has none of them.

Do you need those records before calling a lawyer? No. That is what discovery and investigation are for.

An old case can require more digging. Witnesses move. Employees retire. Institutions change names. Records are supposedly lost. None of that means the investigation stops.

Hiring a Washington Childhood Sexual Abuse Lawyer

Our law firm handles sex abuse lawsuits in Washington and across the country. When we handle a Washington case, we work with experienced Washington lawyers and pay that firm out of our attorney fees if there is a recovery. You do not pay a second contingency fee simply because two law firms are working together.  Instead, you get two law firms for the price of one.

If you are comparing law firms with experience handling childhood sexual abuse lawsuits in Washington state, ask practical questions. Has the firm handled institutional abuse cases? Does it know how to investigate claims that happened decades ago? Will it spend the money needed for experts and discovery? Does it prepare cases for trial, or does it assume every case will settle?

You want the lawyers thinking about the institution, not just the individual abuser. Who else complained? What did management know? Where are the personnel records? Was there insurance? Did the institution move the offender somewhere else after a complaint?

Those questions build cases that get compensation for worthy victims.

Call us. Learn where you begin and what the path will look like, and decide whether you want to take it with us. You can get a free, no-obligation consultation online or call us at 800-553-8082.