Santa Cruz City Schools Sexual Assault Lawsuit

Compensation for Victims of Sexual Abuse in Santa Cruz Schools

School districts across California sometimes face legal problems due to past abuse allowed by school officials, including Santa Cruz City Schools. If you have suffered from sexual misconduct as a student at this institution, you can pursue a Santa Cruz City Schools sexual assault lawsuit to seek compensation for legal damages. 

Injury Lawyer Team is here to guide you through the claims process and increase your chances of securing fair compensation. Our team will investigate the misconduct, uncover valuable evidence, and negotiate for the maximum settlement to hold your abuser and other negligent parties accountable. 

Allegations of Abuse Against Former Principal of Branciforte Junior High School

One employee in the Santa Cruz City Schools district has been the source of multiple cases of sexual abuse. 

In 1981, Steven Myers was hired as the principal at Branciforte Junior High School. Two former students (collectively referred to as John Roe) came forward to claim Myers sexually abused them in the context of a program he started that included traveling school trips and was formally adopted into the curriculum. 

During this summer program, he allegedly sexually abused the male students, which included giving the students massages. He also required boys to give him massages and encouraged minimal clothing for “body theme day,” while Myers wore minimal clothing himself. 

The former students claimed that the Santa Cruz district knew about Myers’ behavior, which had actually begun when he was a teacher at Crittenden Middle School. They chose to pursue a school sexual abuse lawsuit in California because of their experiences in the traveling school summer program. 

Allegations Against Steve Myers at Crittenden Middle School

Before Myers became the principal at Branciforte, he was a former teacher at another middle school. During his time as a teacher, he also abused several young boys in the 1970s during a summer program. Myers abused multiple underage boys and was investigated by the Santa Cruz police before his employment as a principal, but he was never charged. 

Ex-principal Steven Myers eventually retired in 1991. The lawsuit filed against Santa Cruz City Schools by the two former students resulted in both of them receiving a $2.25 million settlement. Even though the sexual contact had occurred nearly 40 years ago, they were still able to pursue a successful lawsuit. 

Both men hope that moving forward, the Santa Cruz City Schools will protect future children and students by improving safety measures. 

What California Laws Govern School Sexual Abuse Claims?

Several laws will play important roles in school sex abuse lawsuits in California:

• Child Abuse and Neglect Reporting Act (CANRA) – All educators who are brought into contact with children are mandated reporters and must report suspected abuse of students. Additionally, employers are required to provide notice to the employee of their status as a reporter upon hiring. 
• California Education Code – One statute of this law allows districts like Santa Cruz City Schools to provide education to students about abusive behavior prevention and trafficking. However, parents also have the right to excuse their children from these courses. 
• Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 – Discrimination on the basis of sex is strictly prohibited in educational settings, including sexual harassment and abusive behavior. 

What Damages Can Victims of Assault Recover?

Just like the two children who sued the ex-teacher in the Santa Cruz City Schools lawsuit, victims of child sex abuse can pursue legal action against their abusers or parties that allowed the misconduct to occur. While you can achieve justice with a claim, you can also secure your financial future with a fair settlement.

Here are some of the most common legal damages cited in claims involving sexually abused minors:

Economic Damages

• Lost wages – If the victim had to miss work due to their injuries
• Lost earning capacity – If the impact of the behavior prevents the victim from maintaining employment
• Medical expenses – For costs associated with the victim’s treatment, such as surgery, medication, and therapy

Non-Economic Damages

• Emotional distress – Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, anxiety, depression, and other mental health challenges arising from the event
• Pain and suffering – For physical pain suffered by the victim due to the misconduct
• Loss of enjoyment of life – Many victims struggle to experience all of life’s joys due to their experiences

Punitive Damages

• Awarded in cases involving gross negligence, intentional misconduct, or institutional cover-ups

How Long Do Victims Have to Take Legal Action?

The statute of limitations for child sexual abuse in civil claims was abolished under state law § 340.1. This means victims can seek compensation at any age if they were sexually abused as children, even if the events occurred decades ago.

However, if you are considering sexual assault lawsuits in California for minor abuse and you are at least 40 years old, you must submit certificates of merit with your claim. These documents must be signed by your attorney and a mental health professional to authenticate the meritorious basis for your claim. 

How Our Law Firm Can Help

The events that occurred at the traveling school summer program at Crittenden Middle School and Branciforte had to be addressed to protect future children at these schools. If you can take legal action against childhood abusers, it can also prevent other minors from being sexually abused in the future. 

Injury Lawyer Team can provide the following legal services to help you hold your abuser accountable:

• Investigating the incident
• Assessing legal damages
• Interviewing witnesses of the behavior
• Submitting subpoenas for school district documents
• Gathering evidence of your suffering
• Negotiating with insurers for fair compensation
• Litigating in civil court if necessary

Our expert attorneys work on a contingency fee basis, meaning you owe nothing unless we successfully resolve your case. Additionally, you can ask questions about sexual assault lawsuits during a free consultation with one of our top lawyers. 

If you were abused as a student in a California school, contact us today at 866-757-6452 to schedule your free case evaluation.