How Long Does a Sexual Assault Lawsuit Take to Settle?

Sep 2, 2021

Dordulian Law Group (DLG) represents survivors of sexual assault and abuse, helping them obtain justice and recover maximum financial compensation through civil lawsuits. Founded by Sam Dordulian, a former sex crimes prosecutor and Deputy District Attorney for Los Angeles County, DLG has become the top-rated and leading sexual assault firm in the nation through our unique and all-encompassing brand of representation that goes beyond legal expertise to offer survivors access to a four-tiered support network of professionals known as the SAJE Team (Sexual Assault Justice Experts).

At DLG, we take on the tough sexual assault cases, many of which are often rejected by other firms. We’ve had great success helping survivors obtain the justice they deserve despite, in many instances, the odds being against them.

We frequently encounter survivors who are under the impression that either:

A. They don’t have a valid sexual assault claim
B. Pursuing a sexual assault claim will take too much time and/or energy

One of the most common questions we hear from survivors who are considering whether or not to file a lawsuit in pursuit of financial compensation is: “how long will this take to settle?”

Below we will review what the process of filing a sexual assault claim entails and also discuss how long a typical case takes to reach a successful conclusion.

Time Limits to File Sexual Assault/Abuse Lawsuits

For the purposes of this specific blog, we’ll be discussing adult sexual assault cases. For information on childhood sexual abuse claims, please see our recent post.

For adult sexual assault survivors (those 18 years old and above), the following deadlines are in place for filing a civil lawsuit seeking to recover financial compensation from the perpetrator (whether an individual or institution):

• Within 10 years from the date on which the last act or attempted act occurred
• Within three years from the date of discovering that an injury (such as PTSD) resulted from an act or attempted act

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A claim against a government entity may have a reduced timeline for filing. Accordingly, filing your sexual assault claim as soon as possible is strongly recommended. While coming forward to report a sex crime is never easy, delays can adversely impact your case’s potential for success. Gathering evidence, interviewing any witnesses, and ensuring your claim is filed properly should be done as soon as possible.

What to Expect from a Sexual Assault Lawsuit

When you reach out to DLG with your sexual assault claim, we’ll set up a free, confidential, and no obligation consultation. We’ll listen to the facts of your case (we believe survivors), launch a thorough investigation led by our in-house Chief Investigator and retired LAPD sex crimes detective, Moses Castillo, and develop an aggressive but precise legal strategy based on our decades of experience and success.

As a sex crimes prosecutor, Sam Dordulian saw first-hand that sexual assault survivors often require additional resources beyond legal expertise when navigating the justice system. Accordingly, he created DLG’s Sex Crimes Division to include a multi-faceted team of professionals offering all-encompassing support.

With DLG, survivors have 24/7 access to all four tiers of our SAJE Team:

• Litigation Lead: Sam Dordulian, former sex crimes prosecutor and Deputy District Attorney for Los Angeles County with over 100 jury trial victories and 25 years of experience
• Investigative Lead: Moses Castillo, in-house Chief Investigator and retired LAPD sex crimes detective in the elite Abused Child Unit with over 30 years of experience
• Mental Health Lead: In-house licensed clinical therapist with over 15 years of experience specifically assisting sexual assault survivors
• Advocate Leads: Two licensed and nationally accredited victim advocates who have devoted their lives to helping sexual assault survivors

The most important step in a sexual assault claim is deciding that you want to pursue justice. Coming forward and reporting the claim can be difficult, but also extremely empowering. Once you report the claim, DLG’s dedicated team of sexual assault attorneys will fight to ensure justice is obtained and you recover the maximum financial compensation you deserve.

How Long Does a Sexual Assault Lawsuit Take to Settle?

The length of time for a sexual assault lawsuit to reach a successful conclusion can vary depending on the circumstances of the case. However, DLG always fights to ensure survivors obtain the justice they deserve as soon as possible.

In some of our most challenging cases of late, DLG has successfully obtained maximum financial settlements for survivors in a matter of months.

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For example:

• A multi-million dollar settlement was obtained in approximately three months for a rape survivor who filed a claim against a man she met on a ‘sugar daddy’ website. Although the survivor had developed a romantic relationship with the individual, the fact that he had drugged and raped her on a single occasion constituted a lawsuit and eventual multi-million dollar settlement. As we’ve noted in previous blogs, consent is always mandatory. Even one occasion of non-consent equals grounds for legal action.
• An undisclosed maximum financial damages award was obtained in approximately six months for a survivor who filed a claim against an employer who had engaged in minimal physical contact. Although only minimal physical contact was involved, under the eggshell plaintiff rule we demonstrated that the impact of the incident had resulted in significant emotional trauma for the survivor. As a result, the survivor was able to recover a maximum financial damages award (we’re unable to disclose the exact amount under the terms of the agreement).

While these examples are not a guarantee of how long your sexual assault case may take to settle or ultimately reach a successful conclusion (some claims require trials), they are an indication of the skill and dedication available through DLG’s Sex Crimes Division. Whatever your sexual assault claim may entail, we’re here to listen to you, to believe you, and to support you through the legal process once you make the commitment to pursue justice.

How Much is a Sexual Assault Lawsuit Worth?

The value of a sexual assault claim depends largely on the specific circumstances related to the case. At DLG, we’ve helped survivors obtain multi-million dollar settlements for cases that other firms refused to accept.

When you reach out to a member of our SAJE Team, we’ll review all the facts of your case and help provide you with both a timeline for how long we expect the litigation process to take and the estimated overall value of your claim.

At DLG, we always fight to recover maximum financial compensation that offers survivors the opportunity to move forward on their own terms. Sam Dordulian’s experience as a sex crimes prosecutor and Deputy District Attorney for Los Angeles County is unparalleled, and gives survivors the peace of mind they need throughout the legal proceedings.

Contact our top-rated team of expert sexual abuse attorneys online or by phone today to pursue justice and secure a financial award for damages.

With DLG, you can be confident that your case is in the best possible hands, and we’ll fight to recover maximum financial compensation for your sexual assault claim. Our past experience and proven results are evidence of the level of personalized attention and dedication we offer each and every client:

• More than $100,000,000 recovered in settlements and verdicts
• A 98% success record
• More than 100 jury trial victories
• Former sex crimes prosecutor
• Former Deputy District Attorney for L.A. County
• In-house Chief Investigator/retired LAPD detective
• More than 25 years of sex crimes experience

Contact us today online or by phone at 866-GO-SEE-SAM for a free consultation or to learn more about what makes DLG the best sexual assault firm in the nation. We’re here to serve as your dedicated legal advocate, fighting to obtain justice and recover you a maximum financial damages award.

With our No Win/No Fee Guarantee, you never have to worry about upfront costs or out-of-pocket expenses. Survivors don’t pay a penny until recover maximum financial compensation on their behalf.

If you have a sexual assault claim and are considering pursuing justice, reach out to a dedicated member of the DLG SAJE Team today. We’re here for you 24/7, offering a different kind of legal representation that includes complete access to an all-encompassing support network of professionals.