California Sexual Abuse Settlement Calculator
Estimate compensation for childhood abuse (AB 218, AB 452) or adult sexual assault (AB 2777, AB 250) under California's three revival windows
How much are California sexual abuse settlements worth? Ranges vary dramatically by institutional involvement. Single-plaintiff AB 218 cases settled between $500K–$5M per survivor. Mass institutional cases: LA Archdiocese ~$1.1M average per survivor across 1,353 plaintiffs; Diocese of San Diego ~$495K average across 400 plaintiffs.
⚠ Adult-survivor revival under AB 2777 (CCP § 340.16(b)(3), no cover-up required) closes December 31, 2026. AB 250's window for claims against private entities runs through December 31, 2027.
All consultations confidential. Pseudonym filings available to protect survivor identity.
Your Case Details
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PTSD, depression, anxiety, complex trauma — formally diagnosed?
Larger institutions have more resources and higher settlements.
Estimated Settlement Range
$176,400 — $327,600
Abuse settlements vary widely by jurisdiction, institutional resources, and the documented impact. This is a benchmark range based on reported cases.
Editorially Reviewed — Content reviewed for accuracy using published legal research, government data, and verified court records. See our methodology
Reviewed by Leonard Goldberg, Editor
California Is the Most Plaintiff-Friendly Sexual Abuse State in the US
California has transformed sexual abuse civil law more aggressively than any other state. Three separate revival windows — AB 218 (childhood, 2020–2022, closed), AB 2777 (adult, no cover-up required, closes Dec 31, 2026), and AB 250 (adult private entities, 2026–2027, open) — combined with AB 452 (eliminating the childhood SOL entirely for post-2024 abuse), have produced the largest sexual abuse settlements in US history. The April 2025 Los Angeles County $4 billion agreement for ~7,000 juvenile facility survivors is the biggest single sexual abuse settlement ever recorded.
If you were abused in California — as a child at any time, or as an adult where an institution covered up the abuse — you may still have a viable claim. The rules depend on when the abuse occurred, your age at the time, and whether a public or private entity is involved. This page explains each window in plain language and shows typical settlement ranges under California law.
Public entity note: California's newest window (AB 250, effective January 1, 2026) explicitly excludes claims against public entities under CCP § 340.16(e)(7)(C). If abuse occurred at a state-run facility, county agency, or public school system, your claim must fit under AB 2777 (pre-2026) or the pre-existing general 3-year SOL for adult claims. Consult an attorney immediately — the law around public-entity immunity is actively being litigated as of April 2026.
California's Three Sexual Abuse Revival Windows
California is the only US state with multiple overlapping revival windows for sexual abuse claims. Here's how each works — including which ones are still open as of April 2026:
AB 218
CLOSEDCCP § 340.1(q)
Childhood sexual abuse, including institutional defendants
Cases filed during window still active in litigation
AB 2777 — adult revival (no cover-up required)
OPENCCP § 340.16(b)(3)
Adult sexual assault (18+ at the time), conduct on or after Jan 1, 2009; NO cover-up requirement. Not revived: claims litigated to finality or settled in writing before Jan 1, 2023.
⚠ HIGH — closes December 31, 2026
AB 2777's separate cover-up window (former § 340.16(e)) ran Jan 1 - Dec 31, 2023 only and is closed; § 340.16(e) was rewritten by AB 250 (see next window). Verified against the full statute text 2026-08-18.
AB 250
OPENCCP § 340.16(e), as rewritten by AB 250 (Stats. 2025, ch. 682, eff. Jan 1, 2026)
Adult sexual assault: claims against private entities require alleging a cover up (§ 340.16(e)(2)(B)); claims against the perpetrator are revived without a cover-up allegation (§ 340.16(e)(3)). Public entities excluded entirely, including vicarious liability (§ 340.16(e)(7)(C)).
California Statute of Limitations — Current Rules (April 2026)
Childhood sexual abuse (under 18 at the time): For abuse occurring on or after January 1, 2024, California has no statute of limitations — AB 452 eliminated it entirely. For abuse before January 1, 2024, the deadline is the later of: (a) age 40, OR (b) 5 years from discovery of injury causally linked to abuse. The discovery rule is applied robustly — if you only recently connected psychological harm to childhood abuse, the clock may restart. Statute: CCP § 340.1.
Adult sexual assault (18+ at the time): Standard SOL is 3 years under CCP § 335.1 (general personal injury). Extended to 10 years from last act OR 3 years from discovery under CCP § 340.16 for acts by a person in a position of authority or in institutional cover-up contexts. If your adult-onset claim is otherwise time-barred, the AB 2777 window (open until Dec 31, 2026) or AB 250 window (open until Dec 31, 2027, private entities only) may revive it.
Damage Caps in California Sexual Abuse Cases
California has no statutory cap on non-economic damages in sexual abuse civil cases. The MICRA cap ($350K, rising to $750K by 2033) applies only to medical malpractice, not to sexual abuse. Punitive damages are uncapped, though federal due-process proportionality applies. Government entity note: Public entities are largely immune from the adult revival windows (per CCP § 340.16(e)(7)(C) for AB 250). California Government Code § 910 notice-of-claim requirements apply separately to any claim against a public agency — typically 6 months from discovery. As of April 2026, Los Angeles County is pushing proposed legislation to impose damage limits and additional immunity for state-actor abuse claims; status: proposed only, NOT yet law.
Landmark California Sexual Abuse Settlements
California has produced the largest sexual abuse settlements in US history. The 2025 LA County juvenile-facilities agreement alone exceeds every other state's combined historical recoveries:
| Defendant / Case | Amount | Year | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| LA County Juvenile Facilities | $4B | 2025 | Largest US sexual abuse settlement in history |
| Archdiocese of Los Angeles | $1.5B | 2024 | Historical total; $800M single settlement 2024 |
| USC / Dr. George Tyndall | $1.1B | 2022 | Combined settlements |
| Diocese of San Diego | $198M | 2022 | 400 victims |
Institutional Liability: Why the Real Money Is There
Individual abusers often have limited assets. Institutional defendants (churches, schools, organizations) have deep pockets AND legal liability for enabling abuse. Understanding institutional liability theories explains the massive recoveries.
Negligent hiring
Negligent hiring: Institution hired an abuser despite red flags (prior complaints, criminal history, industry warnings). Liable for inadequate background checks and ignoring references.
Negligent supervision
Negligent supervision: Institution failed to supervise the abuser appropriately given their role and contact with vulnerable populations. Applies to teachers, clergy, coaches, caregivers.
Negligent retention
Negligent retention: Institution kept the abuser on staff after learning of concerning behavior. This is the 'priest shuffle' theory — moving abusers between locations without action.
Respondeat superior
Respondeat superior: Employer is vicariously liable for employee acts committed in the course of employment. Narrower for intentional acts but still applies to many abuse scenarios.
Breach of fiduciary duty
Breach of fiduciary duty: Special relationships (clergy-parishioner, teacher-student, counselor-client) create heightened duties. Breach creates liability beyond negligence.
Fraudulent concealment
Fraudulent concealment: Institution actively hid the abuse from law enforcement, new victims, or parents. Often unlocks punitive damages and extends SOL (the clock starts from discovery of concealment).
California Sexual Abuse Settlement FAQs
I was abused as a child in California decades ago. Can I still sue?
Possibly yes. California AB 218 opened a 3-year lookback window (Jan 2020 – Dec 2022) that accepted claims regardless of when abuse occurred. That window is now closed for new filings, but existing AB 218 cases remain in active litigation (including settlement negotiations with LA Archdiocese and BSA). Additionally, the general SOL under CCP § 340.1 extends until age 40 OR 5 years from discovery — so if you recently connected psychological symptoms to the abuse, you may still qualify. If the abuse occurred on or after January 1, 2024, there is NO statute of limitations (AB 452). Consult an attorney immediately to evaluate which window applies to your facts.
I was assaulted as an adult. AB 2777 is closing in December 2026 — what should I do?
AB 2777's still-open revival — codified at CCP § 340.16(b)(3) — covers adult sexual assault (18+ at the time) based on conduct on or after January 1, 2009, and requires no cover-up allegation. You have until December 31, 2026 to file; claims litigated to finality or settled in writing before January 1, 2023 are not revived. Note: AB 2777's separate cover-up window closed December 31, 2023 — its successor is AB 250's window (January 1, 2026 – December 31, 2027; private entities, with claims against the perpetrator revived without a cover-up allegation; public entities excluded). Speak to an attorney well before year-end — intake, investigation and filing take weeks.
Does AB 250 apply to my case against a state university?
No, public entities are excluded. AB 250 (effective Jan 1, 2026) opens a new 2-year window for adult sexual assault claims against private entities only — CCP § 340.16(e)(7)(C) explicitly excludes public entities, including UC/CSU universities, state agencies, county/city facilities, and public schools. For claims against public entities, you must either (a) fit within AB 2777 (pre-2026 cover-up window, closing Dec 2026), or (b) proceed under the pre-existing 3-year SOL or extended 10-year rule under CCP § 340.16. Private universities (USC, Stanford, private religious schools) remain open under AB 250.
How much are California sexual abuse settlements worth?
Ranges vary dramatically by institutional involvement. Single-plaintiff AB 218 cases settled between $500K–$5M per survivor. Mass institutional cases: LA Archdiocese ~$1.1M average per survivor across 1,353 plaintiffs; Diocese of San Diego ~$495K average across 400 plaintiffs. The LA County juvenile-facilities $4B/7,000-plaintiff agreement averages ~$571K per survivor but varies widely by severity. Individual verdicts reach much higher: USC/Dr. Tyndall cases produced verdicts exceeding $35M for single plaintiffs. Your case's value depends on severity, duration, institutional defendant's resources, cover-up evidence, and which window applies.
Can I file confidentially in California?
Yes. California routinely allows pseudonym (John/Jane Doe) filings in sexual abuse civil cases under California Rules of Court Rule 2.550 and CCP § 367.3. Court records are sealed or redacted; media coverage does not use real names unless you consent. Many attorneys also use private mediation to settle before public filings. For AB 2777 and AB 250 cases, the cover-up element is typically established via discovery of institutional documents rather than survivor testimony — minimizing public exposure. Attorney-client privilege protects your consultation regardless of whether you ultimately file.
Pending Legal Developments
Legal situation is evolving. As of April 2026:
- LA County (April 2026) pushing legislation for damage caps + state-actor immunity. Status: proposed only, NOT yet law.
- AB 250 'cover up' requirement is newly operative (Jan 2026); courts have not yet tested its boundaries.
This page is informational only. Consult a licensed attorney for case-specific advice.
Primary Sources
- leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billTextClient.xhtml?bill_id=202320240AB452
- www.zalkin.com/child-sexual-abuse/california-ab-218
- www.eastonlawoffices.com/blog/california-law-ab250-opens-new-window-sexual-assault-claims-january-2026
- www.musickpeeler.com/news-events/new-california-law-reopens-statute-of-limitations-for-sexual-assault-lawsuits-with-exemptions-for-public-entities
Other State Sexual Abuse Calculators
New York
CVA + ASA + NYC GMVA (open Jul 2027)
New Jersey
Age-55 + 7-yr discovery rule
Maryland
No SOL for childhood + 2025 cap cut
All States — Main Calculator
Nationwide settlement ranges + institutional liability overview
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Other Calculators for California
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Sexual Abuse Settlement Calculators by State
Lookback windows and settlement ranges for survivors vary by state: