California’s AB 218 revived the voices of survivors who had been previously silenced. These legal actions are overdue reckonings.
What’s at Stake for Survivors:
- Long-term trauma is real. Research from the CDC shows survivors of childhood sexual abuse are four times more likely to develop PTSD and three times more likely to suffer from substance abuse.
- Survivors often remain silent for decades. When disclosure finally happens, the legal system too often balks—AB 218 changes that.
- Accountability matters. Lawsuits force institutions to confront decades of negligence, not just compensate individuals.
Settlement Benchmarks from Institutional Abuse Cases:
- Boy Scouts: typically $35K–$50K per survivor.
- The Catholic Church: averages $200K–$450K.
- School abuse proceedings: early verdicts in California have exceeded $1M per survivor when cover-ups are proven.
