School Sexual Abuse Attorney Serving San Bruno, California
If your family has been affected by sexual abuse at a San Bruno school, you have every right to consider your legal options alongside an attorney. In fact, one might argue that you have an ethical responsibility to speak up, name abusers, and prevent other people from suffering similar harm. Perhaps your young student has recently told you about this abuse. Maybe you are an adult, and you want to find closure after being abused as a child. Whatever the case may be, a school sexual abuse attorney serving San Bruno, California, may be able to guide you toward justice and fair compensation.
Do I Need a School Sexual Abuse Lawyer for My San Bruno Abuse Case?
Mary Alexander – School Sexual Abuse Attorney Serving San Bruno
There is no law that requires you to hire a school sexual abuse lawyer. You could rely on the criminal justice system to ensure penalties for your abuser, and California law enforcement takes these situations seriously. However, sometimes putting the abuser behind bars is not enough.
A civil school sexual abuse lawsuit is separate from a criminal case, and it typically involves the victims suing the school district for failing to protect students. These kinds of lawsuits also ensure justice, but in a different way. After facing lawsuits, school districts may be forced to improve their hiring policies, create better reporting systems, and trust students when they hear about abuse.
A school sexual abuse lawyer can guide you through the entire process of a civil lawsuit from start to finish. Most civil cases do not result in trials, with parties instead settling their disputes outside of court. Your lawyer can help you negotiate for a fair financial settlement that covers your damages. If negotiations fail or you prefer to “have your day in court,” your lawyer can also guide you through the trial process.
What is Mary Alexander & Associates’ Track Record for Sex Abuse Cases?
Mary Alexander & Associates has a positive track record for sexual abuse cases, including a $13 million judgment in a lawsuit involving a sexually abusive soccer coach. The firm helped secure another $3.45 million settlement in a lawsuit involving a sexually abusive school employee. These are just a few examples of victories achieved by Mary Alexander & Associates on behalf of sex abuse victims, and you can discuss other examples during a consultation. See All Mary’s Recent Successes Here.
Is Mary Alexander Qualified to Handle Sexual Abuse Cases in San Bruno?
Like all practicing attorneys in California, Mary Alexander has extensive educational credentials. This includes a Juris Doctor (J.D.) from Santa Clara University Law School. She also has an educational background in science, which gives her unique insights into biological and technical evidence that might arise during sex abuse lawsuits, including DNA. The San Francisco Chronicle calls her one of the best trial attorneys in the City of San Francisco, and she has earned many other accolades over the course of her career. See All of Mary’s Awards & Accolades Here.
Examples of School Sexual Abuse Lawsuits in San Bruno
Unfortunately, the San Bruno school districts do not have a positive record when it comes to school sexual abuse. In 2023, The San Francisco Standard reported that the San Francisco Unified School District had allowed a teacher to “quietly leave” his school after kissing and groping a 17-year-old San Bruno student. This pattern of abuse actually occurred much earlier in the teacher’s career, beginning in the 1990s.
In 2018, local students at Aptos Middle School accused the teacher of inappropriate touching, “leering,” and using pet names. This triggered an investigation into the teacher that eventually uncovered many other sexual abuse allegations dating back decades. The investigation also raised serious questions about the school district’s response to student allegations, as it seemingly allowed him to resign and seek other employment at a different school.
Although the district verbally reprimanded the teacher and placed him on leave, there was no real effort to prevent him from abusing other students at a different school. Instead, the school gave the teacher a “release agreement,” which allowed him to quietly exit the school before gaining employment at a different school. The San Francisco Standard claims that this is a common and concerning “pattern” in the San Francisco Unified School District, claiming that countless other teachers have benefited from similar agreements.
Numerous students and teachers accused this teacher of sexual misconduct before the district allowed him to resign. One student claims that he massaged her calf, while another stated that he “squatted over her face” during a basketball drill. A special education teacher also told investigators that he pressed his crotch into her bottom while whispering in her ear. Another student says that this teacher kissed her and groped her three times during her senior year.
The investigation uncovered evidence of a prolonged romantic relationship between the teacher and a student at Capuchino High School in Bruno. The real question is how the teacher managed to resign from the San Mateo County school district before migrating to the San Francisco district, seemingly without ever revealing the shocking allegations made against him at his previous school. It took four rounds of complaints over many decades before this individual finally lost his teaching license.
Also in 2023, FOX KTVU reported that a San Bruno elementary teacher was facing charges for abusing three female students. Police arrested the teacher after evidence emerged of abusive conduct between 2016 and 2019 at El Crystal Elementary School, which has since shut down. After announcing the arrest, local police urged parents of children who interacted with this teacher to determine whether there may be more victims.
Two years later, CBS News reported that parents of the abuse victims were suing the San Bruno Park School District. By this point, a jury had found the teacher guilty of 17 counts of felony child molestation. During the trial, prosecutors presented evidence that the defendant touched several students on the genitals and buttocks throughout a four-year period.
Perhaps most concerningly, one student witnessed the sexual abuse and reported it to administrators. However, the principal of the school failed to report the incident to law enforcement and instead forced both students to meet with the abuser in private. Even worse, the principal publicly accused the victim of lying. This lack of action formed the basis for the sexual abuse lawsuit against the school district.
What Are Past Clients Saying About Mary Alexander & Associates?
Mary Alexander & Associates has an average rating of 4.8 on Google Reviews, with many clients describing positive experiences with the firm.
Sean Butler states that the entire staff cares about their clients:
I’ve known Mary since I was a child, and now as a father and fellow attorney, I called on Mary to represent my dad after he was struck by a car while crossing a street on foot. Every one of her staff members that we interacted with is professional, punctual, and clearly cares about the well-being of their clients. They handled all of the myriad moving parts in a case like this so that we could just focus on helping my dad heal and get back to normal life. I can’t recommend her enough.
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A client also referred to the team as supportive and compassionate:
Mary Alexander and her team were supportive, compassionate, and worked hard over a five year period to get justice and the best compensation possible. I had over three years of going through a very difficult criminal case before getting to a civil lawsuit. Mary was helpful and caring during this challenging time. I truly felt that I had someone on my side, making it easier to get through such an ordeal. I am also very grateful for Catalina, Janet, Esperanza, and all of the staff at Mary Alexander & Associates for their help over these past few years.
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Brandi Munoz calls the firm warm and patient:
We worked with Mary Alexander and her team for five years on a very difficult case and even more difficult time in our lives. They are the best people always warm, patient, informative and organized. I will tell you Mary is not going to beat around the bush with you, she is going to be honest and blank point as to what needs to be done. She will analyze then persevere with great tactic on your case. She may come across as quiet and sweet (which she is) but rest assure she will be a powerhouse for sure when your case needs it. We are so very grateful for this team and cannot thank them enough for their dedication and work on such a difficult case.
Contact Mary Alexander, a trusted sexual abuse attorney, for a confidential consultation. You do not have to face this battle alone—Mary is ready to stand by your side and advocate for your rights. Call today to take the first step toward justice and healing.
Contact Mary Alexander & Associates to Discuss the Next Steps
Sometimes, making that first call to a school sexual abuse attorney serving San Bruno, California, is the most difficult part of taking action. From the moment you connect with a legal professional, you can approach your case with a sense of confidence and dignity. Consultations with sex abuse attorneys are completely confidential and bound by the attorney-client privilege, even if you decide not to move ahead. Take your first step toward justice by contacting Mary Alexander & Associates at 415-433-4440.
