School Sexual Abuse Attorney Serving Berkeley, California
A sexual abuse attorney in Berkeley may be able to help victims and their families pursue compensation, justice, and closure for everything they have been forced to endure. If a teacher or coach has abused you or someone you love, you have the right to explore the possibility of a sexual abuse lawsuit.
Mary Alexander & Associates Has a Track Record of Success in Sex Abuse Cases
If you are wondering whether Mary Alexander & Associates has experience with sex abuse cases, consider their track record of success in this practice area. This firm once achieved a $13 million judgment for a male victim of a sexually abusive soccer coach. This abuse continued over several years, changing the victim’s life forever.
The experienced attorneys at Mary Alexander & Associates also successfully negotiated a $3.45 million settlement for a minor victim of school sexual abuse in Elk Grove. This case involved sexual molestation and abuse by an employee of the school district, something that never should have been allowed to happen.
Other past victories include other school sexual abuse, the sexual abuse of minor employees, clergy abuse, and more. All of the victims in these cases received compensation exceeding $1 million.
Verified Review from Gloria:
Gloria Pipkins explained that this law firm made her feel comfortable: “I am extremely glad I chose Mary Alexander & Associates law firm to represent me. From the moment that I stepped foot into her office they made me feel very comfortable. She listen to me and my concerns and was very understanding and honest with me about my case. Not once did she ever make me think that my case was not important. They kept me well informed about my case and not once did she ever mislead me in regards to my case. Things went as she predicted and I won my case. I was very pleased with her services. Thank you Mary & Associates.”
Why Do I Need to Hire a School Sexual Abuse Attorney in Berkeley?
There is no legal requirement to hire a school sexual abuse lawyer in Berkeley if you want to hold an abuser accountable. However, this is a step that many survivors and their families take. Since justice, accountability, and fair compensation are so important in this situation, it makes sense to give yourself the best possible chance of success.
The Berkeley Unified School District spans across the entire city of Berkeley, Alameda County. Schools across the eastern shore of the San Francisco Bay fall into this district, which is subdivided into three zones: Central, Northwest, and Southeast. The district includes 11 elementary schools, three middle schools, one normal high school, and two alternative high schools.
Its elementary schools include Berkeley Arts Magnet, Cragmont, Emerson, John Muir, Malcolm X, Oxford, Rosa Parks, Ruth Acty, Sylvia Mendez, Thousand Oaks, and Washington. The district’s middle schools are Longfellow, Martin Luther King Jr., and Willard. Alongside Berkeley High School, the district also hosts two alternative high schools: Berkeley Technology Academy and Independent Study.
Berkeley Unified School District states that its students are their priority. The district also states that it “holds high expectations” for its educators and strives to “treat each other with respect.”
How Does a School Sexual Abuse Lawsuit Work?
A school sexual abuse lawsuit typically begins when a victim or their family contacts a lawyer. The lawyer may then recommend suing a particular defendant (often the abuser and the school district). From there, it may be possible to “settle” the claim without going to court. A financial settlement should cover all damages. If settlement negotiations fail or are impossible for whatever reason, the case may proceed to a trial. At the conclusion of the trial, the jury determines total compensation with a “verdict.”
Examples of School Sexual Abuse Lawsuits in Berkeley
Despite its storied reputation as a Mecca of educational authority, Berkeley has seen many school sex abuse scandals and lawsuits over the years. This shows that current victims of school sexual abuse in Berkeley are not alone, and it also gives survivors and their families a sense of the justice and accountability abusers will face.
In 1994, the Berkeley school district agreed to pay a settlement of $800,000 to settle a lawsuit involving two young girls who were sexually abused by their music teacher in the 1980s. This is equivalent to almost $1.75 million in today’s money. Although the school district allegedly became aware of the allegations against the teacher, it refused to terminate his employment because the teacher was never convicted of any criminal offenses related to the incidents.
The lawsuit claimed that the teacher fondled the girls on multiple occasions and subjected them to unwanted sexual touching. Although the two girls were in elementary and middle school at the time, the abuse reportedly occurred outside of school grounds. Eventually, the school district suspended the teacher’s license for just three months.
Because this teacher subsequently became a high school teacher, both girls reportedly became too afraid to enroll in the district’s only high school after graduating from middle school. This disrupted their educational process and probably made later career success more challenging for them.
Years later, in 1996, the Berkeley school district agreed to pay another settlement of over $1 million after female students accused a fourth-grade teacher of sexually abusing them. The teacher in question also pleaded guilty to five counts of child sex abuse and retired after serving a six-month jail sentence.
Nine different female plaintiffs came forward with allegations against the teacher, claiming that he would “have them sit on his lap” while rubbing them inappropriately or touching their breasts. This teacher was quite popular in the educational community, and many staff members came forward to publicly support the defendant while he was facing these horrendous charges.
In 2016, a UC Berkeley professor faced allegations of sexual harassment from two students. Although he attempted to countersue his accusers, the professor was eventually fired by the school after his employer realized how valid their allegations were. At around the same time, a research assistant also sued a UC Berkeley professor for sexual abuse. This caused the school to revoke the professor’s emeritus status.
One of the most recent incidents came in 2024, when the Berkeley Unified School District agreed to pay nine sex abuse survivors a settlement of $13.5 million after they were sexually abused by a high school science teacher. One of these plaintiffs stated that she first came into contact with the science teacher in 1999 when she was just 14.
The victim then suffered abuse at the hands of the teacher for the next four years. The abuse includes forced oral intercourse on an almost daily basis. The victim became pregnant due to other abuse, eventually suffering a miscarriage as a result.
What are Abuse Survivors Saying About Mary Alexander & Associates?
Sexual abuse is something that is incredibly difficult to talk about, and not everyone feels comfortable discussing their experiences when leaving online reviews for Mary Alexander & Associates. That said, many people have mentioned how effective this law firm can be when approaching sensitive issues while treating clients with the respect they deserve.
Nancy Alvis noted that she was treated with respect by this law firm: “I would like to first thank Mary Alexander for believing my experience right from the start. She and her entire staff treated me with the utmost respect and worked very hard on my behalf. I am not good at putting in words what I really feel but from the bottom of my heart I thank you all. If I ever need another attorney I will contact Mary Alexander & Associates.”
Elena Ruiz appreciated this law firm’s ability to negotiate for a higher settlement than she initially expected: “Mary and her firm did wonders for my family after the Redwood Valley fire in October 2017. She was able to negotiate an even higher settlement than originally negotiated! Mary had super high levels of patience as we went through this very lengthy process. You will definitely be in the best of hands with her! Can’t recommend enough.”
Is Mary Alexander Qualified to Assist With My School Sex Abuse Case?
Aside from direct experience with sexual abuse lawsuits in the past, Mary Alexander’s educational background and legal philosophy make her a valid choice for representation during your upcoming case. She was a scientist before she studied law, and this provides her with a solid understanding of technical concepts that might be central to sexual abuse cases, such as DNA evidence and medical records. She earned her law degree at Santa Clara University Law School and was formerly the president of the Association of Trial Lawyers of America. She also served as the president of Consumer Attorneys of California, and she continues to lobby for victims’ rights.
The San Francisco Chronicle named her one of the Top 10 Trial Attorneys in the city, and the Daily Journal called her one of the top female lawyers in California. These are just a few of her awards and accolades, and you can review the full list by visiting her About Page. Perhaps the most important thing you should know about Mary Alexander is that she agrees to represent sex abuse survivors and their families when other lawyers turn their backs.
Contact Mary Alexander & Associates to Learn More
If you are ready to start discussing the possibility of a sexual abuse lawsuit in Berkeley, consider reaching out to Mary Alexander & Associates today. Although nothing can take back what happened, you can at least hold abusers accountable, recover compensation, and try to make sure that this never happens to anyone else. Contact us at 415-433-4440 or visit us online to continue this conversation.
