California Lawmakers Urged to Enact Reforms to Curb Runaway Sex Abuse Lawsuits Against Schools

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The author argues that California's 2019 law (AB 218) that reopened a three-year window for filing sexual abuse cases has led to a surge of lawsuits that are draining public school districts' budgets across the state. The author calls for common-sense reforms, such as caps on noneconomic damages and limits on attorney fees, to restore balance and accountability while still providing survivors the means to seek justice.

Why it matters

The unintended consequences of AB 218 are creating a public education crisis in California, as school districts are being forced to divert resources away from students to pay for sex abuse settlements. This threatens the ability of schools to provide quality education, especially in smaller, rural districts.

The details

Across the state, school districts are being financially drained by AB 218 lawsuits, with the LA Unified School District having to borrow $750 million to pay sex abuse settlements. Other districts like Sierra Sands Unified have had to make tough choices like closing a middle school and delaying improvements due to the legal liabilities. School leaders are pressured to settle cases rather than defend them, knowing even a single case could trigger massive court judgements.

• AB 218 was passed in California in 2019, reopening a three-year window for filing sexual abuse cases.
• The author argues that the unintended consequences of AB 218 are now spiraling out of control.

What they’re saying

What’s next

The author calls for common-sense reforms, such as caps on noneconomic damages and limits on attorney fees, to restore balance and accountability while still providing survivors the means to seek justice. Other states like New Jersey, New York, Georgia, and Texas have passed similar reforms to address the unintended consequences of expanding statutes of limitations for childhood sexual abuse claims.