California Child Sex Abuse Law Burdens School Districts with Rising Costs

A California law aimed at helping survivors of childhood sexual abuse seek justice now poses financial and legal challenges for school districts statewide.

Survivors argue the law uncovers abuse ignored by institutions for decades and provides a path to accountability. School leaders, however, say the mounting lawsuit costs affect current students through higher insurance premiums, staffing shortages and program cuts.

CBS News California Investigates found these costs extend beyond districts where abuse allegedly took place. Many districts share insurance through large risk pools, so settlements from old claims raise expenses for schools across the state, including those with no claims.

That leaves today's students short on teachers, programs and resources due to crimes from years earlier, sometimes at unfamiliar schools.

Joelle Casteix views the law as personal vindication. She says a choir teacher at Mater Dei High School in Orange County abused her in the 1980s, and officials knew but did not protect her.

"When I came forward to tell my story, people thought I was crazy," Casteix told CBS News California Investigates.

She became a survivor advocate and helped pass the 2019 law, AB-218, which extended the statute of limitations for such lawsuits.

"Thousands and thousands of survivors have come forward," Casteix said.

Survivors often take years or decades to come forward publicly or seek accountability.

Sierra Sands Unified School District in rural Kern County illustrates the financial strain. Public records show it settled a lawsuit for $1.42 million over alleged abuse by an elementary school principal in the 1974-75 school year. The district denied liability and settled without admitting wrongdoing.

Superintendent Dr. April Moore supports justice for survivors but worries about the burden on current students and staff.

"Everybody wants justice for these individuals," Moore said. "But there are unintended consequences."

Moore estimated the settlement could have funded 12 to 14 teachers. She said districts settle because litigation costs soar, with trials running hundreds of thousands of dollars before verdicts.

The age of claims complicates investigations, Moore added. Records vanish, witnesses disappear and accused staff die. Districts turn to old yearbooks to verify attendance.

"We can't even investigate accurately," Moore said. "We're paying claims for things that may have happened in the past. And we're using the funds that are earmarked for today's students."

In Sierra Sands' case, the district paid the settlement directly, as insurance details were unclear, leaving it 100% liable.

Many districts join Joint Powers Authorities, or JPAs, to share liability costs. A claim from one district can hit others if they shared a pool when the abuse occurred, even if they later left.

Sierra Sands has felt this. Moore said its premiums rose more than 50% in three years, adding over $500,000 annually. Those funds could hire counselors, social workers, reduce class sizes, upgrade playgrounds or expand trauma programs for pandemic-affected students.

"Even if we don't have a claim, we're paying the price," Moore said. She called it "an injustice for today's students."

Attorney advertising targeting survivors has surged alongside lawsuits. Andy Baum, representing Los Angeles County in abuse cases, called it a "massive cottage industry." He cited a Los Angeles Times report on personal injury lawyers allegedly paying people cash outside a social services office to join suits.

Survivor advocates say fraud does not discredit valid claims.

"False allegations and false claims and lawsuits are extraordinarily rare," Casteix said. "Because the process stinks."

Survivors endure years of trauma, scrutiny and legal fights.

Lawmakers and education groups push to cap attorney fees and limit future payouts to safeguard school budgets. Survivor advocates oppose this, saying it would deter lawyers from tough cases against big institutions.

Casteix rejects settlement caps, arguing big payouts force schools to address failures and protect children.

"Survivors need to be able to have their day in court," Casteix said. "Because if you have your day in court and you prove it, then you should be entitled to that accountability that you deserve."

California Attorney General Rob Bonta has issued a statewide alert urging schools to prevent, investigate and respond to sexual misconduct.