There are some important distinctions here. First, in a civil domestic violence case, the victim is a real party (plaintiff) in the case. In a criminal case, the plaintiff is not the alleged victim, it is the People of the State of California. This distinction is important. It means that… CONTINUE
How domestic violence and sexual assault victims sometimes feel re-victimized in criminal cases
Domestic violence victims often tell me they feel re-victimized because they can receive multiple subpoenas for multiple hearing dates, the case often changes hands between several prosecutors, and victims don’t always receive regular communication regarding the status of the case. Examples as to why complaints I get from domestic violence… CONTINUE
Attorney Todd Emanuel seeks justice against Virginia Cleaners
Bay Area Sexual Assault Attorney Todd Emanuel seeks justice for an unidentified woman against Virginia Cleaners. Women getting dress alterations at a Berkeley tailor shop say they were sexually battered by an employee and that the business owner knew of the tailor’s dangerous tendencies, but continued to employ him. The… CONTINUE
How does a sexual assault lawsuit differ from other injury cases?
The biggest difference in a sexual assault lawsuit is the client. When harm results from negligence such as a pedestrian struck by a truck in a crosswalk, the victim may suffer catastrophic injuries that impact virtually every area of her life. The same can be said about survivors of sexual… CONTINUE
Types of sexual assault that may lead to a lawsuit
There are many penal codes that specifically describe different types of sexual assault. The civil code, however, is more general. The main civil code that deals with any type of unwanted sexual contact is California Civil Code 1708.5, which defines sexual battery and it reads very broadly. It says a… CONTINUE
Use of Drugs Like Ambien to Accomplish Rape and Sexual Assault
Even before the recent media attention on the heinous acts of public figures like Bill Cosby and Sterling Sharp, Emanuel Law Group has been retained by victims to prosecute civil claims involving drugging and rape. In 2010, we obtained a jury award of more than $400,000 against the owner of… CONTINUE
The Sexual Battery Case of Jane Doe vs. Uzoma Okoro
We recently received a verdict in a sexual battery case. Emanuel Law Group represented a young woman who went to a club in Sacramento to meet some friends. She met the defendant at the club and engaged in casual conversation with him. She had absolutely no romantic interests or intentions… CONTINUE