Image by Liudmila ChernetskaAn arcane but crucial subdivision of California’s foster care system may be teetering on the edge of failure because of what appears to be the actions of one vital insurance carrier that took a gamble on a child abuse case and lost big time.
A young boy dealing with the aftermath of abuse. (Photo: 271 EAK MOTO, via Shutterstock)Sexual abuse victims with decades-old claims say they are grateful to finally get a shot at justice through a new California law that widens the period in which civil claims can be filed. The law, AB 218, went into effect Jan. 1. It allows a three-year “look back” window when victims can file civil claims regardless of when their abuse took place. In cases where the child became a victim because of an institutional coverup, the victim can collect triple the damages.