Civil Justice for Victims of Crime

Civil Restitution

Regardless of whether there is a criminal prosecution, and irrespective of the outcome, victims of crime can file civil lawsuits against their offender and other responsible parties. Unlike the criminal process, the civil process is initiated by the victim, and seeks to provide restitution to the victim to compensate for actual damages as well as pain and suffering. While money damages can never fully compensate a victim for the trauma he or she suffered, it can be a valuable resource to help survivors rebuild their lives.

At ADZ Law, LLP, we believe that survivors have a right to seek accountability through civil lawsuits. As experienced attorneys representing victims of domestic violence, sexual assault, stalking and human trafficking, our case strategy focuses on keeping our clients and their needs at the center of our litigation. We also believe that civil lawsuits serve as a powerful incentive for businesses, landlords, schools, and other proprietors to enact safety measures necessary in order to prevent future victimization.

We handle the following types of matters:

• Civil lawsuits against domestic violence perpetrators
• Civil lawsuits against assailants in cases of sexual offenses, rape, incest, sexual abuse, child sexual abuse
• Civil lawsuits against culpable third parties
• School disciplinary proceedings and grievances in instances of "sexual misconduct"
• Title IX Discrimination Complaints to U.S. Dept. of Education Office of Civil Rights
• Lawsuits against schools for violating Title IX
• Advocacy for clients' rights as victims during a criminal proceeding
• Pursuing remedies for violation of a Family Court Order of Protection
• Other things a domestic violence perpetrator or assailant may be doing that are illegal, i.e., forgery, theft, fraud, coercion, impersonation, disseminating intimate images of someone without his or her consent, tracking movements with technology, accessing technology without consent, defamation, extortion, etc.

Criminal Restitution

California victims have the right to restitution under the Victims’ Bill of Rights Act in the California Constitution. Many victims in a criminal case receive restitution orders upon sentencing; however, many go unenforced. A restitution order is enforceable as a civil judgment by obtaining an Order for Restitution and Abstract of Judgment. At ADZ Law, LLP, we help clients register their restitution orders as a civil judgment so they have the capacity to recover what they have been granted.

If you are the survivor of a crime in California and want to pursue restitution from the offender who harmed you, ADZ Law, LLP will assist you in pursuing what you're entitled to, and support you so that the process is empowering, not intimidating. We represent victims of crime in San Mateo County and the surrounding region of California. We invite you to contact ADZ Law, LLP to schedule a consultation to learn more about how we can help you.