ELDER & CHILD ABUSE

Elder Abuse, Child Abuse & Dependent Elder Abuse

Elders, dependent adults, and children are people in society who often fall victim to abuse and need our help and protection. Civil actions brought by parents and family members through private law firms such as the Law Offices of Julia A. DeClark, create a deterrent to this type of injustice by holding the abusers and institutions responsible for harming and failing to protect those who cannot protect themselves. The lawsuits also provide compensation to the injured for their economic losses, as well as their non-economic damages such as pain, suffering, and emotional distress. The lawyers at the Law Offices of Julia A. DeClark are experienced and have a proven track record of multi-million dollar verdicts and settlements in abuse cases.

Elder Abuse

Civil law defines civil elder abuse to mean physical abuse, neglect, financial abuse, abandonment, isolation, abduction, or other treatment resulting in physical harm or pain, or mental suffering. It also means the deprivation by a care custodian of goods or services that are necessary to avoid physical harm or mental suffering. (Welfare & Institutions Code Section 15610.07) Under California Law, elders are defined as persons 65 years and older and elder abuse can be both criminal and civil.

Elder abuse can occur in many ways including:

• Elder Physical Abuse
• Elder Sexual Abuse
• Elder Neglect
• Dependent Adult Abuse
• Elder Emotional Abuse
• Elder Financial Abuse
• Elder Abandonment
• Elder Abduction
• Elder Isolation
• Elder Mental Suffering
• Elder Healthcare Fraud and Abuse

Offsite Links to Additional Elder Abuse Resources:

• Citizen's Guide To Preventing & Reporting Elder Abuse

Orange County Resources:

• Orange County Social Services Agency
• Orange County District Attorney
• Orange County Elder Abuse Forensic Center

Los Angeles County Resources:

• Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office
• Los Angeles Community and Senior Services
• Los Angeles County Elder Abuse Forensic Center

Riverside County / San Bernardino County Resources:

• Riverside Adult Protective Services
• San Bernardino Department of Aging
• County of Riverside Department of Public Social Services: C.A.R.E. (Curtailing Abuse Related to the Elderly Program
• San Bernardino Department of Aging and Adult Services

If you suspect a loved one is the victim of elder abuse, call us immediately for a free case evaluation. If we are unable to assist, we will do our best to refer you to other local resources that can help.

Child Abuse & Neglect 

Child abuse falls into one or more of four categories: physical abuse, emotional abuse, sexual abuse and neglect.

• Child Physical Abuse
• Child Emotional Abuse
• Child Neglect
• Child Sexual Abuse

Offsite Links to Additional Child Abuse Resources

Orange County Resources:

• Orange County Child Abuse Prevention Center
• Orange County Child Abuse Services Team
• Orange County District Attorney

Los Angeles County Resources:

• Los Angeles Department of Children and Family Services
• Child Abuse Audrey Hepburn CARES Center (Children’s Hospital of Los Angeles)
• Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office

Riverside County Resources:

• County of Riverside - Department of Public Social Services
• Riverside County Regional Medical Center Child Abuse and Neglect Unit
• Riverside County District Attorney

San Bernardino County Resources:

• County of San Bernardino Children and Family Services
• San Bernardino County District Attorney

San Diego County Resources:

• County of San Diego - Child Welfare Services
• San Diego Police Department

If you think a child may have been abused, it's important to report it.