San Diego County is under mounting legal pressure as hundreds of survivors bring lawsuits claiming systemic sexual, physical, and emotional abuse of vulnerable children placed in the county’s care, particularly at the Polinsky Children’s Center. These claims, brought under the California Child Victims Act, depict a harrowing pattern of neglect, cover-ups, and abuse stretching back to the 1990s.
The children in question were survivors of domestic violence, addiction, and trauma. Many were taken from unsafe homes under the promise of protection. Instead, the lawsuits describe an institution where dozens of staff members allegedly preyed on the very youth they were tasked to safeguard.
According to the lawsuits already filed, victims as young as eight years old were sexually assaulted by staff members at Polinsky. Some survivors say they were drugged to make them easier to control and abuse. Others report being ignored or silenced when they attempt to report their abusers. Hundreds of survivors have come forward and many have filed lawsuits that claim they were failed not just by individuals, but by a broken system that enabled the abuse.
In one particular case, an 8-year-old boy, known as S.G., alleges he was molested and otherwise sexually assaulted by four different staff members on multiple occasions while at Polinsky in 2002. Despite his pleas for help, no investigation was conducted, and no action was taken, according to his lawsuit.
S.G. is one of many who say they were sexually abused, over-medicated, and physically and verbally assaulted at Polinsky as children. Many chose to speak out anonymously at a press event held in April 2025.
If you were a victim of sexual assault at Polinsky Children’s Center, or any affiliated group homes, the compassionate and trauma-informed attorneys of Singleton Schreiber can help you file a claim and fight for the justice you deserve. Contact us today to schedule a free consultation with one of our sexual assault attorneys.
Legal Path Opened by California Child Victims Act
Victims were able to file these lawsuits because of the California Child Victims Act, which was signed into law in 2019. The legislation significantly expanded the statute of limitations for childhood sexual abuse claims, allowing victims to file lawsuits up to age 40 or within five years of discovering the abuse, whichever is later. The act has led to a wave of litigation against institutions across the state, including school districts, churches, youth institutions and foster care agencies. An additional provision created a three-year “lookback window” that temporarily allowed victims of any age to bring claims that were previously time-barred, leading to the wave of lawsuits before the window closed at the end of 2022. Many survivors still have time to bring claims and should contact attorneys as soon as possible to weigh their options.
Legal Options for Survivors of Abuse at Polinsky Children’s Center
Survivors who were abused at Polinsky may still have legal recourse depending on the circumstances of their case. Those who filed lawsuits during the lookback window created by the California Child Victims Act are now pursuing compensation for pain and suffering, medical treatment, and other damages. However, victims who only recently discovered the abuse or its long-term impact may still be eligible to file a claim under the “discovery rule” in California, which allows lawsuits to be filed within five years of learning about the abuse and/or the psychological effects of the abuse. While the discovery rule can be difficult in application, our attorneys have the experience necessary to carefully evaluate any potential claims.
Additionally, victims may also have grounds for filing claims against the county for negligence, failure to protect, and institutional misconduct. These lawsuits can help uncover internal records, identify systemic failures, and hold individual perpetrators and responsible agencies accountable.
If you suspect you have a valid claim, contact Singleton Schreiber to speak with a qualified attorney. Call us at (619) 771-3473 or email us at info@singletonschreiber.com to get started today.