What Survivors Need to Know About the December 31, 2026 Deadline for California Sexual Assault Claims

Time-Sensitive Update: 

If you are an adult who experienced sexual assault in California on or after January 1, 2009, you may still have the right to file a civil claim, even if you believed the legal deadline had already passed.

This opportunity exists because of a temporary revival window created by Assembly Bill 2777 (AB 2777), and that window closes permanently on December 31, 2026.

At Survivor Advocates, we know that coming forward takes extraordinary courage. The attorneys at Rheingold Giuffra Ruffo Plotkin & Hellman LLP and Girard Bengali, APC have collectively spent decades standing with survivors against powerful individuals and institutions, and we are here to stand with you now.

Below is a clear breakdown of what the law allows and whether it may apply to you.

What Is AB 2777?

Assembly Bill 2777, the Sexual Abuse and Cover-Up Accountability Act, was signed into California law on September 19, 2022. It created a temporary revival window allowing adult survivors to file civil claims for sexual assault that occurred on or after January 1, 2009, even if the original statute of limitations had already expired. That window closes December 31, 2026.

Who Can File?

To qualify under AB 2777, you must meet all of the following:

• You were 18 or older at the time of the assault
• The assault occurred in California on or after January 1, 2009
• Your claim would otherwise be barred under California’s standard deadlines (10 years from the assault, or 3 years from the date you discovered a resulting injury)
• Your case has not been previously litigated to finality or resolved by written settlement before January 1, 2023
• The defendant is not a public entity or government agency

Childhood sexual abuse cases follow separate rules and are not governed by AB 2777.

Types of Cases Covered

AB 2777 covers a wide range of sexual assault and abuse cases, including but not limited to:

• Sexual assault by known individuals, including intimate partners, dating partners, and acquaintances
• Sexual assault by strangers
• Sex trafficking and commercial sexual exploitation
• Workplace sexual harassment and assault
• Sexual assault by professionals in positions of trust, including doctors, nurses, therapists, coaches, and clergy
• Sexual assault involving celebrities, public figures, or individuals in positions of public influence
• Elder care and nursing home sexual abuse
• Sexual assault facilitated by drugs, alcohol, or other means of incapacitation
• Sexual assault enabled or facilitated through digital means, online platforms, or social media
• Assault involving institutional failures, including negligent hiring, supervision, or retention by employers, healthcare facilities, religious organizations, educational institutions, and corporations

Note: Claims against public entities or government agencies are not covered under AB 2777 and follow separate filing rules.

What If the Abuse Occurred Before January 1, 2009?

AB 2777 only applies to assaults that occurred on or after January 1, 2009. If your assault occurred before that date, you may not qualify under this law, but the good news is that you may still have options.

On October 13, 2025, Governor Newsom signed Assembly Bill 250 (AB 250), the Justice for Survivors of Sexual Assault Act, which created a separate two-year revival window running from January 1, 2026 through December 31, 2027. AB 250 allows adult survivors to file civil claims regardless of when the assault occurred, even if decades have passed, provided the survivor alleges that at least one responsible entity engaged in a cover-up or attempted cover-up of a prior instance of sexual assault. Once a cover-up is alleged against an entity, the survivor may also pursue claims against the individual perpetrator, even if the perpetrator was not involved in the cover-up.

AB 250 still does not apply to public entities. But for survivors whose claims were previously time-barred under AB 2777 due to the pre-2009 cutoff, it may represent a significant new opportunity.

If you are unsure which law applies to your situation, a confidential consultation with one of our attorneys can help you understand your options before either deadline passes.

Why Survivors Wait, and Why Now Is the Time

Sexual abuse is often committed by people in positions of power, including employers, doctors, coaches, public figures, partners, and more. Coming forward is rarely simple. Trauma, fear, shame, financial dependence, and institutional pressure are real barriers that California legislators recognized when passing AB 2777.

This law exists because survivors deserve to be heard on their own terms. But the window is closing. December 31, 2026 is the final deadline.

Why Work With Survivor Advocates?

Survivor Advocates is the alliance of Rheingold Giuffra Ruffo Plotkin & Hellman LLP in New York and Girard Bengali, APC in California, two nationally respected firms united by a single mission: justice for survivors of sexual assault, abuse, and trafficking.

Our attorneys, Thomas Giuffra, Omar Bengali, and Robert Girard, have collectively recovered hundreds of millions of dollars, taking on some of the most powerful individuals and institutions in the country. What sets us apart is not only our track record—it is how we work. Every client is a partner in the pursuit of justice, not a case number. We are proud to serve each client with:

• Trauma-informed, survivor-centered counsel
• Nationwide reach with personal attention
• Multilingual accommodation and cultural competency
• Complete discretion and confidentiality
• Connections to trauma therapists, social workers, and survivor advocacy groups

Consultations are free, confidential, and carry no obligation. When you are ready to talk, we are ready to listen.

Support Resources for Survivors

Regardless of where you are in your journey, confidential support is available:

• RAINN — 24/7 confidential crisis support, English and Spanish
• National Domestic Violence Hotline — 24/7 call, text, and chat  
• 1in6 — Resources for men and boys, hotline in partnership with RAINN
• Safe Horizon — NYC-based victim service network
• YWCA Greater Los Angeles — Empowerment and crisis resources for women and girls of color

Frequently Asked Questions About AB 2777

What is the difference between the cover-up deadline and the general revival window?

AB 2777 created two separate deadlines. The general revival window—which applies to all qualifying adult sexual assault claims—runs from January 1, 2023 through December 31, 2026.

A separate, shorter window applied specifically to claims alleging that an institution or entity engaged in a cover-up of the assault. That cover-up window closed on December 31, 2023. However, survivors may still bring institutional claims under negligence theories through the 2026 deadline.

Can I file a claim against an institution even if there was no cover-up?

Yes. Even without alleging a cover-up, survivors can still pursue civil claims against employers, hospitals, religious organizations, educational institutions, and other entities under negligence-based theories through December 31, 2026. These include negligent hiring, negligent supervision or retention, negligent failure to protect, negligent security, and vicarious liability. Negligence claims do not require proving that the institution intentionally concealed misconduct.

Does AB 2777 apply to claims against government or public entities?

No. AB 2777 explicitly exempts public entities and government agencies. Claims involving government employees, public schools, public hospitals, or state or municipal agencies are governed by the separate and much stricter deadlines of the California Government Claims Act. If you are unsure whether your case involves a public entity, an attorney can help clarify which rules apply to your situation.

What is the difference between a civil case and a criminal case?

These are two entirely separate legal processes. Criminal cases are brought by the State of California with the goal of punishing the offender. Survivors do not control whether charges are filed, and criminal cases do not provide financial compensation. Civil cases are brought by survivors, with the goal of accountability and financial compensation for harm, including therapy costs, lost income, and emotional distress. The burden of proof in civil cases is lower than in criminal cases, and a civil case can proceed even if no criminal charges were filed or a criminal case did not result in a conviction. AB 2777 applies to civil cases only.

What compensation could I recover?

Depending on the circumstances of your case, you may be entitled to economic damages (medical and therapy costs, lost wages, diminished earning capacity), non-economic damages (pain and suffering, emotional distress, loss of enjoyment of life), and in cases involving particularly egregious conduct, punitive damages intended to punish the defendant and deter future misconduct.

What if my case was already settled or went to court?

AB 2777 does not revive claims that were litigated to finality in a court of competent jurisdiction before January 1, 2023, or claims resolved by written settlement agreement before January 1, 2023. If you are unsure whether your prior resolution affects your eligibility, an attorney can review your specific situation.

Can I file anonymously?

In many civil sexual assault cases, attorneys can request that a case be filed under a pseudonym such as Jane Doe or John Doe to protect the survivor’s identity. While this cannot be guaranteed in every case, it is a common practice and something our attorneys will always explore on your behalf.

Does AB 2777 apply to childhood sexual abuse cases?

No. AB 2777 applies only to survivors who were 18 or older at the time of the assault. Childhood sexual abuse cases are governed by separate California laws with their own deadlines and revival provisions. If you experienced abuse as a minor, please contact us as different rules may still provide you with legal options.

How long does it take to build a case?

Building a strong civil sexual assault case requires gathering evidence, identifying witnesses, reviewing records, and developing legal strategy, a process that can take several months. With the December 31, 2026 deadline approaching, waiting significantly increases the risk that evidence will be harder to locate and attorneys will have less time to prepare. We encourage survivors to reach out as early as possible, even if you are still deciding whether to move forward.

Schedule a Confidential Consultation

Survivor Advocates offers confidential, trauma-informed legal guidance for survivors ready to explore their options. When you are ready to talk, we are here to listen — and ready to stand with you every step of the way.