California Workplace Sexual Assault Lawsuit: AB 250 and Your Legal Rights

California AB 250, also called the Justice for Survivors of Sexual Assault Act, is a state law that opens a revival window to file a sexual assault lawsuit, even after the original 10-year statute of limitations. This gives people who may have previously been ineligible to file a case additional time to do so. Assembly Majority Leader Cecilia Aguiar-Curry wrote the bill, and Governor Newsom signed it on October 13, 2025. The law took effect on January 1, 2026.

This law can help people who were sexually assaulted at a private institution and believed they missed the deadline to take legal action. AB 250 gives eligible survivors a chance to file a sexual abuse lawsuit until December 31, 2027. It also allows some survivors to sue the person who harmed them and, in certain cases, the employer, company or organization that knew about previous abuse or helped cover it up.

AB 250 helps people who waited to report what happened to them, either because they needed time or thought it was too late. The law also lets people sue a company or group for hiding the abuse or being legally responsible for it.

If you experienced sexual assault or harassment at a private entity like work, a club, a health facility or a religious institution in California, AB 250 might let you file a lawsuit, even after the original statute of limitations has passed.

If an employer or authority in the organization knew about past abuse or tried to hide it, you may also qualify. This law applies to adult survivors who were told their deadline had passed but still want to see if they can take action.

Who May Qualify Under AB 250

You do not need to have reported the assault to the police or have a court case resulting in a conviction to qualify for an AB 250 lawsuit.

What Types of Workplaces Are Covered?

AB 250 applies to private workplaces and businesses in California. This includes a sole proprietorship, partnership, limited liability company, corporation, association or other legal entity, other than a public entity.

It covers just about any kind of private employer.

Government employers are not covered by AB 250. This includes federal, state and local agencies, as well as public schools and universities. Claims against these employers usually need different legal steps under California’s Government Claims Act.

If AB 250 does not work in your particular case, there are other California laws that may apply.

Speaking with an attorney can help you determine which California law applies to your particular situation.

AB 250 lets survivors hold a private employer or organization responsible for knowing about earlier assaults and helping to hide them. Simply put, a cover-up means the employer tried to keep the abuse quiet instead of addressing it openly and honestly.

The earlier assault does not have to involve you personally. It could be a separate incident that happened to someone else.

If you signed an NDA — nondisclosure agreement — after reporting harassment or assault at work, that agreement could be important. Sometimes, it can be used as evidence that the employer tried to keep the situation hidden. An attorney can look at the agreement and tell you if it might be challenged.

You do not have to prove the entire cover-up before seeking help. Your account of what happened is enough to begin and more details can be collected as your case moves forward.

AB 250 allows survivors to hold both the person who harmed them and, in some cases, their employer responsible. Sometimes, the claim is only against the individual who committed the assault. Other times, it can also include the company or organization if the workplace knew about earlier abuse and tried to cover it up.

The law can also help with other civil claims connected to what happened at work.

California’s AB 250 may also allow for other types of sexual assault lawsuits. An experienced attorney can tell you what your legal options are.

AB 250 civil cases are different from criminal cases and proceed without a criminal trial. You do not have to press charges, talk to the police or have the person found guilty to start a civil case.

You can file a California AB 250 sexual assault lawsuit in as few as four steps.

There is no upfront cost to you. Attorneys who handle AB 250 cases usually work on a contingency basis. You do not pay anything unless you win your case.