A.M. v. Ventura Unified School Dist.
A.M. v. Ventura Unified School Dist.
Opinion
*1254 D.G., as guardian ad litem for her minor daughter, A.M. (appellant), sued the Ventura Unified School District (District), Michael Tapia, and Gwen Fields (collectively respondents) for negligence. Appellant alleged, among other things, that respondents negligently allowed male students to sexually abuse her while at school. The trial court granted summary judgment for respondents, concluding that appellant *236 failed to file the required government tort claim with the District.
Appellant concedes she did not file a tort claim, but asserts she was excused from doing so pursuant to Government Code section 905, subdivision (m), which exempts "[c]laims made pursuant to Section 340.1 of the Code of Civil Procedure for the recovery of damages suffered as a result of childhood *1255 sexual abuse." 1 Section 340.1, subdivisions (a)(2) and (b)(1) set forth the limitations period for bringing actions "for liability against any person or entity who owed a duty of care to the plaintiff, where a wrongful or negligent act by that person or entity was a legal cause of the childhood sexual abuse which resulted in the injury to the plaintiff." Such actions must be commenced before the victim's 26th birthday. ( Ibid .) Appellant's is such an action.
Because section 340.1 provides the limitations period for appellant's claims of childhood sexual abuse, appellant was exempt from filing a tort claim under Government Code section 905, subdivision (m). As we shall explain, the trial court erred by concluding the exemption applies only if the alleged childhood sexual abuse was committed by an employee, volunteer, representative or agent of the public entity. We reverse and remand for further proceedings.
FACTS AND PROCEDURAL BACKGROUND
Appellant was a second grade student at an elementary school in Ventura. Between September 2012 and April 2013, appellant allegedly was bullied, battered and sexually abused by some of her fellow students. A.R., a male student, hit and kicked her, touched her private parts, pinched her buttocks, hugged her and pressed himself against her. Another student exposed himself to appellant and rubbed his private parts on her. On one occasion, appellant was knocked unconscious.
D.G. reported the abuse to various District employees, including appellant's teacher (Fields) and the school's principal (Tapia). When D.G. attempted to see the superintendant, she was referred to another District employee, who referred her back to Tapia. According to D.G., the District did nothing to stop the attacks on appellant. Fields told D.G. that "[she needs] to fix things on [her] own," and Tapia suggested that she move appellant to another school.
As a result of the bullying and attacks, appellant was afraid to go to school or to play outside with her friends. In April 2013, D.G. began homeschooling appellant.
In June 2013, appellant presented a tort claim to the County of Ventura, which is a separate entity from the District. The County of Ventura sent a notice of rejection. No claim was presented to the District.
Appellant and D.G. filed a complaint for damages against respondents for (1) negligent supervision of students; (2) negligent supervision of school *1256 premises; (3) violation of article I, section 28, subdivision (c) of the California Constitution, Government Code section 44807, 2 Education Code section 8202 and California Code of Regulations, title 5, section 5552 ; (4) sexual harassment; (5) negligent infliction of emotional distress as to appellant; and (6) negligent infliction of emotional distress as to D.G. Only the sixth cause of action was *237 brought by D.G. on her own behalf. After respondents demurred to most of the causes of action, appellant and D.G. voluntarily dismissed the common law claims, leaving only appellant's claims for negligent supervision of students, negligent supervision of school premises and violation of constitutional and statutory rights. The trial court overruled the demurrer as to those three claims.
Respondents moved for summary judgment on the ground that the remaining three causes of action are barred due to appellant's failure to comply with the claims presentation requirement set forth in Government Code section 911.2. Appellant did not dispute the facts raised in respondents' motion. She argued that because her claim was made pursuant to section 340.1 for "childhood sexual abuse," she was not required to file a government tort claim. (Gov. Code, § 905, subd. (m).)
The trial court rejected appellant's contention "that a claim was not required in the first place pursuant to an exception granted by Government Code section 905 [subdivision] (m) and the revival language contained [in] section 340.1." It concluded "that that these sections apply to childhood sexual abuse committed by an employee, volunteer, representative or agent of a public entity," and not by "third parties (students)." The court accordingly granted summary judgment for respondents. This appeal followed. 3
DISCUSSION
A. Standard of Review
We review a grant of summary judgment de novo. (
Wiener v. Southcoast Childcare Centers, Inc.
(2004)
"We begin with the fundamental rule that our primary task is to determine the lawmakers' intent" in enacting the relevant statute. (
Delaney v. Superior Court
(1990)
*238 B. Enactment of Government Code Section 905, Subdivision (m)
The Government Tort Claims Act (Gov. Code, § 810 et seq. ) requires that "[b]efore suing a public entity, the plaintiff must present a timely written claim for damages to the entity. [Citations.]" (
Shirk v. Vista Unified School Dist.
(2007)
As discussed more fully below, section 340.1 "sets forth a special statute of limitations for victims of childhood sexual abuse." (
County of Los Angeles v. Superior Court
,
supra
, 127 Cal.App.4th at pp. 1269-1270,
In direct response to
Shirk
, the Legislature enacted Government Code section 905, subdivision (m), which eliminates the claim presentation requirement for "[c]laims made pursuant to Section 340.1... for the recovery of damages suffered as a result of childhood sexual abuse." (See Assem. Com. on Judiciary, Analysis of Sen. Bill No. 640 (2007-2008 Reg. Sess.) as amended June 8, 2008, p. 3 ["This bill is intended to address the
Shirk
decision by expressly providing that childhood sexual abuse actions against public entities are exempted from government tort claims requirements and the six-month notice requirement"].) This exemption applies to claims arising out of conduct occurring on or after January 1, 2009. (Gov. Code, § 905, subd. (m) ;
J.P. v. Carlsbad Unified School Dist.
(2014)
Appellant's complaint alleges that, while she was a second grade student at a Ventura elementary school in 2012 and 2013, respondents negligently failed to supervise "the conduct of children on school grounds and to enforce the rules and regulations necessary to protect [her and other] students" from sexual abuse and that she suffered harm from such abuse. Appellant did not present a timely tort claim to the District, and the question before us is whether her action, which arose out of post-2008 conduct, is exempt from that requirement under *239 Government Code section 905, subdivision (m). The answer lies in whether her sexual abuse claims fall within section 340.1.
C. Interpretation and Application of Section 340.1
Section 340.1 contains varying limitations periods for bringing actions for childhood sexual abuse against different groups of defendants. Subdivision (a) of section 340.1 provides that "[i]n an action for recovery of damages suffered as a result of childhood sexual abuse, the time for commencement of the action shall be within eight years of the date the plaintiff attains the age of majority or within three years of the date the plaintiff discovers or reasonably should have discovered that psychological injury or illness occurring after the age of majority was caused by the sexual abuse, whichever period expires *1259 later, for any of the following actions: [¶] (1) An action against any person for committing an act of childhood sexual abuse. [¶] (2) An action for liability against any person or entity who owed a duty of care to the plaintiff, where a wrongful or negligent act by that person or entity was a legal cause of the childhood sexual abuse which resulted in the injury to the plaintiff. [¶] (3) An action for liability against any person or entity where an intentional act by that person or entity was a legal cause of the childhood sexual abuse which resulted in the injury to the plaintiff." (Italics added.)
Notwithstanding this language, an action against third parties brought under section 340.1, subdivisions (a)(2) and (a)(3) must be brought before the plaintiff's 26th birthday. Section 340.1, subdivision (b)(1) expressly states: "(1) No action described in paragraph (2) or (3) of subdivision (a) may be commenced on or after the plaintiff's 26th birthday." But this subdivision is subject to an exception. Section 340.1, subdivision (b)(2) provides that the age cutoff in subdivision (b)(1) "does not apply if the person or entity knew or had reason to know, or was otherwise on notice, of any unlawful sexual conduct by an employee, volunteer, representative, or agent , and failed to take reasonable steps, and to implement reasonable safeguards, to avoid acts of unlawful sexual conduct in the future by that person, including, but not limited to, preventing or avoiding placement of that person in a function or environment in which contact with children is an inherent part of that function or environment." (Italics added.)
1. Relevant History of Amendments to Section 340.1
As a general rule, a cause of action for childhood sexual abuse accrues at the time of molestation. (
John R. v. Oakland Unified School Dist.
(1989)
In 1986 the Legislature enacted section 340.1, which expanded the limitations period to three years for sexual abuse by a relative or household member of a child under 14 years of age. (Former § 340.1, added by Stats. 1986, ch. 914, § 1, pp. 3165-3166.) "In 1990, the limitations period for actions against the actual perpetrator was extended in all cases to the later of three years from discovery that adult-onset psychological injury had been caused by the abuse, or the plaintiff's 26th birthday." (
Doe v. Doe 1
(2012)
2. Application of Section 340.1 to Appellant's Claims
The trial court determined that by creating a subcategory of third party defendants to which the expanded statute of limitations applies, the Legislature meant to also limit third-party claims arising out of section 340.1, subdivision (a)(2) to those in which an employee, volunteer, representative, or agent of the person or entity committed the alleged abuse. We do not read the statute's language so broadly. All the Legislature did was eliminate " 'the age 26 cutoff as against a
narrow
category of third party defendants who had both the knowledge and the ability to protect against abusive behavior [by an employee, volunteer, representative, or agent], but failed to do so. Anyone discovering that childhood abuse was the cause of the injuries after 2003 could sue these-more culpable-defendants without regard to the age 26 cutoff.' " (
Quarry
,
supra
, 53 Cal.4th at p. 978,
There is nothing to suggest that the Legislature intended to modify section 340.1, subdivision (a)(2) to limit "[a]n action for liability against any person or entity who owed a duty of care to the plaintiff" to cases in which the alleged abuse was committed by an employee, volunteer, representative or agent of the person or entity. To the contrary, the statutory amendment simply clarified that claims against third parties under section 340.1, subdivision (a)(2) remain subject to the age 26 cutoff unless extended by subdivision (b)(2). (
Quarry
,
supra
, 53 Cal.4th at pp. 969, 988,
Here, appellant is still a minor and therefore has no need to invoke the three-year revival provision in section 340.1, subdivision (b)(2). Her claims against respondents were timely filed under section 340.1, subdivision (a)(2) because they were discovered and brought before her 26th birthday. (See § 340.1, subds. (a)(2), (b)(1).) Although respondents argue that this statute of limitations does not apply to appellant's sexual abuse claims, they provide no alternative statute of limitations for us to consider. Indeed, the trial court did not question section 340.1's applicability to childhood sexual abuse claims brought against third parties. It just found, albeit incorrectly, that the claims must involve abuse by an employee, volunteer, representative or agent of the public entity for section 340.1, subdivision (a)(2) to apply.
Aaronoff v. Martinez-Senftner
(2006)
Nor are we persuaded by
S.M. v. Los Angeles Unified School District
,
supra
,
*1262
section 340.1 for the recovery of damages suffered due to childhood sexual abuse occurring after January 1, 2009, the tort claim presentation requirement no longer applies." (
S.M.
, at p. 721, fn. 6,
*242
Respondents argue that even if the trial court did misconstrue the application of section 340.1 to appellant's case, the summary judgment must be upheld for other reasons. First, they assert appellant failed to allege in her complaint that she was making claims pursuant to section 340.1 and that she may not make this allegation for the first time on a summary judgment motion. We are not persuaded. Section 340.1 is not a type of claim per se; it is a statute of limitations governing claims such as those raised by appellant's complaint. (
County of Los Angeles v. Superior Court
,
supra
, 127 Cal.App.4th at p. 1268,
Second, respondents contend appellant's defense fails because appellant is not in the class of persons for whom section 340.1 was enacted. Specifically, they assert section 340.1 applies only to adult plaintiffs, and not minor plaintiffs. We recognize that the primary purpose of section 340.1 is to extend the statute of limitations for adults who discover they had been abused as children, but respondents cite no persuasive authority suggesting that section 340.1, subdivision (a)(2) does not apply to situations in which the abuse is discovered while the plaintiff is still a minor. (See
Debbie Reynolds Prof. Rehearsal Studios v. Superior Court
(1994)
Section 340.1 provides that, with certain exceptions not applicable here, an action against a third party for damages arising from childhood
*1263
sexual abuse must be brought before age 26. (
Id.
subds. (a)(2), (b)(1).) Here, it is undisputed that appellant is making a claim of sexual abuse that occurred during her childhood and that was brought before the age of 26. Nothing in the statutory language implies that the action cannot be brought while the plaintiff is still a minor. If that were the case, a childhood sexual abuse claim discovered shortly before the plaintiff's 18th birthday would be subject to the government claim presentation requirement, while a claim discovered shortly after that birthday would be exempt under Government Code section 905, subdivision (m). We must refrain from an interpretation of a statute that would result in absurd consequences. (
Torres v. Parkhouse Tire Service, Inc.
(2001)
Third, respondents maintain that acts alleged to have been committed by seven-year-old children do not fall within the definition of " 'childhood sexual abuse' " in section 340.1, subdivision (e). That subdivision states: " 'Childhood sexual abuse' as used in this section includes any act committed against the plaintiff that occurred when the plaintiff was under the age of 18 years and that would have been proscribed by Section 266j of the Penal Code ; Section 285 of the Penal Code ; paragraph (1) or (2) of subdivision (b), or of subdivision (c), of Section 286 of the Penal Code ;
*243 subdivision (a) or (b) of Section 288 of the Penal Code ; paragraph (1) or (2) of subdivision (b), or of subdivision (c), of Section 288a of the Penal Code ; subdivision (h), (i), or (j) of Section 289 of the Penal Code ; or any prior laws of this state of similar effect at the time the act was committed. Nothing in this subdivision limits the availability of causes of action permitted under subdivision (a), including causes of action against persons or entities other than the alleged perpetrator of the abuse."
Appellant's complaint alleges that between September 2012 and April 2013, appellant was sexually abused by two of her fellow students. A.R., a male student, touched her private parts, pinched her buttocks, hugged her and pressed himself against her, while another student exposed himself to her and also rubbed his private parts on her. These actions qualify as lewd and lascivious acts committed upon a child under the age of 14. (See Pen. Code, § 288, subd. (a).)
Respondents argue that these students are not legally responsible for these acts because Penal Code section 26 provides that a child under the age of 14 is not capable of committing a crime in the absence of clear proof that, at the time of committing the charged act, he or she knew its wrongfulness. Respondents did not, however, submit any evidence on this point. (§ 437c, subd. (p)(2).) Their motion for summary judgment was limited to issues concerning appellant's failure to present a government tort claim. It is well established that when a "new theory contemplates a factual situation the consequences of which are open to controversy and were not put in issue or
*1264
presented at the trial the opposing party should not be required to defend against it on appeal. [Citations.]" (
Panopulos v. Maderis
(1956)
Finally, the legislative history of Government Code section 905, subdivision (m) confirms that the purpose of that section was " 'to ensure that victims severely damaged by childhood sexual abuse are able to seek compensation from those responsible, whether those responsible are private or public entities....' " (Assem. Com. on Judiciary, Analysis of Sen. Bill No. 640, supra , at p. 3.) The author of the legislation explained this would be accomplished "by specifically exempting Section 340.1 civil actions for childhood sexual abuse from government tort claim requirements, thereby treating Section 340.1 actions against public entities the same as those against private entities." ( Id. at p. 4.) Our decision is consistent with this intent.
In sum, we conclude that appellant's claim for liability against respondents is subject to the limitations period in section 340.1, subdivisions (a)(2) and (b)(1). Because section 340.1 applies to appellant's claims for childhood sexual abuse, she was not required to present a tort claim to the District in order to raise those claims. (Gov. Code, § 905, subd. (m).) The trial court erred by holding that the alleged perpetrators of the wrongful conduct had to be employees, volunteers, representatives or agents of the public entity for section 340.1 to apply. 4
*244 DISPOSITION
We reverse the judgment and remand the matter to the trial court for further proceedings on appellant's claims for childhood sexual abuse. Appellant shall recover her costs on appeal.
We concur:
YEGAN, Acting P.J.
TANGEMAN, J.
All further statutory references are to the Code of Civil Procedure unless otherwise stated.
Although the complaint alleges a violation of Government Code section 44807, that section does not exist.
Respondents correctly contend that D.G. lacks standing to appeal the trial court's summary judgment on her own behalf. Because D.G. dismissed her individual claim before judgment was entered, she is not a party to the judgment except in her capacity as guardian ad litem for her daughter. The notice of appeal confirms that D.G. appealed the judgment strictly on appellant's behalf.
The complaint alleges claims for harassment and other nonsexual abuse claims. Having failed to file a valid government tort claim, appellant may not pursue those claims. (See Gov. Code, § 911.2, subd. (a) ;
Shirk
,
supra
, 42 Cal.4th at p. 208,
Reference
- Full Case Name
- A.M., a Minor, Etc., Plaintiff and Appellant, v. VENTURA UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT Et Al., Defendants and Respondents.
- Cited By
- 14 cases
- Status
- Published