We Understand Why Eric Uller’s Victims Haven’t Come Forward Sooner
If you were sexually abused by Eric Uller at Santa Monica's afterschool program, Police Activities Leage (PAL), picking up the phone to call our law firm can be very hard. It takes tremendous courage. You’ve tried to bury the memories for decades.
The trauma you endured as a childhood victim of sexual abuse never goes away. We understand the reasons you haven't come forward sooner:
- You were going to take it to your grave.
- You are terrified that they’ll say “No. You’re lying. This didn’t happen to you. We don’t believe you.”
- You felt shame.
- You felt guilt for “allowing” it to happen.
- You're a female and you fear you won't be believed because they only talk about Uller abusing boys.
- You thought it was your fault for not speaking up and telling someone when it was happening.
- You felt you were complicit because he gave you money or gifts.
- You thought you’d get in trouble.
- You did not want to be perceived as “gay.”
- You do not want your loved ones to think less of you.
- You do not want to inflict pain on your parents by having them learn about it.
- You thought you were the only one Eric Uller abused. You had no idea he had been arrested and committed suicide.
- After learning that there were hundreds of victims, you’ve decided to finally come forward and tell your truth and speak up.
- You were incarcerated for years and only recently learned about the lawsuits against PAL and the City of Santa Monica.
- You do not want the most personal, intimate details of what you went through put on display in a public courtroom.
- You fear you will be re-victimized by aggressive defense attorneys who will put YOU on trial.
We know that you are feeling these things because we have spoken to scores of Eric Uller’s victims and this is what they tell us. Uller’s victims’ stories are horrific. We think we’ve heard it all, that it can’t get any worse, and then we learn we were wrong – it does get worse.
You’ve kept your secret for so long. Now is the time to come forward and stand with other victims. Hold the City of Santa Monica and PAL accountable for allowing Eric Uller to masquerade as a police officer and for ignoring reports of abuse and giving Uller unfettered access to children for almost 30 years.
Know that you don’t pay us anything upfront to hire us. We get paid at the end of the case, out of the settlement or verdict. If there is no recovery, we are paid nothing.
Your confidentiality will be protected. If you decide to move forward, know that your name will not be listed on any public records. We will file your lawsuit under a pseudonym; you will be identified as John Doe or Jane Doe.
Were You a Victim of Childhood Sexual Abuse by Eric Uller of the Police Activities League (PAL)?
Eric Uller Sexually Abused over 200 Children in the Late 1980s to Early 2000s
The Police Activities League (PAL) is an after-school organization run by the city of Santa Monica. Eric Uller, a volunteer with PAL and a City of Santa Monica employee, sexually assaulted over 200 children during his time with the organization.
Eric Uller abused children over the course of three decades. The abuse began in the late 1980s and continued into the 2000s. Uller preyed predominantly on young Latino boys, mostly from the Santa Monica’s Pico Neighborhood. He targeted vulnerable, underprivileged children, often from single family homes. Uller used his position as a volunteer, then assistant, at the Santa Monica Police Activities League to gain access to, groom, and abuse the children, all the while masquerading as a police officer. Many people, including police officers and PAL employees, attempted to sound the alarm about what Uller was doing, but their concerns were not taken seriously.
While the majority of his victims were boys, he did abuse some girls, and some of his victims were adults.
Santa Monica has Paid $230 Million to Uller’s Victims
The City of Santa Monica and PAL have paid out approximately $230 million to the 200+ victims who have come forward so far.
There are Victims out there who have not Come Forward
It is believed that there are more victims who have not yet come forward. Eric Uller’s victims are now in their late 20s to early 50s. Their reluctance to come forward is often due to embarrassment and humiliation. Victims have expressed a desire to “take it to the grave.” Many are learning for the first time that Eric Uller abused someone other than just them. Some are coming forward now because they want to be heard, or because they want assistance getting therapy for the trauma.
California’s Deadline for Eric Uller’s Childhood Sexual Abuse Victims to File a Lawsuit
Under California law, Code of Civil Procedure 340.1, the deadline for an Eric Uller’s victims to file a lawsuit for sexual abuse that happened when they were under age 18 is based on the victim’s age.
If Eric Uller victim is under age 40: adult victims of childhood sexual abuse by Eric Uller must file a lawsuit by their 40th birthday.
If Eric Uller victim is age 40 or older: A victim can still file a lawsuit if suit is filed within five years of the date that the victim discovers or reasonably should have discovered that psychological injury or illness occurring after age 18 was caused by the sexual abuse.
Contact Us If You Are A Victim with Sexual Abuse Claims
McGee, Lerer & Associates represented 14 of 124 victims in a recent settlement round against PAL and the City of Santa Monica. The 124 victims obtained a global settlement of $122.5 million. We are continuing to offer our assistance to Eric Uller’s victims. We understand how hard it is to come forward. Now is the time. PAL and the City of Santa Monica must be held accountable for their failure to take action, allowing this monster to abuse children for 30 years.
Free Confidential Consultation
We know that your first call to our law firm can be difficult to make. It will stir up memories you have been fighting to suppress for decades. You likely have never told anyone about what Eric Uller did to you. You may have shame and a desperate desire to keep family members from learning what happened to you. We understand. Know that your call is strictly confidential. There is no need for family members to ever find out that you are bringing a claim. Your spouse, parents, siblings, children, and friends do not need to know. If you decide to hire our firm, you will never be publicly identified; you will be named in the lawsuit as “John Doe” or "Jane Doe." Also know that there is no upfront charge to hire us; we only get paid at the end of the case, out of the award or settlement. If we collect nothing, we are paid nothing.
What Happens When You Call Us
We are so very sorry for what you have gone through. We want to help. We know how to help. We encourage you to pick up the phone and make that preliminary call to us. There’s no commitment. You’ll be put on the line with attorney Catherine Lerer. She’ll ask some questions. After that, if you live locally, we’ll ask you to come into our office to meet with her in-person, otherwise, she’ll have a zoom call with you.
We’ll explain the process and answer all your questions. You decide if you want to move forward.
For more information about childhood sexual abuse lawsuits involving Eric Uller of the Police Activities League, or to confidentially discuss your situation with our experienced childhood sexual abuse attorneys, call us at (310) 231-9717 or reach out to us online today.
Eric Uller Lawsuit FAQs
Q: I thought the lawsuits against Santa Monica and PAL for sexual abuse by Eric Uller were done and over with. Is it still possible to make a claim?
A: It may still be possible to make a claim.
If you were abused as a child and are under age 40, you can still file a lawsuit.
If you were abused as a child and are over age 40, you can still file a lawsuit if you do so within five years of discovering that psychological injury or physical illness was caused by the abuse. Total repression of all memories of the abuse is not required to satisfy this test.
Q: If I file an Eric Uller sexual abuse claim, will my name be public?
A: No. As the victim of sexual assault, your name will not be listed in any public records. You will be identified as “John Doe” or “Jane Doe” in a lawsuit against Santa Monica and the Police Activities League.
Q: My brother was sexually abused by Eric Uller. My brother is in prison. Can he still file a claim?
A: Yes. The logistics of representing an incarcerated individual are more complicated, but it can be done.
Q: Did PAL Cover Up for Eric Uller?
A: The lawsuits filed allege that PAL likely knew about the alleged sexual abuse because concerns were reported by children, parents and co-workers. Yet these reports were ignored and Eric Uller’s unfettered access to children allowed him to abuse them for almost 30 years.
Q: Can I join a class action against PAL and the City of Santa Monica for abuse by Eric Uller?
A: The Police Activities League (PAL) and the City of Santa Monica have already settled over 200 claims filed against them arising out of sexual abuse by city employee Eric Uller. The claims were not “class actions,” but rather individual claims. Though they were individual claims, many of them were consolidated into one court because they arose out of abuse by the same person, Eric Uller. As to the claims that have already settled, each victim was awarded their own separate settlement based on the harm each individual suffered.
Q: If I hire you and my brothers who went to PAL also hire you, will they learn what Eric did to me? I’d rather they not know.
A: We will not disclose anything you tell us with your siblings. Everything you share with our firm is covered by attorney-client privilege.
Q: I moved out of California because of what Eric Uller did to me. Can I still file a lawsuit if I live out of state?
A: Yes. Even if you live outside of California, you can still file a claim.
Q: I was sexually abused by Eric Uller, but I didn’t attend PAL. Can I still file a claim?
A: Yes, if you were abused by Eric Uller, you may still be able to file a claim against the City of Santa Monica, even if you didn’t attend the Police Activities League.
Q: Did Eric Uller sexually abuse any girls?
A: Yes. The majority of his victims were young boys, but he is known to have sexually assaulted some girls.
Q: Did Eric Uller sexually abuse any adults?
A: Yes. Eric Uller’s sexual abuse was not limited to children. The defining characteristic of his victims: he targeted individuals who were vulnerable.
Q: How many victims did Eric Uller allegedly abuse?
A: While the exact number of victims may never be known, it seems likely that Eric Uller abused at least several hundred victims. Over two hundred victims have already filed suit and settled their claims against PAL and the City of Santa Monica. Victims continue to come forward.
Why Choose McGee, Lerer & Associates?
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Individual AttentionWe take the time to understand all the unique factors of your case to achieve the best results.
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