When I first found out my 5 year old cousin was abused (physically and sexually) while at school, needless to say, I was distraught. To add insult to injury, I was outraged when the school’s initial reaction was to deny the incident as if it never happened. The safety of other vulnerable children was at risk and no one seemed to care. It was clear that we needed a lawyer…and a good one.
During our initial consultation with Shaana Rahman, she was sensitive to the facts of the matter and expressed a genuine concern for my young cousin. She made certain we had the counseling available to us to deal with this traumatic experience and went straight to work advocating for our rights. Throughout the case she fought tirelessly not only for the victim, but for the rights of all youth at risk in the Oakland public school district. Shaana maintained excellent communication with our family and kept us abreast with pertinent information related to the case. Above all, I was highly impressed with Shaana’s negotiation skills. She was firm, tenacious and did a phenomenal job articulating the concerns of the family. To no surprise, the case was settled for an undisclosed amount.
This was not only about being compensated, but also about protecting the safety of minors. Shaana’s advocacy helped to change policies, procedures and guidelines within the Oakland Unified School District to help prevent the abuse and neglect of children while on school grounds. There are no words that can explain how it feels to have your voice heard and to be vindicated. Her advocacy for minors has empowered my young cousin to lead a healthy and productive life, and for that I am truly thankful.