A Tulare County court dismissed the misdemeanor child abuse complaint against a former Visalia Unified special education teacher on statute-of-limitations grounds. Amanda Simmons appeared on camera in the coverage alongside co-counsel Leigh Anne Hodge. The criminal case has ended; the families’ civil claims continue.

Amanda Simmons was quoted in ABC30 Fresno’s coverage of the arraignment in the Visalia Unified special education abuse case, as families of nonverbal students spoke publicly for the first time. Ambika Law represents families of nonverbal students with disabilities who allege that Visalia Unified School District failed to act on reports of physical abuse in a self-contained special education classroom at Highland Elementary School — and did not tell parents for more than a year.

Amanda Simmons, lead attorney and founder of Ambika Law, was honored by Chapman University’s Fowler School of Law in an alumni feature article, “Alumni on the Move: Amanda Simmons, The ABA, Lifelong Advocacy, and Lawyering with Love.”

Attorney Amanda Simmons of Ambika Law, PC appeared on the June 7, 2023 live radio show The Lawyers Guild Show on KPFK 90.7 FM to discuss institutional child abuse and neglect in youth residential programs, including those within the so-called “Troubled Teen Industry,” and current Federal legislation, The Stop Institutional Child Abuse Act, aimed at address it.

Attorney Amanda Simmons of Ambika Law, PC. and Trapped in Treatment Podcast researcher Chelsea Maldonado collaborated on a guest blog post, A Troubled History, for The Second Wound Blog. This blog post examines the history of congregate care facilities for youth, often called the “Troubled Teen Industry,” and the government’s lack of meaningful action to ensure youth within it are protected from institutional child abuse and neglect.

Attorney Amanda Simmons of Ambika Law, PC and Trapped in Treatment podcast researcher Chelsea Maldonado appeared on the Truth & Consequences podcast to discuss their personal experiences in the so‑called “Troubled Teen Industry.” This post covers part two of a two part episode.

Attorney Amanda Simmons of Ambika Law, PC and Trapped in Treatment podcast researcher Chelsea Maldonado appeared on the Truth & Consequences podcast to discuss their personal experiences in the so‑called “Troubled Teen Industry.” This post covers part one of a two part episode.