School Sexual Abuse Attorneys

Individuals who suffered sex abuse in school should contact a dedicated child sexual abuse lawyer for legal advice as to the steps to take toward pursuing legal actions against the responsible parties. We are confident in our approach to handling abuse cases and are tireless in our pursuit of justice for our clients. We have the resources available from consultants and experts worldwide who work with our dedicated team.

Liability Issues with Sexual Abuse in Schools

A child who receives unwanted touching, verbal or visual or attempts at sexual stimulation from a teacher or other faculty member at school is a victim of child sexual abuse. Trusted school personnel and other individuals are equally guilty if they engage in inappropriate conduct with children. Parents should be aware of any changes in behavior in their children because it may be a sign of a sexually abused child.

A school is an ideal setting for a sex offender to abuse children. The schools have a responsibility to the children to provide a safe learning environment and they must report any suspected incidents to the proper authorities. Schools may fear the ramifications from sexual abuse incidents and fail to report or hide knowledge of the incidents.

Why Clients Trust Us

• We are the nation’s premier child sexual assault and abuse attorneys. We have successfully gone up against school districts, the government and many other powerful defendants.
• Our lawyers work tirelessly to achieve the best possible results for each case. We have been featured numerous times for the outstanding case outcomes we have won for our clients. 
• Your attorney can keep your identity anonymous throughout your school sexual abuse case, if desired. We will always put your needs first.
• Our school sexual abuse lawyers operate on a contingency fee basis. This means you will not be charged anything in legal fees unless we win your case, guaranteed.

How We Can Help

Hiring a school sexual abuse attorney to represent you can make this extremely difficult time more bearable. Your lawyer will guide you through the legal process with personalized advice and counsel. You will receive individualized attention, answers to your legal questions and assistance from a law firm that has the resources you need. The right attorney can make all the difference to the outcome of your case as well as your legal experience throughout each phase of a lawsuit.

As your lawyers, we will help by conducting a thorough investigation of your case. We will search for evidence to build a case against a school or school district for failing to protect you or your child from sex abuse. We have connections to highly qualified subject-matter experts who can testify during your case, as needed. We can attend hearings and meetings in your place and take over negotiations to fight for a fair settlement. If necessary, we have the power to take a school sexual abuse case to court.

What Is School Sexual Abuse?

The definition of sexual abuse is to engage in sexual contact or activity with any individual who has not given or cannot give consent. It can refer to many types of sexual assault, misconduct and harassment. Unwelcome sexual advances or inappropriate sexual behaviors against a student by anyone within a school community – including teachers, administrators, sports coaches and fellow students – is school sexual abuse.

No child under the age of 18 can legally give his or her consent to sexual activity. In addition, the imbalance of power between a teacher and student prohibits any type of sexual relationship. In both of these scenarios, sexual conduct involving a student constitutes sexual abuse, with or without the use of force. School sexual abuse can involve both physical and nonphysical acts.

Common Examples of School Sexual Abuse

School sexual abuse can take various forms. Any action or behavior of a sexual nature perpetrated against a victim could meet the definition of sexual abuse.

Examples include:

• Child pornography 
• Creating a hostile or intimidating environment for the victim
• Exposing students to sexual content
• Groping, fondling, kissing or hugging
• Inappropriate touching
• Indecent exposure
• Internet sex crimes
• Penetration
• Rape or attempted rape
• Requests for sexual favors
• Sexual exploitation of a student
• Sexual grooming
• Sexualized jokes or innuendos
• Sodomy
• Statutory rape
• Touching of a student’s private parts
• Verbal sexual harassment

While anyone can become a victim of school sexual abuse, those in the LGBTQ+ community and children with special needs are considered high risk.

Signs That Your Child Is a Victim of School Sex Abuse

Many sexual abuse survivors suffer in silence. This is especially true of child sexual abuse and assault victims. Young children often do not understand what is happening to them. They may not have the capacity to come forward and report sexual abuse. They may also be groomed by sexual predators into thinking that they are part of a loving, consensual relationship. In other cases, school sexual abuse victims are intimidated or coerced into keeping quiet. It is often up to the victim’s loved ones to detect the signs of abuse and speak up.

Common signs of school sexual abuse include:

• “Acting out” behaviors or outbursts
• Bloody sheets or undergarments
• Changes in sleeping or eating habits
• Isolation or withdrawal from others
• Loss of interest in school, sports or extracurricular activities
• Mental health problems, such as chronic anxiety or depression
• Mood swings or aggression
• New fear of going to school or of certain teachers
• Reduced performance in school
• Self-harm behaviors or suicidal tendencies
• Sexual promiscuity or teen pregnancy (in older adolescents)
• Sexually transmitted diseases
• Unexplained physical injuries, especially to the thighs or genitalia
• Unexplained weight loss or gain
• Unkempt appearance
• Unusual knowledge of sexual subjects (in young children)

If you believe your child is a victim of school sexual abuse, it is critical to report your suspicions to the appropriate authorities immediately. This can include law enforcement, school administrators and Child Protective Services. Get the victim support from the proper professionals, such as a therapist or child psychiatrist, to cope with the emotional harm of abuse. When you are ready to seek legal advocacy for the victim, contact Manly, Stewart & Finaldi for a free case consultation. 

Types of Compensation Available to Survivors

A claim filed on behalf of a school sexual abuse survivor could lead to a financial settlement or verdict being awarded to the victim. Financial compensation is meant to reimburse a victim for his or her losses, or make the victim financially whole again. While no amount of money can make up for the immense trauma of being sexually abused or assaulted at school, it could help a survivor move forward with less mental stress.

You or your loved one may be eligible for the following types of financial compensation, or damages:

• Medical treatments or care required due to physical injuries
• Therapy, counseling and mental health care costs
• Prescription medications
• Pain and suffering
• Emotional trauma and mental anguish
• Post-traumatic stress disorder
• Loss of enjoyment or quality of life
• Lost wages
• Relocation costs
• Out-of-pocket costs
• Wrongful death damages
• Punitive damages, in some cases

Discuss the potential value of your school sexual abuse case with one of our attorneys before accepting an insurance claim settlement. An insurance company will not want you to recover maximum financial compensation for your losses, as its goal will be to protect its own profits. By contrast, your attorney at Manly, Stewart & Finaldi will be dedicated to fighting for just compensation. We will seek the payment that you deserve for the full extent of your economic and noneconomic losses.