All schools have a duty to protect the well-being and safety of their students, regardless of whether they are preschools, elementary schools, high schools, or colleges. Unfortunately, some schools and universities fail to adequately protect their students against sexual abuse. Families impacted by sexual abuse in Allentown schools and universities deserve dedicated legal support.
If you or a loved one has experienced such abuse, our sexual assault attorneys could help you understand your options and guide you through a personal injury lawsuit against those responsible.
In local schools and universities, more than one party could be liable for sexual abuse in Allentown, and our attorneys could help you identify who may be accountable.
You could pursue a civil lawsuit against the individual who personally committed the abuse. The perpetrator could be a teacher, school staff member, school administrator, coach, or even a fellow classmate. While the offender might face separate criminal charges for the abuse, bringing a civil lawsuit could provide you with greater involvement in the legal process and allow you to seek justice.
Teachers and other staff members who have contact with children are mandated reporters who must report any suspected child abuse, including sexual abuse. They could be liable for not reporting suspected sexual abuse or ignoring warning signs.
You might be able to sue the school district where the abuse occurred. However, you would need to prove that the school failed to protect its students from unnecessary harm. To prove a school district’s liability, you could show that the school had inadequate hiring practices because it failed to conduct full background checks on new employees. You could also show that the school district failed to adequately supervise employees or respond to reports of suspected abuse.
If the student suffered harm in a public school or university, complicated issues involving governmental immunity may arise. In such cases, our experienced attorneys could help you navigate these challenges and pursue your claim.
If the person who abused the student was a volunteer or contractor who did not work for the school, you might be able to sue the organization that directly employed the perpetrator, particularly if the organization knowingly or negligently hired someone with a criminal record.
Our attorneys could work to ensure that everyone who failed to protect your child is held legally responsible.
Students may encounter various forms of sexual exploitation in Allentown schools and colleges. Some of the more common forms of abuse that occur in educational environments include the following:
Our attorneys understand how devastating school sexual abuse can be for both the survivor and their family members. We could work to pursue the justice you deserve.
When you send your child to school, you trust that they will be protected and safe. Unfortunately, sexual abuse in Allentown schools and universities can have a lasting impact on your child and your entire family.
Contact us today to speak with our lawyers about pursuing a civil lawsuit for financial compensation against the responsible parties.