Schools may have obligations beyond those of teaching students. In cases of reported abuse, supervision and previous warnings to the school may become key issues in a civil suit.

Need help finding the right lawyer? There are many reasons why a law firm matters to survivors and families. For example, the defendant could be a school district, a private school, or multiple parties with varying degrees of legal liability.

Survivors searching for national representation and trauma-informed claims handling when it comes to school-based cases will want to start their search with Dolman Law Group. Listed below are three additional law firms with experience in this area, though each specializes differently.

In This Guide

• What distinguishes these firms
• Dolman Law Group
• Andreozzi + Foote
• The Zalkin Law Firm, LLP
• Herman Law
• Questions to ask before retaining counsel
• Final verdict

What Distinguishes These Firms?

1. Dolman Law Group: Featured Choice for Broad School Abuse Claims

Dolman Law Group, P.A. represents students and former students who have been sexually abused or groomed in relation to school. Cases include abuse related to public schools, private schools and boarding schools. Liability could stem from the individual who committed the abuse or a school that failed to protect a student.

The firm’s school sexual abuse lawyer service is built around investigating what happened, who may be responsible and what civil claims may be available. 

Why it stands out: The attorney uses phrases like trauma informed approach and represents clients involving multiple types of schools.

Key considerations include:

• Prosecutors: From what the firm provided, their sexual abuse team includes two former sex crimes prosecutors and two are former federal prosecutors. These staffing levels could not be verified from public information.
• Institutional investigation: Their school abuse practice page mentions examining the evidence we have and determining who may be responsible including schools.
• Survivor involvement: Company claims they conducted interviews with survivors at client’s pace, allowing for a survivor-centered process.
• Throughout the United States: The firm offers nationwide representation, subject to applicable jurisdiction and counsel requirements.

Clients should inquire as to whether the lawyer will consider a contingency-fee arrangement for the case. Also, clients should ask how litigation expenses are handled and exactly what any written fee agreement requires.

Best suited to: Survivors and families who desire one team to evaluate both school liability, the potential civil defendants and the logistics of a claim.

2. Andreozzi + Foote: For Complex Institutional Cases

Andreozzi + Foote specializes in civil representation of victims of sexual abuse. The firm’s school-abuse practice involves alleged abuse related to public schools, private schools, boarding schools and colleges.

The firm highlights $15 million it recovered for a group of boarding school survivors. This illustrates the type of institutional case the firm reports handling, but those examples only show case experience. Past recoveries don’t guarantee future results.

The strength here is experience with institutions specifically. If a survivor is looking to sue an organization, that focus may be helpful if they faced sexual misconduct from school administrators, lack of supervision or prior notice.

It also talks about grooming and coercion in its school-abuse materials. This includes sexual misconduct that isn’t physical.

Best suited to: Victims looking for a firm that has experience handling significant institutional sexual abuse cases.

3. The Zalkin Law Firm, LLP: For School Oversight and District Liability Questions

The Zalkin Law Firm, LLP advocates on behalf of victims of sexual abuse in school settings, which include public, private and parochial schools.The firm’s published school-practice guidance pays particular attention to what school officials and districts knew or should have known, how complaints were processed and if failures in supervision contributed to the abuse.

It makes a difference how you phrase that because the legal issue isn’t always “who abused.” Under the facts and the applicable law, you can also have a civil claim for negligent hiring, failure to supervise, or failure to act on warning signs.

The firm describes reviewing institutional policies, prior reports, patterns of concealment as part of preparation for these cases.

Its website also describes legal work for adults who were abused as children. This may apply if a survivor is looking into legal rights years after they’ve left school.

Best suited to: Families and alumni interested in questions of institutional memory and failure of school oversight.

4. Herman Law: For Civil Claims Against Institutions

Herman Law handles civil lawsuits filed by survivors of sexual abuse. Published practice areas include schools and other settings where organizations may have had a duty of care to children or vulnerable adults.

Its website describes a nationwide sexual abuse legal practice and offers information about civil claims. Its wide institutional focus is another variable to consider when weighing firms that focus on schools.

However, just because there is a national website doesn’t mean you can bring the same claim in all 50 states. An evaluation should determine who would represent you, what court or state law may apply and what deadlines would apply to your case.

Best suited to: Survivors who want a civil litigation practice with a longstanding focus on holding institutions accountable.

Questions to Ask Before Retaining Counsel

• Possible Defendants: Could the defendants be an individual, school operator, district or another entity?
• Which deadline applies? Each state has different deadlines. Claims against public entities may also involve special notice requirements or procedures.
• What does “confidentiality” mean here? Consultations are private, but filing a case does not guarantee that you can remain anonymous. Discuss privacy options with prospective counsel before filing.
• Who will handle my case? Ask who the primary attorney will be and whether another attorney will serve as local counsel if necessary. Ask how often you will receive updates about your case.
• How do you get paid? Explain the contingency fee arrangement, case expenses, and unrecovered funds.

Civil Lawsuits and School Responsibilities

Civil litigation is independent of criminal prosecution. Failure to obtain a criminal conviction does not, by itself, settle whether a civil remedy is available. Actual claims will vary depending on the facts and applicable state or federal law.

When your educational program accepts federal funding, Title IX bars sex discrimination. Whether a particular survivor can bring an actionable Title IX claim is fact specific and a legal question that should be reviewed with your attorney. There may also be separate questions under state negligence laws/rules that apply to public schools.

One helpful decision rule: Request that a prospective lawyer explain what case they might have against the individual who harmed your child and what case they might have against the school. The contrast may tell you how thoroughly the lawyer has thought through institutional liability.

Final Verdict

When evaluating law firms to contact if you or your family are looking at pursuing a claim against a public school, private school or boarding school, Dolman Law Group was chosen as the first to look into. They claim to operate throughout the U.S., and report a team including former sex crimes and federal prosecutors. Additionally, they have written about using a trauma informed approach.

A private consultation can help clarify what options may be available to you. Nothing discussed nor offered will be with the presumption that lawsuit or specific outcome is assured.

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