Pennsylvania School Sexual Abuse Attorneys
Providing Compassionate & Dedicated Advocacy for Victims
When you place your child in school, you entrust them to a stranger for approximately eight hours a day, five days a week. You believe that this person will educate them, keep them safe, and make sure no harm comes to them. When that trust is broken in the most heinous of ways, you and your family are left shattered.
It is the job of our schools to protect our children and guide them to a bright future. But more and more, we hear stories of teachers and educators sexually abusing children. At Fellerman & Ciarimboli Law PC, we’re taking a stand against these predators and the institutions that turn a blind eye. For decades, our Pennsylvania school sexual abuse lawyers have been protecting the rights of sexual assault survivors. Our goal is to give you the voice you need to achieve justice while also fighting to stop this abuse once and for all.
Justice begins with a phone call to Fellerman & Ciarimboli Law PC. Call our office at (877) 989-4878 to schedule a free and confidential consultation with a member of our legal team.
Sexual Abuse in Schools by the Numbers
According to the Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network, an average of 321,500 Americans over the age of 12 are victims of rape and sexual assault each year in the U.S. That adds up to an American being sexually assaulted every 98 seconds. With 93 percent of the victims under the age of 18 knowing who their abuser is, the chances of a child or teen being sexually abused by a teacher or educator is frighteningly high.
Each year, we hear more and more about sexual abuse by teachers. According to the nonprofit organization Stop Educator Sexual Abuse Misconduct & Exploitation (SESAME), there were 361 published cases of school employee sexual misconduct in the U.S. in 2014. An estimated 1 in 10 students will experience some type of sexual abuse from a school employee by the time they graduate from high school. The majority of these victims (62 percent) were high school students with an average age of 15 years old. What’s even more disturbing is the number of victims an educator offender can have. SESAME states that the majority of these abusers have multiple victims; according to a 2010 Government Accountability Study, just one perpetrator can have as many as 73 victims.
What Happens to the Sexual Abusers?
Much like in clergy abuse cases, school districts have a tendency to hide the facts rather than fix the problem. According to the Government Accountability Office, a teacher accused of sexually abusing a student will be transferred to three different schools before being reported to the police. This practice—known as “pass the trash”—allows the accused teacher to get a new job at another school where the abuse can continue. All too often, the teacher is again dismissed instead of turned in, and the teacher can then find a new position and continue the cycle of abuse.
There are federal laws in place to prevent this abuse from occurring. Under Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, schools that receive federal funding are required to investigate any claim of sexual abuse by an educator. Schools are required to take action, stopping the behavior and preventing it from reoccurring again. In Pennsylvania, mandatory reporters—which can be a teacher, an administrator, or the school nurse—are required by state law to report any suspicion of child abuse to authorities, including abuse done by an educator.
However, the Department of Education does not monitor how schools comply with federal laws. In many cases, the cycle continues until someone finally speaks up.
What Legal Actions Are Available to School Sexual Abuse Victims?
As with any institutional sexual abuse claim, there are two types of claims that can be filed against these predators: a criminal charge and a civil claim. For a civil action, you can not only sue the perpetrator but, according to Pennsylvania law, the school districts can also be held liable for not reporting the abuse.
By speaking up you are stopping the cycle. You will stand up for your rights and protect the rights of future students. When you bring forward a sexual abuse suit against a school district, you are fighting for institutional corrections aimed at preventing this abuse from happening again.
However, it’s important to have the proper sexual assault lawyer by your side to assist you and your family during this time. Our Pennsylvania school sexual abuse injury attorneys have been fighting for the rights of minors and adults for decades. We are committed to helping those who were victimized by not only a sexual predator but by the educational institutions that could have—and should have—stopped the abuse from happening in the first place.
Request a Free, Confidential Consultation
We understand how difficult it is to discuss this topic, both for victims and their loved ones. But it is not your fault and it’s not right that you or your child has suffered abuse at the hands of a trusted teacher or educator. Your family deserves justice and compensation for the suffering you have endured.
At Fellerman & Ciarimboli Law PC, we make sure your voice is not silenced. We will fight for you and give you a voice inside the courtroom. Reach out to one of our offices in Philadelphia, Scranton, or Wilkes-Barre now for a free consultation.
Call (877) 989-4878 or fill out and submit an online case evaluation form to get started.
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$5 Million Trucking Accident
A settlement was obtained for three victims of a tractor-trailer crash.
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$4 Million Trucking Accident
Our client was hit by an overweight and out-of-control tractor-trailer which was driving illegally on PA 115. This verdict was the #1 trucking collision verdict in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania in 2011.
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$3 Million Medical Malpractice
Settlement for a confidential medical malpractice case.
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$2 Million Medical Malpractice
A settlement was obtained in a case where the doctor negligently managed anesthesia.
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$1.8 Million Car Accident
A settlement was obtained for a firefighter who was injured in an automobile crash.
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$1.5 Million Medical Malpractice
A verdict was obtained on behalf of a medical malpractice victim involving a doctor failing to provide informed consent for a tonsillectomy. Was named one of the top 30 verdicts in Pennsylvania in 2015.
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- Frank K.
I have a friend who sought help from Fellerman & Ciarimboli and said they were very nice and helpful. So when I needed assistance, they were the first ones I thought of, and gave them a call. I was connected to Attorney Molly Clark, who made a significant impact. Her comforting personality created a welcoming environment during our interactions, turning what could have been a somber experience into one filled with positivity. Our upbeat conversations, in contrast to the challenging situation, improved my well-being.
What truly won me over was Molly's commitment to keeping me informed about the progress of my situation. Whenever I called her with questions, she promptly provided answers, ensuring I had the information I needed when I needed it. Working with Fellerman & Ciarimboli was a positive experience given the circumstances I was facing. I highly recommend Attorney Molly and the firm to anyone seeking reliable and compassionate assistance during challenging times.
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Molly thank you for everything you’ve done for Terry and me. You went above and beyond. You are like family to us and will always love you!- Arlene P.
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I can't express how GREAT my first experience with an attorney has been! I'm not kidding when I say that both you and the entire firm are I think the best around. Once get things settled around here, I would like to make an appointment to come up to talk about some other issues, but I have been doing nothing, but singing the praises of you The entire organization to everyone that I speak with.- R.R.
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- Client
There are no adequate words to convey to you, Mike, and Ed how grateful our family is for all of your hard work in helping us through the most difficult time of our lives. Your commitment to justice is unlike anything we have ever witnessed. Our tragedy became your tragedy. The three of you have become part of our family.
Harry, you explained everything necessary in terms which were comprehensible and helpful to us to better understand all that was presented. We are so grateful for that.
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We will grieve our profound loss for the rest of our lives, but all of you helped to make it a bit easier, and we thank you from the bottom of our hearts.
God's Blessings to you and your family.
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Molly, Thank you so much! I can't tell you how much you mean to me, throughout this process, you have always been there and helped me through. I am glad it all came to a good ending and that it is over. But, I will miss you and you will always be referred to anyone that ever asks me for an amazing lawyer! Keep fighting for the people who need you! You are amazing at what you do, you're professional and genuine! I wish you all the best in your career and am happy that I chose you to take my case. Your team is amazing, too!- Nicole W.
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