Institutional Sexual Abuse Cases
Justice for Survivors of Abuse in Schools, Churches, Youth Organizations & Trusted Institutions
82,000+ Survivors in Boy Scouts Case Alone - Billions in Settlements
You are not alone. Survivors are coming forward across the country to hold institutions accountable.
A National Crisis of Institutional Abuse
Major Cases & Settlements
Boy Scouts of America: $2.7 billion settlement fund, 82,000+ survivors filed claims in bankruptcy proceedings - one of the largest abuse settlements in U.S. history
Catholic Church: Hundreds of dioceses have paid billions in settlements nationwide - Los Angeles Archdiocese alone paid $1.5 billion across multiple settlements
USA Gymnastics / Larry Nassar: $380 million settlement with 500+ survivors, including Olympic athletes abused by team doctor
Penn State / Jerry Sandusky: Over $109 million paid to 36 victims of assistant football coach who abused boys through his youth charity
Private Schools: Choate Rosemary Hall, Horace Mann, Phillips Exeter Academy, and dozens of elite boarding schools have faced hundreds of abuse claims
USC / Dr. George Tyndall: $1.1 billion settlement with 700+ former patients of campus gynecologist accused of sexual abuse
Systemic Patterns Across Institutions
Investigations have revealed similar patterns: institutions prioritized their reputations over children's safety, transferred known abusers to new locations, concealed complaints, and failed to implement basic safeguards.
Legal Grounds for Institutional Liability
Institutions have a duty to conduct thorough background checks, verify employment history, and investigate any red flags before hiring employees or accepting volunteers who work with children.
Negligent Supervision: Once hired, institutions must properly supervise staff, enforce safety policies (like "two-deep leadership"), and ensure no one has unsupervised access to children.
Examples: Hiring someone with prior abuse allegations, failing to check references, allowing coaches/teachers to be alone with children behind closed doors.
Institutions are liable when they knew or should have known about abuse but failed to take action to protect children.
Warning Signs Ignored: Reports from children, parents, or other staff that were dismissed, covered up, or not investigated.
Prior Complaints: Evidence the abuser had previous allegations or complaints that the institution failed to act on.
Pattern & Practice: Systemic failures to implement policies, training, or oversight that would have prevented abuse.
Institutions that serve children in positions of trust (schools, churches, youth programs) owe them a fiduciary duty - a heightened legal obligation to act in their best interests and protect them from harm.
Breaches Include: Prioritizing institutional reputation over child safety, concealing abuse, retaliating against survivors who report, failing to implement known best practices.
When institutions actively conceal abuse, this creates additional liability and can support punitive damages claims.
"Passing the Trash": Transferring accused abusers to new locations without warning the new community (common in Catholic dioceses, schools).
Confidential Settlements: Paying survivors to sign NDAs and keep abuse secret, allowing predators to continue.
Destruction of Records: Deliberately destroying personnel files, complaint records, or other evidence of abuse.
Many states have eliminated or extended statutes of limitations for childhood sexual abuse, recognizing that survivors often don't come forward until decades later.
Examples: California, New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Arizona, Montana, and many other states have enacted lookback windows allowing survivors to file claims regardless of when the abuse occurred.
New Laws Continue to Pass: More states are joining this movement each year. Even if your abuse occurred 30, 40, or 50 years ago, you may still be able to seek justice.
Don't assume it's "too late" - consult with an attorney to understand your state's current laws.
Compensation & Accountability
Settlements in institutional abuse cases vary widely based on severity, duration, and institutional knowledge
Economic Damages
Medical bills, therapy costs, psychiatric treatment, lost wages, future counseling needs
Pain & Suffering
Trauma, PTSD, emotional distress, loss of childhood, relationship difficulties, trust issues
Punitive Damages
When institutions actively concealed abuse or showed reckless disregard for child safety
Settlement Examples:
Boy Scouts of America: Average payout estimated at $3,500 to $2.7 million per survivor
Penn State: Averaged $3 million per survivor
USA Gymnastics: Settlements ranged from $100,000 to $10 million+
Catholic Dioceses: Individual settlements from $50,000 to $20 million+
Actual compensation depends on specific case facts, jurisdiction, and severity of abuse
Factors Affecting Compensation
- Duration and frequency of abuse
- Age of victim when abuse occurred
- Physical and psychological impact
- Evidence of institutional knowledge and cover-up
- Number of other victims (pattern of abuse)
- Institution's financial resources
Who Can File a Claim?
- Survivors of any age: Many states now allow adults to file claims for abuse that occurred decades ago during childhood
- Doesn't matter if you reported or not: Many survivors never reported due to fear, shame, or not being believed - you can still file
- Abuser doesn't need to be convicted: Civil cases have a lower burden of proof than criminal cases
- Abuser can be deceased: You can still hold institutions accountable even if the individual abuser has died
- Multiple victims can file together: Class actions and coordinated filings are common in institutional abuse cases
- Institution can be closed: Successor organizations, insurance policies, and bankruptcy trusts may still provide recovery
You Are Not Alone
Tens of thousands of survivors have come forward in recent years. The legal landscape has changed dramatically - state laws now recognize that survivors often need decades before they can speak about their abuse.
It wasn't your fault. You deserve justice. Your story matters.
Frequently Asked Questions
Some Deadlines May Still Apply
While many states have extended or eliminated statutes of limitations for childhood abuse, some lookback windows have specific end dates. Additionally, some institutions have created victim compensation funds with filing deadlines.
Don't wait: Getting a free case evaluation now ensures you don't miss any deadlines. Even if you're not ready to file, knowing your legal options and timeline is important.
No obligation. Completely confidential. No fees unless you win.
Sources & References
The information on this page is based on court filings, settlements, government investigations, and reputable news sources.
Boy Scouts of America Bankruptcy & Settlement
Official information about the $2.7 billion settlement trust for 82,000+ survivors of abuse in Boy Scouts programs.
Official BSA Restructuring WebsiteUSA Gymnastics Settlement with Larry Nassar Survivors
$380 million settlement with 500+ survivors abused by USA Gymnastics team doctor, including Olympic athletes.
NPR Coverage of SettlementCatholic Church Abuse Settlements Nationwide
Comprehensive database tracking settlements, bankruptcies, and cases across hundreds of U.S. dioceses.
BishopAccountability.org DatabasePenn State / Jerry Sandusky Settlements
Penn State paid over $109 million to 36 victims of assistant football coach Jerry Sandusky who abused boys through his youth charity.
NPR Report on SettlementsUSC / Dr. George Tyndall $1.1 Billion Settlement
University of Southern California's record-breaking settlement with 700+ former patients of campus gynecologist.
New York Times CoverageChild USA: State-by-State Statute of Limitations Laws
Comprehensive tracking of child sex abuse statute of limitations laws, lookback windows, and revivals in all 50 states.
Child USA SOL DatabasePrivate School Abuse Cases
Investigations and lawsuits at elite boarding schools including Choate Rosemary Hall, Horace Mann, Phillips Exeter Academy.
Washington Post InvestigationDisclaimer: This page provides educational information about institutional abuse litigation and survivors' legal rights. Individual case outcomes vary based on specific facts, jurisdiction, and applicable laws. Settlement amounts mentioned are examples and not guarantees. Consult with a qualified attorney for legal advice specific to your situation. Statute of limitations deadlines vary by state and may change.
You Deserve Justice & Healing
Tens of thousands of survivors are coming forward. You are not alone. It wasn't your fault. Free, confidential case review with experienced attorneys.
No fees unless you win • Completely confidential • Experienced institutional abuse attorneys