Connecticut School Sexual Abuse Lawsuits

Financial Compensation for Victims of Sexual Abuse in Connecticut Schools

The Injury Lawyer Team is committed to representing survivors in Connecticut school sexual abuse lawsuits, helping them hold institutions accountable for their failures. With decades of experience, our Connecticut sexual abuse attorneys support former students who were sexually abused in school settings. If you or a loved one was abused in a Connecticut school, we’re here to help you file a civil lawsuit and seek justice.

Sexual Abuse Allegations and Civil Lawsuits Against Connecticut Schools

Dozens of former students have come forward in recent years with disturbing reports of being sexually abused while attending elite Connecticut schools. These sexual abuse lawsuits reveal widespread patterns of misconduct, cover-ups, and institutional failures to protect students from known abusers. 

Multiple boarding school administrators are accused of ignoring complaints, allowing abuse to continue unchecked for years. Below are some of the most prominent cases involving Connecticut institutions.

Greenwich Country Day School

In May 2023, a former student filed a lawsuit against Greenwich Country Day School, alleging sex abuse by biology teacher Peter French beginning in sixth grade. The suit alleges that the school knew about French’s inappropriate conduct with at least five other boys between the 1960s and 1980s and failed to act.

A 2018 internal investigation revealed that French and another teacher, Jim Arden, sexually abused at least eight students over several decades. French had previously been the subject of a state investigation related to sexual contact with minors.

Hotchkiss School

In November 2023, a lawsuit filed by a former student accused Hotchkiss of enabling decades of abuse by Roy Smith, a long-time English teacher and athletic director. The sexual abuse lawsuit claims Smith invited boys to his on-campus apartment for “tutoring” and then sexually abused them. The school allegedly failed to report or investigate Smith, who died in 2014.

Another lawsuit filed in 2019 claimed that school management was aware of Smith’s history and ignored red flags. The student, abused at age 14 in the 1980s, accused the school of violating mandatory reporting laws.

A 2018 internal probe confirmed allegations against at least seven faculty members, including multiple teachers, a doctor, and a choral director. According to the report, school administration repeatedly mishandled complaints and let offenders return to campus, effectively turning a blind eye to decades of misconduct.

Indian Mountain School

The Indian Mountain School in Salisbury has faced multiple lawsuits over alleged misconduct dating back to the 1980s. In 2018, the school confirmed it had settled two more claims with former students who were sexually abused by faculty members.

One lawsuit filed in 2016 detailed horrific abuse by English teacher Christopher Simonds, who showed a student pornography, gave him alcohol and drugs, and sexually abused him over several years. The lawsuit also named former headmaster Peter Carleton for helping cover up the abuse.

Indian Mountain previously settled five other lawsuits in the 1990s related to Simonds and Carleton. The school’s role in allowing these individuals to continue working despite known concerns is central to the growing number of sexual abuse claims.

Kent School

A lawsuit filed in May 2017 accused a former teacher at Kent School of sexually abusing a student repeatedly from 1987 to 1988. The plaintiff, a former student, said she was assaulted in various locations, including the teacher’s campus housing.

The sexual abuse lawsuit also alleges that the school administration was aware of at least one other staff member involved in misconduct and did not report the alleged abuse. The case highlights the school’s failure to act on warning signs and protect its students.

Westover School

A lawsuit filed in January 2020 accused the Westover School of ignoring credible allegations of sex abuse. The plaintiff, a former student, says she was sexually abused by a teacher from 2003 to 2007 while she was a teenager. 

The sexual abuse lawsuit claims that school leadership was aware the teacher preyed on underage girls but failed to take disciplinary or legal action until 2008, when he was finally fired.

Who Can Be Held Liable in Civil Claims Following Child Sexual Abuse?

In cases involving sex abuse in a school setting, responsibility often extends beyond the individual abuser. Survivors who were sexually abused as former students have the right to bring claims not only against the perpetrator but also against the institution that failed to keep them safe. 

Individual Perpetrators

Teachers, coaches, dorm supervisors, and other faculty members can be named in a lawsuit if they directly engaged in sexual contact, harassment, or assault. In many cases at schools like Indian Mountain School and Hotchkiss School, lawsuits have identified specific employees—such as English teachers—who sexually abused students. Survivors may seek damages directly from these individuals.

School Administrators and Officials

Equally important are the roles of school officials and leadership. Administrators who turned a blind eye to warnings, dismissed complaints, or failed to report abuse may face liability. Survivors argue that by failing to act, these leaders violated their duty to protect students, making the institution itself accountable.

Private and Boarding Schools

A private boarding school can be held directly liable for fostering an unsafe environment. When a school like Westover School or Indian Mountain School employs abusers, ignores reports of sexual misconduct, or allows known predators to continue working with other students, the school itself may be sued for negligence. 

These lawsuits often allege systemic failures, claiming the institution’s policies—or lack thereof—allowed the abuse to persist.

Public Schools

Survivors of child sexual abuse in Connecticut’s public schools also have legal rights. Teachers, coaches, or other school staff who sexually abuse students can be sued directly, but liability often extends to the school district and its leadership.

When school officials or administrators in a public setting ignore warning signs, fail to report abuse, or ignore credible complaints, the district itself can be named in civil claims. Survivors may also seek accountability from boards of education or municipal entities that were responsible for oversight when the abuse occurred.

Although bringing a lawsuit against a public institution can involve additional hurdles—such as governmental immunity rules or stricter statute of limitations requirements—survivors still have the right to pursue legal action and demand accountability from public educators and administrators who failed in their legal duty of care.

What Is the Average Payout for Sexual Assault Cases in Connecticut?

On average, settlements and jury awards in sex assault cases in Connecticut amount to just over $8 million, while the median recovery stands close to $6.8 million. These figures show that while some survivors receive lower amounts, others achieve much larger verdicts. In fact, payouts have ranged from just over $600,000 to more than $22 million, underscoring how unique each case truly is.

Awards depend on factors such as:

• The extent of the survivor’s injuries and trauma
• Whether the abuse involved repeated sexual contact or ongoing misconduct
• The role of school officials or administrators in covering up or failing to prevent the alleged abuse
• The survivor’s age at the time the abuse occurred
• The strength of evidence and witness testimony

What Damages Can Sexually Assaulted Victims Recover?

Connecticut law allows victims to seek a range of damages to address both immediate and long-term consequences. 

Economic Damages

Economic damages cover the tangible financial losses a survivor may face. These include costs for past and future medical treatment, therapy, and psychological counseling, as well as lost wages or diminished earning potential. Survivors who were sexually abused as students often struggle with disrupted education and career paths, and financial recovery can help rebuild stability.

Non-Economic Damages

Just as important are non-economic damages, which account for the deep emotional impact of abuse. Compensation may be awarded for pain and suffering, emotional distress, humiliation, anxiety, and the lifelong consequences of being sexually abused. These damages recognize the profound harm that isn’t always visible but continues to affect survivors every day.

Punitive Damages

In some cases, courts may also award punitive damages. These are not tied to a survivor’s direct losses, but instead serve to punish the abuser or negligent school management and deter similar misconduct in the future. 

Punitive damages often come into play when a school or other institution knowingly allowed abuse to happen—such as cases involving Indian Mountain School and Kent School—by ignoring reports and protecting staff instead of students.

What Laws Govern Connecticut Sexual Abuse Cases?

Survivors of childhood sex abuse in Connecticut schools may rely on both state and federal laws when bringing lawsuits against abusers and negligent school officials.

Connecticut State Law requires mandatory reporting of suspected sex abuse of children by teachers, administrators, and other professionals. This duty is established under Conn. Gen. Stat. § 17a-101 (2023), which makes it a legal requirement for educators and other mandated reporters to notify authorities if they suspect abuse. When administrators fail to comply, they not only violate the law but also expose the school to liability in civil claims.

On the federal level, Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, 20 U.S.C. §§ 1681–1688, prohibits discrimination on the basis of sex in federally funded education programs. Courts have consistently held that sexual misconduct and assault fall within Title IX protections. Schools that fail to respond adequately to complaints of sexual abuse can face liability under this statute.

How Long Do Victims Have to File Civil Lawsuits?

The deadline for bringing a lawsuit is governed by Connecticut’s statute of limitations for sexual abuse. These timeframes depend on the age of the survivor at the time of the abuse and, in some cases, whether the abuser was criminally convicted.

Thanks to a 2022 amendment, under Conn. Gen. Stat. § 52-577e, Connecticut has no statute of limitations for civil actions brought against individuals who have been convicted of 1st-degree sexual assault or 1st-degree aggravated sexual assault. Survivors may file suit against these abusers at any time.

Under Conn. Gen. Stat. § 52-577d, for survivors who were sexually abused when they were under the age of 21, Connecticut law provides an extended timeframe. They may bring a lawsuit within 30 years after turning 21. In practice, this means survivors can file claims up until their 51st birthday.

For adults who were sexually assaulted at age 21 or older, Connecticut does not have a special statute of limitations. Instead, the general tort deadline under Conn. Gen. Stat. § 52-577 applies, which is three years from the date of the abuse. This shorter window makes it especially important for adult survivors to act quickly if they want to pursue compensation.

How Our Law Firm Can Help

Filing a school sexual abuse lawsuit can feel overwhelming. Survivors often face powerful schools, well-funded defense teams, and complex legal questions about the statute of limitations, liability, and the lasting impact of being sexually abused. These challenges can make it difficult to move forward without experienced guidance.

The Injury Lawyer Team has extensive experience representing former students in Connecticut civil cases against both individual abusers and institutions such as private schools and public districts. We know how to investigate hidden records, hold administrators accountable for turning a blind eye, and fight for full financial compensation through civil claims.

Our sexual abuse law firm operates on a contingency fee basis, which means you pay nothing unless we win your case. Survivors never have to worry about upfront costs while pursuing justice.

If you or someone you love was sexually abused in a Connecticut school, contact the Injury Lawyer Team today to schedule a free consultation. We will listen to your story, explain your options, and help you take the next step toward healing and accountability.