Baltimore Private School Sexual Abuse

Compensation for Child Victims of Sex Abuse in Baltimore County 

Baltimore private school sexual abuse has caused tremendous trauma and suffering for dozens of children spanning several decades. However, survivors of child sexual abuse don’t need to suffer in silence. 

Our firm will seek justice through private school sexual abuse lawsuits, ensuring that negligent faculty members face the consequences for failing to report sexual abuse. Contact us today for your free consultation. 

Victims Allege Sexual Abuse at Baltimore County Private Schools

Dozens of Baltimore sexual abuse lawsuits have been filed against institutions that harbored abusers and silenced child victims, including the following. 

McDonogh School

In March 2025, a dozen former students of McDonogh School came forward to sue the facility. The complaint states that the alleged sexual abuse took place in the 1960s and 1980s with former dean Alvin Levy, former Spanish teacher Robert Creed, and two more unnamed faculty members.

Alvin Levy was indicted in 1991 on sexual abuse charges, but he died before justice could be served. Investigations found that Levy and Creed abused two dozen students between 1940 and 1980. According to the allegations, the Board of Trustees and school administrators were aware of the abuse but did not take action or protect the victims. 

A statement from the school claimed that “McDonogh remains committed to fostering a community where students and adults feel comfortable identifying and reporting sexual abuse. We take all allegations very seriously and remain steadfast in our support for survivors while complying with applicable laws.” 

However, attorneys for the victims argue that McDonogh School administrators refused to remove the dean from the premises and allowed him to remain in his position even after multiple complaints. 

Calvert Hall College High School

In April 2023, the Maryland Attorney General released a shocking 456-page investigation into sexual abuse in the Archdiocese of Baltimore, alleging that the church sheltered abusive clergy and did not perform even minimal diligence in protecting students. This was clear at Calvert Hall College High School, a private, all-male Catholic school whose faculty appeared in the report multiple times.

Father Laurence Brett, Father Francis LeFevre, Father Jerome Toohey, and Brother Geoffrey Xavier Langan were all included in the Attorney General’s report, alleged to have abused multiple grade schoolers between 1969 and 1990. An unnamed science teacher was also included in the lawsuits. 

Father Laurence Brett’s abuse was known to the Archdiocese of Baltimore before he was hired, as he had been accused of inappropriate behavior by children in multiple other states before this placement. 

Father Francis LeFevre worked at several churches within the area, molesting altar boys. He allegedly took a position at Calvert Hall specifically so that he could continue abusing the children that he had been following, ensuring that they could not escape him. 

The school administration was aware that Father Jerome Toohey was molesting students, as he had been warned to be careful about his advances. Toohey had a private residence across the street and would invite young boys over to be “touchy-feely” with them. Two boys complained about him in 1990, but he was not removed from his position. 

Brother Geoffrey Xavier Langan’s abuse was so well-known in the community that he was known as “Brother Squeeze-ums” for his inappropriate behavior. Once, a teacher who would later become the principal of the school walked in on him abusing a student, but said nothing. 

The unnamed science teacher molested a student in his classroom in 1982 or 1983. When the victim complained, the administration only removed him from the class rather than punishing the teacher or reporting the incident to police. 

Gilman School

In August 2024, the Baltimore Sun reported that former teacher Christopher “Kenji” Bendann was found guilty of molesting children at the Gilman School. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kim Hagan claimed that this private school in North Baltimore’s Roland Park became a living hell for the students under his care, as victims allege they were forced to run laps naked.

One victim stated that Bendann made sexually explicit material of him and threatened to show it to his loved ones if he ever told anyone he was being molested. The FBI recovered the sexually explicit material and could confirm that it was produced when the victim was only 16. 

After the student turned 18 and moved away to college, Bendann cyberstalked him to ensure he would not tell anyone about the abuse that he faced. 

The defendant claimed that law enforcement and the Gilman School were defaming him, even turning to victims’ family members in the courtroom and mouthing, “I forgive you,” before being taken away. 

In May 2025, Bendann was sued by two former students, brothers who alleged sexual abuse during their time at the academy. 

What Is the Maryland Child Victims Act?

The Maryland Child Victims Act removes the statute of limitations for child sexual abuse, including abuse that occurred before the law was passed in October 2025 (§5–117). The Maryland Supreme Court upheld its constitutionality in the 2025 case Archbishop of Washington v. Doe. 

However, some unique caveats to this law must be taken into consideration.

Firstly, Baltimore City issued a stay on lawsuits arising from the CVA in June 2025. The city’s courts became so overwhelmed with the 1,300 cases filed that they cannot currently accept new cases until the previous ones have been processed. There is no timeline for when new lawsuits can be accepted. 

Statute of Limitations

While the CVA removed the statute of limitations for Maryland sexual abuse lawsuits, victims cannot file a suit for claims that would have been time-barred before October 1, 2023, if the victim is now deceased. This means that the next of kin cannot file a suit on a deceased victim’s behalf.

Additionally, there are still filing deadlines if the suit is being filed under other statutes, such as the Maryland Tort Claims Act or the Local Government Tort Claims Act (§5–117). 

Caps on Non-Economic Damages

House Bill 1378, which passed on April 22, 2025, reduces the non-economic damages available to victims who file after June 1, 2025. The new caps are as follows:

• A single victim can receive a maximum of $700,000 in non-economic damages.
• The total liability of state or local governments is a maximum of $400,000. 

What Damages Can Former Students Recover?

Damages that survivors can receive can include:

• Medical bills
• Loss of income
• Out-of-pocket medical expenses like therapy
• Physical pain and suffering
• Emotional distress
• Loss of normal life

Our firm has successfully recovered significant damages for survivors in Maryland school sexual abuse lawsuits, including the following notable settlements.

• $15,000,000: Several boys were groomed and molested by a private school coach, causing significant post-traumatic stress disorder consistent with child abuse. 
• $2,500,000: Multiple victims alleged sexual abuse by a defrocked priest, which occurred at a private Catholic school in a rural area.

Who Can Be Held Liable for Childhood Sexual Abuse at a Private School in Baltimore County?

Our firm will ensure that everyone who perpetrated or concealed childhood sexual abuse is held accountable for failing to protect you. This can include:

• Individual perpetrators
• School administrators 
• Other staff members
• Social workers or other mandated reporters
• Schools and school systems

How Injury Lawyer Team Can Help

Our compassionate Super Lawyers®-rated attorneys will leverage the Child Victims Act to ensure that you receive the maximum settlement available under the law. 

Through a thorough investigation, we will uncover institutional failures and administrative oversights that allowed abusers access to vulnerable children. These cases can be challenging because many victims do not disclose the harm done to them until decades later, meaning that some records may have been lost or destroyed. 

However, we are highly skilled at investigation, even if decades have passed. Our team will uncover medical records, school reports, employment records, and witness statements that support your claim. We take a trauma-informed approach to every case, ensuring that victims are empowered to share their story. 

We are members of the Million Dollar Advocates Forum, having secured over $450 million in settlements over the past 25 years. Through our aggressive negotiations, we will maximize your settlement and protect your privacy so that you can focus on healing.

While many cases settle out of court, we prepare every lawsuit as if it will go to trial, giving you the best possible chance of a positive verdict. We will file a claim with the relevant court system and tell your story before a judge and jury, ensuring that you can face the perpetrator without fear. 

Book a Free and Confidential Consultation

If you have been victimized at a Maryland private school, you may be able to file sexual abuse lawsuits, even if years have passed. Our award-winning law firm works on a contingency fee basis: no fees unless you win. Contact us today to schedule your free consultation with a compassionate attorney.