Chicago School Sexual Abuse Lawsuit

Compensation for Survivors of Sexual Abuse at Chicago Schools

Injury Lawyer Team is the premier firm working on Chicago school sexual abuse lawsuit claims throughout Cook County and beyond. If you or a loved one has been molested in Chicago Public Schools or a private institution, we can help you secure fair financial compensation. Contact us today for a free consultation with a compassionate, trauma-informed attorney. 

Sexual Abuse Allegations Against Schools in Chicago

Dozens of Illinois school sexual abuse lawsuits have been filed against multiple schools that failed to implement student protections required by law. 

Chicago Public Schools Failed to Protect Student at Sullivan High School

A recent lawsuit filed in the Circuit Court of Cook County alleges that Sullivan High School failed to protect an autistic boy from being viciously sexually assaulted by a fellow student in the school bathroom. 

“The victim was supposed to have an adult present with him at all times. Chicago Public Schools failed to abide by that element of his individual education plan,” attorney Cass Casper stated in a press conference. Because no one went with the student to the school bathroom, he was defenseless against the attack. 

The boy’s family is suing multiple Sullivan High School officials, including assistant principal John Roseboom and an unnamed staffer alleged to be the grandmother of the perpetrator. 

The Chicago Sun-Times reported that officials from Sullivan High School failed to speak to the victim’s family the day after the sexual assault and showed no concern for the victim’s well-being. The perpetrator, who was a fellow student, was moved to another school, which the family’s lawyer claims is “completely inadequate.” 

Lawsuit Against the Chicago Board of Education, Homewood-Flossmoor Community High School

In March 2025, Homewood-Flossmoor Community High School and the Chicago Board of Education settled with Amayah Blair and her family for $3.5 million after she was sexually assaulted by another student in the school’s theater. 

The assault happened on October 31st during a morning theater class, when the class broke into small groups. According to Blair, she was crying and struggling, but no teachers or other students attempted to intervene or help her. 

After the assault became public, fellow students staged a walkout to protest the lack of student protections and accountability. 

Chicago Police Closed Cases of Abuse at Little Village Lawndale High School as Non-Criminal

In May 2025, NBC 5 released an exhaustive investigation with 12 former Chicago Public Schools students, who say a culture of sexual abuse kept them from speaking out about sexual abuse taking place at Little Village Lawndale High School. 

These students allege that between 2009 and 2019, at least seven individuals, including teachers and school officials, resigned or were fired from Chicago Public Schools due to alleged sexual misconduct. 

The US Department of Education found that the district’s handling of sexual harassment complaints “had been in a state of disarray.” While the district created a Sexual Allegations Unit to investigate teacher-on-student sexual abuse, high turnover rates have created a bottleneck in the unit.

One former student, Ana Solano, was groomed by her former sociology teacher, Dennis Kass, over the course of four years. Kass taught sociology and ran a legal clinic at Infinity High School, one of the four smaller schools that make up the Little Lawndale campus. 

Kass was known to ask provocative questions in his class, including challenging the concept of monogamy and marriage. He would frequently reference ice cream when talking about sex, explaining that people should not limit themselves to only one “ice cream flavor.” 

Solano was contacted by Kass shortly after her graduation, which began a cycle of chatting or even going on vacation. Their relationship only ended because she asked for monogamy, which is when she learned that he had been grooming and exploiting numerous former students as well. One of the other victims claimed that Kass reached out to her shortly after her graduation, but warned her to keep things private as it would damage his reputation. 

The Chicago Police Department reviewed the reports but ultimately determined that they did not constitute criminal sexual assault because the women were of age.

Another unnamed young woman was groomed and sexually assaulted by former dean of the Social Justice High School, Brian Crowder, throughout her time in high school. In fact, he even posed as her stepfather to help her obtain an abortion while underage. 

A new lawsuit was filed against Crowder in June of 2025 for several charges, including aggravated sexual assault, for his exploitation of a minor. 

Attorneys for the victims claim that a culture of abuse endangered all students at Little Village Lawndale, as multiple male educators were involved in this predatory behavior. 

What Damages Can Sexually Assaulted Victims Recover in Chicago?

Our attorneys fight hard to ensure that victims receive everything they deserve in school sexual assault lawsuits. These damages can include:

• Medical expenses
• Therapy and behavioral health support
• Loss of future wages
• Physical pain and suffering
• Emotional distress
• Loss of normal life

If your case goes to trial, the jury may also award punitive damages, meant to punish the perpetrator and school officials for their negligence. However, these are not guaranteed and are considered non-compensatory. 

How Long Do Victims Have to Take Legal Action in Illinois?

Illinois has abolished the statute of limitations for criminal child sexual abuse, meaning that survivors can make a claim at any time (720 ILCS 5/3-6(j)). There is also no statute of limitations for civil claims for child sexual assaults (735 ILCS 5/13-202.2). 

Lastly, the Illinois Tort Immunity Act has an exemption for child sexual abuse that eliminates the strict deadlines for these claims (745 ILCS 10/). This means that survivors can sue Chicago Public Schools, the Illinois Board of Education, and other public entities at any time.

Case law, such as Hobert v. Covenant Children’s Home, affirms that the extended statute of limitations applies to vicariously liable entities, making it possible to bring claims against other third parties even decades after the assault occurred. 

How Injury Lawyer Team Can Help

Sex abuse lawsuits can be emotionally draining and difficult for survivors, as they must recount these painful details and face their attacker in court. Additionally, these lawsuits can be hard to litigate if several decades have passed. 

Students, school officials, or teachers who could serve as eyewitnesses may have moved away, changed names, or died, requiring a thorough investigation to track them down. School records may also not have been digitized or may have been destroyed due to lax recordkeeping requirements.

Our skilled sexual abuse attorneys in Illinois can address these challenges to give you the best possible chance of fair compensation. We will review school records, interview students and other witnesses, and work with mental health practitioners who can attest to the tremendous harm that being sexually assaulted causes in a person’s life. 

We have earned our spot in the Million Dollar Advocates Forum through our aggressive negotiation, which has garnered over $450 million in settlements and successful verdicts. While many lawsuits settle out of court, we prepare every case as if it will go to trial, ensuring you the best chance of success. 

Throughout the process, we will protect your privacy and communicate with third parties on your behalf so that you can focus on healing. This trauma-informed approach empowers survivors to speak out while ensuring their safety. 

Injury Lawyer Team works on a contingency fee basis, meaning that our legal fees are deducted from your settlement. There is no cost to you unless we win your case. Schedule a free consultation with a caring school abuse attorney today.