Florida School Sexual Abuse Lawsuits

Financial Compensation for Victims Sexually Abused at Florida Schools

At Injury Lawyer Team, we represent survivors of sexual abuse who were harmed at public and private schools throughout Florida. Florida school sexual abuse lawsuits give our clients a path to hold negligent institutions accountable and obtain the compensation they deserve.

We know how devastating it is when a child suffers sexual abuse in a place that should be safe. Our firm is committed to fighting for justice, exposing institutional failures, and guiding families through every step of the legal process.

Notable Child Sexual Abuse Allegations Involving Florida Schools

Across Florida, school sexual abuse claims have exposed patterns of negligent hiring, lax supervision, and failures to report. Below are documented examples with names, dates, counts, outcomes, and (where available) verdicts or settlements.

Brownsville Middle

Former PE teacher Wendell “Kimo” Nibbs pled guilty in Jan. 2020. He was sentenced to 8 years in prison, followed by sex-offender probation. Separately, the Miami-Dade School Board paid ~$8.753M to five ex-students who alleged rape/assault (Title IX suit). Additional accusers later challenged dismissals on limitations grounds. These cases spotlight negligent supervision and failure to remove a known risk.

Downtown Miami Charter School

A Miami-Dade jury awarded $5.25 million (Apr. 2014) to a 10-year-old boy (“John Doe”) who was sexually abused by an older student. The claim centered on negligent supervision and failure to protect. Coverage and court-watch summaries identify the verdict amount and the school’s liability for foreseeable peer-on-peer abuse.

Hialeah-Miami Lakes High

In May 2025, English teacher Misael Gonzalez (55) was arrested and charged with unlawful sexual activity with a minor, lewd/lascivious battery, and related counts after police alleged a “romantic and sexual relationship” with a student. Officials signaled there may be additional victims. Proceedings are ongoing, civil exposure typically turns on prior notice and reporting practices.

Michael M. Krop High School

In Jan. 2019, biology teacher Diego Guzman Carranza (30) was arrested after police found him with a 14-year-old at an Airbnb. He faced lewd and lascivious charges. In a separate Dec. 2019 incident, a language arts teacher resigned amid allegations of inappropriate conduct with an (adult) student. These events fuel school sexual abuse claims focused on screening, supervision, and reporting.

Pinellas Preparatory Academy

In May–June 2025, third-grade teacher Lee Hughes (45) was arrested. A federal superseding indictment later added attempted enticement/coercion and receipt/possession of child exploitation material. 

Coverage notes that the school moved to strengthen safeguards post-arrest. Civil suits (if filed) typically examine hiring, monitoring, and electronic-contact policies. The case is pending in federal court.

Saint John Paul II Academy

Reports document allegations that former athletic director Brian Joseph Taylor sexually abused a student (circa 2002–2004), with references to other potential victims. He resigned in 2006. Advocacy pages summarize the history and potential diocesan exposure. Public sources do not show a confirmed civil verdict/settlement tied to those years.

South Dade High

On November 14, 2023, band director Scott Michael Davis (47) was arrested on charges including unlawful sexual activity with a minor and offenses by an authority figure. Police alleged a months-long relationship beginning in September. 

Separately, historic accounts around ex-teacher Tom Privett (in Terra High) suggest broader notice issues across programs. Civil exposure often turns on supervision and prior complaints.

Terra High

Former teacher Tom (Thomas) Privett, who also taught at South Dade, pleaded guilty (Nov. 17, 2021) to sexual battery of a student (conduct traced to 2016). Sentence: 2 years’ imprisonment, 2 years’ house arrest, and 20 years’ probation with sex-offender designation. Media coverage includes additional survivors describing prior misconduct.

South Tech Academy

Former teacher Damian Conti faced a criminal trial in June 2025. Contemporaneous reporting followed the proceedings. During August 14–15, 2025, the school reached a confidential civil settlement with the teen survivor days after a federal judge cleared the case for trial. The victim’s testimony detailed profound psychological harm and institutional failures.

St. Joseph Catholic School

On May 30, 2025, a survivor filed a $25 million clergy sexual abuse lawsuit alleging Fr. Robert “Bob” Hoeffner groomed and abused him (as a student) from 2012 to 2014, and that the Diocese of Orlando/school concealed reports. The filing followed Hoeffner’s death (Jan. 2024). Multiple outlets covered the announcement, and the case is pending.

These lawsuits show just how widespread and damaging school sexual abuse allegations have been in Florida. From public high schools to private academies and Catholic institutions, each case highlights a failure to protect students, supervise staff, or comply with mandatory reporting laws.

The Basis of Sexual Abuse Claims Under Florida Law

State law recognizes that schools have a legal duty to protect students from foreseeable harm, including sexual abuse. 

One of the most important statutes is Florida Statute § 1006.061, which requires public and private schools to immediately report any suspected child abuse, abandonment, or neglect to the Florida Department of Children and Families (DCF) or law enforcement.

This statute also requires schools to:

• Adopt and display clear policies explaining how and where to report suspected abuse.
• Train employees and volunteers on their mandatory reporting obligations.
• Take swift action to investigate or remove staff members accused of sexual misconduct against students.

When a school fails to comply with the statute, for example, by ignoring a report, concealing allegations, or allowing a suspected abuser continued access to children, this breach can form the basis of a claim.

Combined with claims for negligent hiring, negligent supervision, and inadequate security, this statute strengthens a survivor’s case by showing the school disregarded a specific legal duty designed to prevent sexual abuse of minors.

Title IX also applies to Florida public schools receiving federal funding. It prohibits sex-based discrimination, which includes sexual harassment and abuse, and creates additional avenues for civil liability.

Our firm helps former students and their families build strong claims against districts, schools, clergy, and administrators whose failures enabled sexual abuse in Florida schools.

Who Can Be Held Liable in a Civil Lawsuit Against a Florida School?

Under Florida state law, liability for sexual abuse in schools extends beyond the individual abuser. Districts, schools, administrators, and affiliated organizations can all be held accountable when their negligence creates a foreseeable risk of harm.

Public and private schools may face civil claims for negligent hiring, negligent supervision, inadequate security, and failure to report sexual misconduct. Principals, teachers, coaches, volunteers, and third-party vendors can also be named if they knew or should have known about the abuse.

By identifying every responsible party, our firm helps survivors pursue full compensation and hold all negligent institutions accountable in civil court.

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

Florida’s statute of limitations for sexual abuse is contained in § 95.11, and it gives survivors much more time than most other types of claims. Two key subsections cover sexual abuse of minors:

• § 95.11(8) – Intentional Torts Based on Abuse: Survivors can file a claim up to 7 years after reaching age 18, or 4 years after leaving the dependency of the abuser, or 4 years from discovering the injury and its link to the abuse, whichever is later.
• § 95.11(10) – Specified Offenses on Victims Under Age 16: When the victim was under 16 at the time of the sexual abuse, survivors may file at any time. This effectively removes the statute of limitations for many childhood sexual abuse cases as long as the claim wasn’t already time-barred before July 1, 2010.

Because Florida’s statute of limitations rules are complex and depend on your age when the abuse happened, your discovery of the harm, and legislative changes, it’s crucial to consult our law firm immediately.

We review each case individually, preserve evidence, and ensure you don’t miss your chance to obtain compensation in civil court.

What Damages Can Victims Recover in a Civil Case?

When a child suffers sexual abuse at a school in Florida, the harm goes far beyond the immediate trauma. Under state law, survivors can bring a civil sexual abuse lawsuit to recover compensation for the full range of losses they’ve endured.

Our firm carefully documents every impact of the abuse to ensure our clients receive the maximum recovery allowed by law.

Types of Damages Available

• Medical Expenses: Hospital visits, surgeries, medications, and ongoing health care linked to the abuse.
• Therapy and Psychological Care: Long-term counseling, PTSD treatment, and other mental health support to address emotional and psychological distress.
• Educational and Career Losses: Compensation for lost opportunities, diminished earning capacity, or time out of school caused by the abuse.
• Pain and Suffering: Non-economic damages for the intense emotional distress and physical trauma associated with sexual acts, repeated sexual abuse, and betrayal of trust.
• Loss of Enjoyment of Life: Damages for the long-term disruption of normal childhood experiences, relationships, and personal development.
• Punitive Damages: When a school district, school, or administrator shows gross negligence or deliberate indifference, the court may award punitive damages to punish and deter such conduct.

Our attorneys have experience investigating school sexual abuse and working with expert witnesses to prove both economic and non-economic losses. By building a clear, evidence-backed picture of how the abuse happened, we help survivors achieve justice and rebuild their lives.

If you or a family member suffered sexual abuse in Florida, our free, confidential consultation can help you understand the damages you may be entitled to recover.

Why You Need Legal Representation

School sexual abuse cases are among the most complex civil lawsuits in Florida. Survivors and their families face powerful districts, schools, and insurers that work hard to minimize or deny responsibility.

These cases often involve multiple defendants, decades-old evidence, sealed records, and strict statute of limitations rules. Without experienced representation, it can be difficult to prove negligent hiring, negligent supervision, inadequate security, or failure to report.

At Injury Lawyer Team, we handle every stage of the process so our clients can focus on healing. Our services include:

• Comprehensive investigations into how the abuse occurred and who can be held liable.
• Gathering evidence and witness testimony to prove negligence and civil liability in civil court.
• Working with experts in psychology, security, and education to document emotional distress and long-term harm.
• Navigating the statute of limitations under Florida state law to ensure your claim is timely.
• Negotiating with insurers or litigating in court to secure maximum compensation.

Contact Our Law Firm for a Free Consultation

If you or a loved one suffered sexual abuse in Florida, you are not alone. Our law firm offers a free and confidential consultation to explain your rights, review your case, and map out the best path to seeking justice. We work on a contingency fee basis, meaning you pay nothing unless we win your case.

Contact us today to speak with a compassionate attorney who understands sexual misconduct cases and is ready to help you hold negligent schools, staff, administrators, and other responsible parties accountable.

All content undergoes thorough legal review by experienced attorneys, including Jonathan Rosenfeld. With 25 years of experience in personal injury law and over 100 years of combined legal expertise within our team, we ensure that every article is legally accurate, compliant, and reflects current legal standards.