Maryland School Sexual Abuse Lawsuit

Compensation for Victims of Child Sexual Abuse in Maryland Schools

If you have been the victim of molestation at an educational institution, Injury Lawyer Team is here to help you file a Maryland school sexual abuse lawsuit. We are highly familiar with the sensitive nature of these cases and take an empowering, trauma-informed approach to litigation. Contact us today to learn more about our services and take the first step toward justice. 

Child Sexual Abuse at Schools in Maryland

Multiple educational institutions throughout Maryland have been accused of failing to protect students from predatory faculty members, leading to hundreds of victims across the state. In some cases, the abuse occurred decades ago, while other sex abuse cases are more recent. 

McDonogh School (Baltimore County)

A number of Baltimore County school sexual abuse lawsuits have been filed against the McDonogh School, a private school that caters to students from prekindergarten to 12th grade. In March 2025, over a dozen former students came forward to accuse former Spanish teacher Robert Creed and former dean Alvin Levy of sexual misconduct. 

Investigative reports released by McDonogh School found that at least five faculty members had abused over two dozen students. Levy and Creed sexually abused 19 men between the 1940s and 1980s. 

One victim was only 10 years old when he was assaulted by the dean while alone at the facility during the weekends. Levy was indicted on a sexual abuse charge in 1991, but he died before the case was completed. 

Robert Creed abused at least a dozen men between 1940 and 1980. Sadly, many of the allegations were reported to the school, but the Board of Trustees refused to investigate and instead protected the abusers from any consequences. 

An additional three former teachers allegedly sexually assaulted five female students between the 1970s and 1980s. 

Calvert Hall College High School (Baltimore County)

The 2023 Maryland Attorney General’s Report on abuse in the Archdiocese of Baltimore prominently featured Calvert Hall employees, initiating a flurry of Baltimore clergy sexual abuse lawsuits. 

According to lawsuits filed by 19 men, the abuse occurred between 1969 and 1990, both on school grounds and in private residences. 

The perpetrators included the following. 

• Rev. Francis “Father Fran” LeFevre: Having held multiple positions in the church, LeFevre targeted grade-school altar boys in the churches where he worked. He then moved to Calvert Hall to continue abusing these children, who were unable to avoid him. LeFevre is believed to live in New Jersey. 
• Rev. Jerome “Father Jeff” Toohey: Toohey owned a private residence across the street from the school and would invite students to spend time with him there. He had a reputation for being “touchy-feely” with students and was reprimanded several times for such close contact, but was never removed from service, even after two boys complained about him in 1990. Toohey pleaded guilty to child abuse in 2004 and is believed to still live in Baltimore County. 
• Rev. Laurence Brett: According to one of the named victims, Christopher “Kit” Bateman, he was groped by Father Brett during confession in 1973. Brett’s abusive behavior was known to the archdiocese before he was brought to the academy, as he had previous allegations against him in multiple other states. He cultivated a group of students called “Brett’s Mavericks,” many of whom were then molested. Brett died in 2010. 
• Brother Geoffrey Xavier Langan: Known as “Brother Squeeze-ums” due to his inappropriate behavior with the boys, Langan was overt about his inappropriate contact with children. In 1975, Langan asked a then-13-year-old victim to help him carry boxes to a secluded area, where he then sexually abused the child. One teacher, who later became the principal, walked in on Langan perpetrating sex abuse on one young student, but refused to do anything about it. Langan died in 1985 without ever facing justice. 
• An unnamed science teacher: This teacher abused students in the science lab. Sometime between 1982 and 1983, he molested a boy, who complained to the school about the incident. Instead of removing the teacher from service, administrators moved the boy to a different class and refused to reprimand the teacher. 

Around the same time, a woman sued Calvert Hall for failing to protect her from Brother Donald Dimitroff, who lived and worked at the facility between the early 1990s and 2002. Dimitriff offered the girl private tutoring lessons, where they would be left alone in a classroom. 

On at least four occasions, Dimitriff insisted that he needed to physically examine her to prove that she wasn’t a boy, then proceeded to molest her. 

Gilman School (Baltimore City)

Gilman School in Baltimore City has been the target of multiple allegations. First, two Gilman School employees were accused of abusing students in a 2021 report commissioned by the school itself. Former science teacher and baseball coach Dr. Martin Melroy sexually abused at least 13 students at his Baltimore County home during the 1990s. 

Thomas Offut, an employee and member of a prominent business family, abused at least seven students between 1954 and 1956. However, the abuse did not end with these two individuals. 

In February 2023, Chris Bendann, a former teacher at the Roland Park facility, was indicted on 16 counts of sexual abuse, rape, and other offenses involving a minor. According to Baltimore sexual abuse lawsuits filed against Bendann, he worked at this private all-boys school between 2007 and 2022, but the alleged molestation happened between 2016 and 2019. 

One of his victims was forced to masturbate on camera in Bendann’s car, and the resulting child sexual abuse material was used to blackmail him into silence. Bendann also cyberstalked the boy after he graduated and went to college, demanding that he comply with Bendann’s demands or he would show the explicit material to the victim’s loved ones. 

Bendann was found guilty on all charges related to the sexual abuse in 2024. According to prosecutors, he showed no remorse for his actions, and in fact held a press conference in front of the court where he claimed that his former employer was slandering him. In addition to this, he insisted that all the victims were lying about the abuse they endured and were manipulated into providing false testimony. 

The Talmudical Academy (Baltimore County)

This Baltimore County Jewish Orthodox school has been the target of boarding school sexual abuse lawsuits alleging gross negligence on behalf of administrators. In April 2025, a survivor filed a lawsuit for molestation that occurred between 1971 and 1974, when the victim was between 14 and 17 years old.

Rabbi Ephraim Shapiro, a dormitory counselor, used his position of authority to assault and abuse the child. Shapiro had been previously accused of child sexual abuse in the 1960s, but the school rehired him in the 1970s despite knowing his history. Shapiro had unfettered access to the children while in their dormitories, and the isolated location of the facility meant that victims could not escape. 

Tragically, the school allowed the child to be revictimized through negligent supervision. They allowed the boy to hitchhike to the nearby town for groceries, where the driver allegedly raped him. According to the unnamed victim, the Talmudical Academy stated that hitchhiking was the preferred mode of transit, even if the child was unaccompanied. 

Shapiro retired from the academy in 1982 and died seven years later at the age of 72. The Talmudical Academy noted in its press releases that the allegations are not against any current faculty. 

Northeast High School (Anne Arundel County)

Karl Houston Walls, a former teacher at Northeast High School, was charged with sexually abusing two students during his tenure at the facility. Walls worked as a special education teacher and a coach at the school. 

He solicited child pornography from the victims and also made sexual contact with them, sometimes on school grounds. Walls texted them sexually explicit messages and photos while pressuring them to have sexual contact with him. 

In one incident that took place outside of the high school, Walls held a knife up to the victim and asked if he should use it. The Anne Arundel County school system sent a message to its parents that Walls was removed from a position where he could have contact with children, though it is not clear whether he was fired. 

Walt Whitman High School (Montgomery County)

In June 2022, Kirkland Shipley pleaded guilty to charges of sexually abusing one student and possessing child pornography of another. 

The Department of Justice stated that Shipley abused a female student on at least two occasions between May 2014 and June 2018. He served as the high school’s rowing coach and served as the girl’s coach from her sophomore to senior year. During her sophomore year, he began texting her about rowing, but then steered the conversation toward more personal and intimate topics. 

Shipley’s inappropriate behavior continued throughout her time on the rowing team until it culminated in two sexual assaults during her senior year. Shipley picked her up from the school and brought her to her home in northern DC, where he raped her. 

This was not Shipley’s first instance of sexual abuse. He also had a sexual relationship with another student, who was on the rowing team between 2009 and 2013. She had a class with him in her junior year, when he started messaging her on Google Chat to talk about rowing. 

Just as with his later victim, Shipley slowly steered the conversation toward personal and sexual matters, a classic case of grooming. In July 2013, when the girl was 17 and had graduated from Walt Whitman, Shipley brought her to his private residence and had sex with her. He kept explicit images of the two of them on his personal devices. 

In September 2022, the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia announced that Shipley was sentenced to three years in prison with two years of supervised probation. He will have to register as a sex offender for life. 

Key School (Anne Arundel County)

Key School became the focus of multiple private school sexual abuse lawsuits after a 2019 investigation found a “toxic culture” of sexual abuse throughout the 1970s. At least 10 faculty members were involved in grooming, assaulting, and exploiting female students. 

According to reports, the teachers would prey on vulnerable students who came from disadvantaged backgrounds or had little family support. Eric Dennard, an art teacher at the school between 1969 and 1978, began abusing one girl when she was only 13. 

At first, the sexual contact was non-violent, but then he forcibly raped her. When she became pregnant at 14, another staff member who was also abusing her took her to get an abortion. Dennard later married one of his victims, who claimed that he admitted to molesting at least 25 girls. Dennard died in 1993, and one of his victims spoke out at his funeral but was ignored. 

Tragically, the school was aware of the incidents but took no action to protect students, not even removing the offending teachers from their positions. 

Paul Stoneham, a head of Key School’s upper school for older students who worked at the facility from 1969 to 2015, participated in and covered up the sexual abuse claims. One student stated that he had exposed himself to her and forcibly tried to kiss her while giving her a ride home. 

Stoneham and Dennard colluded on their sexual abuse. The student whom Stoneham exposed himself to said that the next day, Dennard told her that she should let Stoneham have sex with her because she was too ugly for anyone else to want her. Another victim informed Stoneham of the abuse, and he dismissively told her that he “had eyes” and was aware of it, but would do nothing to protect her. 

W.C. Moffett School (Queen Anne’s County)

Russell Isaac was arrested in December 2018 for raping two students during the 1960s, when he served as a principal for the school. The girls, who were 14 and 15 respectively, were assaulted on school grounds. 

Investigators believe there may be additional victims who have not yet come forward. Anyone with information about sexual abuse by Isaac or any other employee of W.C. Moffett School is encouraged to come forward. 

What Is the Maryland Child Victims Act?

The Maryland Child Victims Act enables survivors to bring civil lawsuits based on alleged abuse that happened decades ago. The Maryland Supreme Court upheld the MCVA in the case Archbishop of Washington v. Doe. The CVA also provides an unlimited lookback period, where victims can bring claims against any perpetrator, no matter how much time has passed. 

However, new laws have been passed to diminish the amount of compensation that victims can receive for sexual abuse claims brought against government agencies.

The City of Baltimore put a stay on new child sexual abuse lawsuits in June 2025 after being inundated with over 1,300 cases filed after the MCVA was passed. It’s not known when new cases can be filed in the city. 

Statute of Limitations

The Child Victims Act allows survivors to file lawsuits regardless of how much time has passed (§5–117). However, if you intend to pursue legal action against public Maryland schools or another government agency, there may still be statutes of limitations (§5–117).

If the victim is now deceased and the claim would have been time-barred before October 1, 2023, the next of kin cannot file a claim (§5–117).

Caps on Non-Economic Damages

House Bill 1378, passed on April 22, 2025, reduces the amount of non-economic financial compensation that survivors can receive, lowering it from $1.5 million. The new law imposes a $700,000 cap for any single filer, and it also caps the non-economic damages against a public entity at $400,000. 

It is important to note that these caps are for cases that go to trial. It is possible to receive higher damages if your case settles out of court during negotiations with the district. 

What Damages Can Former Students Recover in Civil Lawsuits?

A variety of damages may be awarded in school sexual abuse lawsuits, including: 

• Medical expenses
• Lost wages and loss of future income
• Therapy and psychological counseling
• Physical pain and suffering
• Psychological harm and emotional trauma
• Loss of normal life

Who Can Be Held Liable for Childhood Sexual Abuse in Maryland Schools?

Our experienced team of sexual abuse attorneys investigates all claims brought against schools to identify all potentially liable parties. Some potential defendants include:

• Individual Perpetrator: Whether this is a school employee or another student, the perpetrator is typically the first individual named in a lawsuit. 
• Other School Employees: Any educator who knows that a child is being sexually abused is legally obligated to report the abuse. If they failed to do so, they can be liable.
• School Officials: If school officials failed to take appropriate action to protect students, such as removing the teacher from the grounds, then they are also liable.
• Property Owners: The school may not own the grounds, or it may be property of the municipality. We can go after both private and public property owners for failing to provide a safe environment.
• Employers: If a third-party contractor was responsible for the sexual abuse, we can pursue damages from their employer. We can also pursue damages from the school itself.
• Administrators and School Districts: Public school assaults may also implicate the given school district for failing to supervise their properties properly. 

In some cases, particularly in cases that happened years ago, the perpetrator themselves may have passed away. However, we can still file a civil case against those who knew about what was happening but failed to intervene. 

How Injury Lawyer Team Can Help

Child sexual abuse claims are challenging due to the sensitive nature of the complaints and the fact that many survivors do not disclose until they are adults. If the abuse occurred years or decades prior, key evidence may have been lost, and witnesses may be difficult to find. 

Our team is a member of the National Association of Personal Injury Attorneys, renowned for our incredible attention to detail and strong investigative skills. When you work with us, you can expect comprehensive, trauma-informed legal representation that includes the following elements. 

• Case Evaluation: To begin, we must demonstrate that your case meets the legal standards. While a civil lawsuit has a lower burden of proof than a criminal case, we will identify whether there is enough evidence to pursue a case. We will also assess what damages you may be able to receive. 
• Investigation: Even if your case occurred many years ago, we will thoroughly review all available records to uncover the truth. This evidence can include medical records, school records, communication between perpetrators and victims, employment records, police reports, and psychological investigations. 
• Trauma-Informed Witness Interviews: Your narrative, and those of fellow victims, play a key role in a sexual abuse claim. We adhere to the highest standards of confidentiality and supportive interviewing to ensure that you leave the interview feeling empowered, not afraid. 
• Expert Witnesses: Expert witnesses bolster your argument and demonstrate the significant impact that trauma has had on your life. We have a network of psychologists, therapists, and medical professionals who can provide their impartial testimony. 
• Negotiation: We always push for the highest possible compensation in these cases. Using the evidence we have gathered, we will demonstrate why you are entitled to all available damages. 
• Trial Representation: While many cases settle out of court, we prepare each case for trial in case we need to file a civil lawsuit. We are members of the National Trial Lawyers Association, recognized for our exceptional courtroom track record. 

We will protect your privacy and help you heal through legal action, ensuring that you can move forward with confidence and hold perpetrators accountable. If necessary, we can file your claim under a pseudonym, such as John Doe, to ensure that you are not harassed by the perpetrators during the legal proceedings. We will also identify other potential victims to strengthen your case. 

Our firm works on a contingency fee basis: no fees unless we win. 

Settlements Recovered by Our Experienced Attorneys

Our compassionate attorneys are members of the Million Dollar Advocates Forum, having secured over $450 million in settlements and verdicts over the past 25 years. These are just some of the many sexual abuse cases we have successfully litigated for our clients.

• $15,000,000: Several boys were groomed and molested by a private school coach, who abused his position of trust to get them alone. Other students knew that the abuse occurred and told school administrators, but these faculty members did nothing.
• $2,500,000: A defrocked priest sexually assaulted a young boy multiple times, threatening him with physical harm if he told anyone. The abuse occurred on Church-owned property, but the local archdiocese refused to act. It was only years later that the victim came forward with his story, only to be repeatedly ignored by Church officials. 
• $1,000,000: As a child, a man was sexually abused at an after-school daycare that was on school property. The abuse happened multiple times and continued even after he complained. Teachers ignored his complaints, and he suffered from a substance abuse disorder due to the severe trauma. 

Book a Free and Confidential Consultation

Sexual abuse lawsuits require the utmost sensitivity and care. Our compassionate attorneys are committed to seeking justice for child sexual abuse victims, empowering them to share their stories and receive fair financial compensation. 

We work on a contingency fee basis, meaning you owe us nothing unless we earn compensation for you. Contact us today for a free consultation and take the first step toward healing.