Whetstone Academy Sexual Abuse Lawsuits

Compensation for Victims of Sexual Abuse at Whetstone Academy 

Many parents decide to send their children to boarding schools in South Carolina. Unfortunately, there have been numerous cases of sexual abuse at these types of institutions, including Whetstone Academy. If you have been victimized at this school, you can hold the at-fault parties accountable with a Whetstone Academy sexual abuse lawsuit. 

Injury Lawyer Team is an experienced firm that can help you establish liability and prove legal damages for a better chance at a settlement. We maintain a 98% success rate with our clients, including those who have filed boarding school sexual abuse lawsuits. 

Sexual Assault Allegations Against the Upstate Boarding School

Whetstone Academy is a boarding school located in Mountain Rest, SC, in the upstate region. It is considered a therapeutic boarding school, which means it integrates academics with mental health treatment for students with behavioral challenges. Despite this calling, some students who attended Whetstone Academy have made allegations of sexual abuse and negligence. 

Let’s look at some of the lawsuits filed against this school that involved sexual misconduct. 

Lawsuit Filed Against SC Boarding School Employee Repeatedly Abused a Teen With Special Needs

As reported by News Channel 6, a teen with special needs who attended Whetstone Academy between 2018 and 2020 was frequently sexually assaulted and raped by an employee during his stay. The parents of the victim (referred to as John and Jane Doe) sued the parent company of Whetstone Academy for failing to protect their child from sexual abuse. 

Initially, they had filed a lawsuit against the school and received a confidential settlement; however, they hoped to enact broader changes by also targeting the parent company. Once the school was informed that the victim had been sexually assaulted, the employee was terminated immediately. 

John Doe told their lawyer they decided not to file a report with the local South Carolina law enforcement because they did not trust the officers in the small, insular community. 

Federal Lawsuit Claims the Therapeutic Boarding School Failed to Protect Student From Sexual Abuse

A young boy began attending the Oconee County school in the fall of 2024. He allegedly wrote letters to his family, which seemed to indicate he was experiencing increasing anxiety. He wrote about being forced to use an outdoor toilet, and by mid-October, he informed his parents he was wetting the bed again. 

Eventually, when his parents visited the facility for Thanksgiving, he told them that another child had sexually abused him. 

According to the federal lawsuit, the supervisors failed to provide oversight at night, which allowed the other student to take advantage of the victim. 

The mother and father reported the allegations to the South Carolina Department of Social Services on behalf of their son, which initiated a law enforcement investigation into the lawsuit claims. According to the report by Fox News, the staff fully cooperated with the investigation in response to the allegations. 

Rather than providing a safe and nurturing environment for young people with close supervision, this federal lawsuit indicates that there is a pattern of sexual assault and negligence at Whetstone Academy. 

Who Can Be Held Liable for Sexual Abuse at a Residential Treatment Facility?

When pursuing a sexual abuse lawsuit against residential treatment facilities, it is important to establish liability for the misconduct. 

In many cases, the individual abuser is not the only liable party:

• Residential staff members
• Licensed clinicians
• Security personnel
• Other students
• Teachers
• School administrators
• Whetstone Academy
• The parent company
• State agencies

What Damages Can Sexually Abused Victims Recover?

Filing a sexual abuse lawsuit against a school can be an overwhelming process, but the reward is often worth the effort. You can seek justice against the at-fault parties while also pursuing compensation for legal damages caused by the abuse.

Here are some common legal damages included in lawsuits involving victims who were sexually assaulted or abused:

Economic Damages

• Lost wages
• Diminished earning capacity
• Medical expenses
• Future medical bills

Non-Economic Damages

• Emotional distress
• Pain and suffering
• Disability and disfigurement
• Loss of enjoyment of life

Punitive Damages

Cases involving gross negligence or intentional misconduct may lead to additional compensation for the victim, typically intended to penalize the defendant further. 

How Long Do Survivors Have to Take Legal Action in South Carolina?

According to S.C. Code Ann. §15-3-555, child sexual abuse survivors can pursue legal action within six years of turning 21 or within three years of discovering the effects of the abuse, whichever comes later.

Note that it is important to consider legal action as quickly as possible if you hope to hold the upstate boarding school accountable for your abuse. Delaying your lawsuit will make it far more difficult to obtain evidence that helps you establish liability. 

How Injury Lawyer Team Can Help

Whether you are suing an individual at the Mountain Rest school or the institution as a whole, you may encounter some challenges during the legal process. A lack of compelling evidence, institutional cover-ups, a lack of transparency within the school, and vast resources for the defendant could diminish your hopes of obtaining compensation.

At Injury Lawyer Team, we can help you fight for every dollar you deserve from the South Carolina boarding school. Our legal services include:

• Filing your lawsuit in court
• Investigating allegations of abuse
• Assessing all damages for legal claims
• Gathering evidence from the facility
• Working with local authorities
• Negotiating for fair compensation from the insurance company
• Litigating in civil court if necessary

Book a Free Consultation

If you suffered from sexual misconduct as a teenager at Whetstone Academy, you have the right to seek justice for your suffering. Our attorneys will provide a compassionate and safe space for you to tell your story. We believe in upholding your rights under state laws, enabling you to fight for a fair settlement. 

Attorneys at Injury Lawyer Team work on a contingency fee basis. This means you don’t pay a cent unless we win your case, and our payment is deducted directly from the settlement. If you want to know more about sexual abuse lawsuits, contact us today at 866-757-6452 to schedule a free consultation with our top attorneys.