Portsmouth Abbey School sits on a 525-acre campus along Narragansett Bay in Portsmouth, Rhode Island. Founded in 1926 by the English Benedictine Congregation, the school draws students from across the country to its campus less than 30 minutes south of Providence. For decades, the school built a reputation as one of the country’s elite Catholic boarding schools. But behind that reputation, survivors have come forward with accounts of sexual abuse that the school’s own investigation confirmed. If you attended Portsmouth Abbey and were abused, you are not alone, and what happened to you was not your fault. Rhode Island’s new law may give you a path to justice you did not have before.

Table of Contents

• What Happened at Portsmouth Abbey School: The 2017 Investigation and Its Findings
• How Rhode Island’s New Child Sexual Abuse Law (H-7200A / S-2616A) Affects Portsmouth Abbey Survivors
• Why Institutions Like Portsmouth Abbey Can Be Held Legally Responsible
• The Broader Pattern of Institutional Sexual Abuse in Rhode Island’s Private Schools
• What Portsmouth Abbey Survivors Should Do Before the Revival Window Closes
• FAQs About Portsmouth Abbey School Sexual Abuse Claims

What Happened at Portsmouth Abbey School: The 2017 Investigation and Its Findings

Portsmouth Abbey, a private Catholic school owned and operated by Benedictine monks, contracted its own independent investigation and released the results in August 2017. That report found credible allegations of sexual abuse against two monks: Father Bede Gorman and Father Geoffrey Chase.

According to the letter the school sent to its community, the investigation by New York firm Debevoise and Plimpton found “credible allegations” of “sexual abuse by two former members of the Monastery,” with the known instances of abuse taking place “between 1959 and the early 1980s.”

The report also found complaints against the monks from the 1970s that were never referred to legal authorities. That failure to report is one of the most painful parts of this story. Survivors came forward, and the institution did not act. Adults in positions of authority knew or should have known what was happening, and they chose to protect the school’s reputation rather than protect the children in their care.

In December 2020, a former student filed a federal lawsuit against Portsmouth Abbey School and a former teacher, alleging the teacher sexually abused her between 2012 and 2014 starting when she was 15 years old. The lawsuit alleged the school failed to investigate and end the misconduct, engaged in a coverup, and took steps to prevent her from filing a timely lawsuit.

The pattern at Portsmouth Abbey mirrors what investigators found across Rhode Island’s private and Catholic school systems, where institutions repeatedly prioritized their own image over the safety of students. Incidents were allegedly covered up and law enforcement was never notified. That silence caused real harm, and survivors deserve to have that harm acknowledged in a court of law.

How Rhode Island’s New Child Sexual Abuse Law (H-7200A / S-2616A) Affects Portsmouth Abbey Survivors

On June 11, 2026, Rhode Island Governor Dan McKee signed legislation giving survivors of childhood sexual abuse a new opportunity to pursue civil claims that would otherwise be permanently closed. This is a significant change in the law, and it directly affects anyone who was abused at Portsmouth Abbey.

Governor McKee signed legislation amending the statute of limitations for child victim claims of sexual abuse and creating a two-year window for victims to bring otherwise time-barred claims against institutions and supervisors accused of enabling or covering up sexual abuse. That means the school itself, its administrators, and the monastic order that operates it can all potentially be named as defendants, not just individual abusers.

The new law establishes a two-year civil “revival window” that opens from July 1, 2026 to June 30, 2028. During this 24-month period, survivors can file civil suits even if the statute of limitations on their claims had previously expired. For survivors who believed their window had permanently closed, this is a real second chance.

The law also changes the rules going forward. Future claims must be filed by whichever date is later: either 35 years from the date of the abusive act, or seven years from when the survivor first discovers or reasonably connects their adult injuries to the childhood abuse. The statute of limitations begins running when the survivor turns 18. Many survivors do not connect their adult struggles to childhood abuse until years later, and this provision acknowledges that reality.

The case that was ruled time-barred and dismissed in 2024, Jane Doe v. Order of Saint Benedict, is exactly the kind of situation this law was designed to address. Under the new revival window, survivors who faced similar dismissals may now have grounds to refile. Speaking with a sexual assault lawyer who understands the new law’s scope is the best first step you can take.

Why Institutions Like Portsmouth Abbey Can Be Held Legally Responsible

Survivors often wonder whether they can hold a school or religious order accountable, not just an individual abuser. The answer under Rhode Island law is yes. The new law specifically targets institutions and organizations such as churches, schools, youth programs, healthcare facilities, and sports leagues, as well as supervisors.

A school like Portsmouth Abbey has a legal duty to protect the students in its care. When school administrators receive complaints about misconduct and fail to report those complaints to law enforcement, they breach that duty. The 2017 investigation confirmed that complaints existed in the 1970s and were not referred to authorities. That failure is not just a moral wrong. It is the kind of institutional negligence that Rhode Island law now allows survivors to pursue in civil court.

Institutions can also be liable when they enable abuse through their hiring and supervision decisions. Placing a known abuser in a residential setting with students, or allowing someone with a history of complaints to continue working with minors, creates the conditions for harm. When that harm occurs, the institution shares responsibility. This is true whether the abuser was a monk, a lay teacher, or any other adult in a position of authority over students.

In 2023, the Rhode Island Supreme Court ruled that a 2019 law only applied to suits against individual perpetrators, not the institutions or supervisors who enabled them. The 2026 law (H-7200A / S-2616A) was written specifically to close that gap. Survivors who were previously blocked from suing Portsmouth Abbey as an institution now have a direct legal path to do so during the revival window.

Working with an experienced sexual assault attorney who handles institutional abuse claims is critical. These cases involve complex questions about what the institution knew, when it knew it, and what steps it failed to take. The attorneys at Sommers Schwartz have the experience to investigate those questions and build a case on your behalf.

The Broader Pattern of Institutional Sexual Abuse in Rhode Island’s Private Schools

Portsmouth Abbey does not stand alone. Abuse at elite private and Catholic schools across Rhode Island reflects a broader pattern of institutional failure that the Rhode Island Attorney General’s 2026 investigation documented in detail. The push for the new law was closely tied to a 284-page report released in March 2026 by Rhode Island Attorney General Peter Neronha. The report documented more than 300 survivors of abuse within the Diocese of Providence and identified 75 clergy members with credible allegations of sexual misconduct dating back to 1950. It also outlined how the Diocese allegedly concealed that abuse for decades.

The Attorney General’s report identified multiple Rhode Island schools where accused clergy served, including La Salle Academy in Providence, Mount Saint Charles Academy in Woonsocket, St. Raphael Academy in Pawtucket, and Bishop Hendricken High School in Warwick. The institutional failures documented across these schools share common threads: complaints that were not reported to police, abusers who were quietly reassigned or allowed to resign, and survivors who were left without support or acknowledgment.

At Portsmouth Abbey, the Benedictine monastic structure gave monks extraordinary access to students in a residential setting. Students lived on campus, often far from home, and depended on the monks for daily supervision, pastoral care, and guidance. That level of access and trust created conditions that abusers exploited. The same dynamic appears in documented abuse cases at other Rhode Island boarding and parochial schools, where the authority structure of the institution made it easier for abuse to occur and harder for survivors to report it.

If you were a student at Portsmouth Abbey or any other Rhode Island private or parochial school and experienced abuse, your experience fits within a well-documented pattern. A sexual abuse lawyer at Sommers Schwartz can review your situation and explain what legal options are available to you right now.

What Portsmouth Abbey Survivors Should Do Before the Revival Window Closes

The revival window created by H-7200A / S-2616A is open now, but it will not stay open. All time-barred claims must be filed by June 30, 2028, or they may be forever barred. That gives survivors a defined period to act, and waiting reduces the time available to build the strongest possible case.

The first step is reaching out to an attorney who handles childhood sexual abuse claims in Rhode Island. You do not need to have police reports, court documents, or any specific evidence in hand before you make that call. What matters is that you share what happened to you. Your attorney will investigate the institutional record, identify what the school knew and when, and determine the best legal strategy for your specific situation.

Many survivors worry about privacy. Rhode Island courts allow survivors to file civil lawsuits anonymously as Jane Doe or John Doe plaintiffs, which means your identity can be protected throughout the legal process. You can pursue accountability without your name becoming public. Concerns about cost are also common. Sommers Schwartz handles sexual abuse cases on a contingency basis, meaning you pay no fees unless your case results in a recovery.

You may also wonder whether it matters that the abusers named in the 2017 report are deceased or seriously ill. Civil claims against the institution, the monastic order, and supervisors who failed to act do not depend on the individual abuser being alive or available for prosecution. The school’s legal responsibility for what happened on its campus and under its supervision can still be pursued.

Healing looks different for every survivor. Some people pursue legal action as part of their recovery. Others do it to create accountability and prevent future harm. Whatever your reason for coming forward, Sommers Schwartz is ready to listen without judgment and help you understand your rights. Call us today to speak with someone who will take your experience seriously.

FAQs About Portsmouth Abbey School Sexual Abuse Claims

Can I still file a lawsuit against Portsmouth Abbey School if the abuse happened decades ago?

Yes. Rhode Island’s new law, H-7200A / S-2616A, signed by Governor Dan McKee on June 11, 2026, and effective July 1, 2026, creates a two-year revival window that runs through June 30, 2028. During that window, survivors can file civil claims against institutions and supervisors even if the statute of limitations on their claim had previously expired. If you were abused at Portsmouth Abbey at any point in the past, this window may apply to your case. Contact Sommers Schwartz to find out.

Does the new Rhode Island law allow me to sue the school itself, not just the individual abuser?

Yes. The 2026 law was specifically written to allow claims against institutions and supervisors who enabled or covered up abuse. This directly addresses a gap left by a 2023 Rhode Island Supreme Court ruling that had limited earlier legislation to claims against individual perpetrators only. Portsmouth Abbey School and the Order of Saint Benedict, as the operating institution, can potentially be named as defendants in a civil claim during the revival window.

What if I filed a lawsuit before and it was dismissed as time-barred?

The revival window may give you grounds to refile. A case that was dismissed because it fell outside the old statute of limitations could potentially be brought again during the two-year window that runs from July 1, 2026, through June 30, 2028. Every situation is different, so the best thing to do is speak with an attorney at Sommers Schwartz who can review your prior case and advise you on whether refiling is an option.

Will my name become public if I file a lawsuit against Portsmouth Abbey?

Not necessarily. Rhode Island courts permit survivors of sexual abuse to file civil lawsuits under a pseudonym, such as Jane Doe or John Doe. This protects your identity throughout the legal process. Keeping your name confidential does not prevent you from pursuing your claim fully. Sommers Schwartz can explain how anonymous filing works and whether it is the right approach for your situation.

What does it cost to speak with Sommers Schwartz about a Portsmouth Abbey abuse claim?

There is no cost to speak with us. Sommers Schwartz handles sexual abuse cases on a contingency fee basis, which means you pay no attorney fees unless your case results in a recovery. Your initial consultation is completely confidential. You can share your story, ask questions, and learn about your legal options without any financial obligation or pressure to move forward before you are ready.

More Resources About School Abuse

• Rhode Island Private & Boarding School Abuse
• Rhode Island Parochial & Catholic School Abuse
• St. George’s School, Middletown *
• La Salle Academy, Providence *
• Mount Saint Charles Academy, Woonsocket *
• Bishop Hendricken High School, Warwick *