Interlochen Center for the Arts is a prestigious boarding school and summer camp renowned for its intensive music, theater, dance, visual arts, creative writing, motion picture arts, and interdisciplinary arts programs. Since its founding in 1928, the picturesque campus has offered an enriching environment for talented students to develop their artistic skills. Many alums have excelled in their creative fields and won worldwide recognition.

The recent release of the Interlochen Center for the Arts Investigatory Report sent shockwaves across Michigan. Uncovering decades of sexual abuse, the report details systemic failures that allowed perpetrators to harm young artists without accountability.

Protecting Students by Enforcing School Accountability

School authorities, including teachers, counselors, and staff, have a legal duty to provide a safe environment for all students. This obligation includes conducting thorough background checks before hiring, ensuring proper supervision, and having clear policies and training on handling abuse allegations. When school authorities fail in these responsibilities or help silence victims, they become complicit in the abuse.

School authorities must ensure staff members receive adequate training to recognize, report, and prevent abuse. Inadequate supervision or lack of training can create environments where abuse can occur unchecked. Authorities must ensure victims feel safe to come forward and confident that their allegations will be taken seriously and handled with the utmost care.

School and camp authorities also have a legal and moral obligation to take immediate and appropriate action when abuse allegations are reported. Ignoring reports, failing to investigate thoroughly, or mishandling complaints can exacerbate the victim’s trauma and allow the abuser to continue harming others. By covering up these scandals, the organizations participate in further abusing the victims and creating a dangerous environment for others.

Our attorneys will:

• Conduct thorough investigations into how Interlochen Center for the Arts handled or mishandled complaints.
• File civil suits seeking compensation for medical costs, emotional injury, trauma, and other damages if your Statute of Limitations is intact or if the Michigan legislature reforms current laws.
• Guide clients through the legal process while preserving dignity, privacy, and trust.
• Work with respected experts when needed (medical, psychological, operations) to build a compelling legal case.

Our attorneys focus on both individual accountability and systemic institutional liability. We bring strength, sensitivity, and experience to your case.

Choose a Sommers Schwartz Sexual Abuse Lawyer

Sommers Schwartz attorneys Matthew G. Curtis and Lisa Esser-Weidenfeller vigorously represent survivors of sexual assault and misconduct, including those abused by Larry Nassar at Michigan State University. They will aggressively pursue your case seeking justice for you and can help you preserve your right to compensation.