Michigan School Sexual Abuse Attorneys

Experienced Michigan Attorneys Fight for Survivors of Sexual Abuse in Michigan’s Public and Private Schools

Michigan is home to over 1,000 public school districts, hundreds of private schools for K-12 students, and over a dozen colleges and universities. Students enrolled in these institutions all share one belief: School is a safe place to be.

For those sexually harassed or abused at school, however, school is anything but safe. Sexual abuse causes longstanding harm. It deprives a student of the ability to focus on learning and impacts their ability to move forward in life.

Sexual abuse is a crime in Michigan. Those who suffer its consequences, however, don’t have to rely solely on the criminal justice system for help. If you’ve been harmed by sexual abuse in a Michigan school, you may be able to file a civil lawsuit to seek compensation. Speak to the experienced Michigan sexual abuse attorneys at Sommers Schwartz, P.C. to learn more. 

New Michigan Laws Expand Opportunities for Survivors to Seek Justice

In 2025, Governor Gretchen Whitmer signed a new law that gives criminal sexual assault survivors more time to seek charges against the perpetrator. Under the new law, a defendant may be charged with criminal sexual conduct (CSC) in the second or third degree for up to 15 years after the crime is committed or until the victim turns 42, whichever is later. 

In cases involving DNA evidence, the charge can be filed at any time if the DNA is unidentified when collected. Once the DNA’s owner is identified, charges may be filed up to ten years later or when the victim turns 42, whichever is later. 

The expansion of criminal options is especially important for those who faced sexual assault in a school setting. Criminal sexual conduct in the second degree in Michigan includes sexual contact between someone ages 13 to 16 and a teacher or a similar relationship in which the perpetrator had more power than the victim. CSC in the third degree covers similar situations, but it covers sexual penetration as well. 

In May 2025, the Michigan Senate passed a package of laws that would extend the deadline to file civil claims after sexual abuse. The bills also remove immunity from schools that conceal systemic abuse. The Senate’s bills would also allow anyone whose deadline has passed to file their claim within 1 year after the bill’s passage. Unfortunately, the bill did not pass the Michigan State House in 2025. However, civil litigators remain focused on finding ways to support survivors of sexual abuse in Michigan’s schools and trying to create lasting changes for these survivors so that they can bring their cases in Michigan courts. 

What Does Sexual Abuse or Harassment at School Look Like?

The Michigan Department of Education’s Sexual Harassment and Sexual Assault Information Guide provides basic information and resources for students and families. The MDE distinguishes between sexual harassment and sexual assault:

• Harassment includes unwanted sexual remarks or behaviors. Harassment may be verbal, physical, or visual.
• Assault is any sexual act one person does to another without the other’s consent, using physical force, threats, or verbal or emotional pressure. 

Both sexual harassment and sexual assault can take many forms. Many survivors experience both.

In a school setting, sexual harassment or assault may occur between students or between a student and a teacher or staff member. Schools in Michigan have a responsibility to set and enforce rules for behavior that do not tolerate harassment or abuse. While a school district cannot prevent every possible instance of harassment or abuse, the steps schools take to build respectful environments, perform background checks, and respond to allegations of abuse are essential in keeping the school safe for everyone. 

Recent School Sexual Abuse Cases in Michigan

School sexual abuse has made headlines recently in a number of Michigan communities. These cases have included public and private K-12 schools, as well as colleges and universities.

Some recent headlines include:

• Farwell High School: In July 2025, a former Farwell student filed a lawsuit, claiming she suffered sexual abuse from a teacher while at Farwell in the 1980s. 
• Haslett Public Schools: The Haslett school district made headlines in July 2025 when a student’s report of sexual assault led to an investigation.
• Oakside Prep Academy: This Waterford Township private school saw criminal charges filed against a former teacher in July 2025, who was accused of having a sexual relationship with a student. 
• Bedford Public Schools: Bedford faced a 2025 lawsuit claiming the district covered up sexual abuse committed by a teacher against a 17 year old female student in 2022. 
• George Washington Carver Academy: This Highland Park school saw a former teacher charged in 2025. Allegations included that the former teacher had sexual contact with a student. 
• White Cloud Public School District: In October 2024, White Cloud and one of its former special education teachers both faced a lawsuit claiming the teacher sexually abused a special education student from 2022 to 2024.

Not all cases make the news. Yet every survivor who seeks justice sends a message: Sexual abuse in Michigan’s schools cannot be tolerated. 

Why Should I Consider Filing a Lawsuit?

Sexual abuse is a crime in Michigan, but a criminal case will not provide the full compensation you need and deserve. A criminal case focuses on finding someone guilty of violating Michigan’s criminal laws. If a defendant is convicted or pleads guilty, the sentence focuses on jail time or probation. While some restitution may be available for the survivor of the abuse, it rarely makes up for everything the survivor has suffered.

A civil lawsuit focuses on the survivor’s needs moving forward.  It not only seeks to hold the perpetrator monetarily liable for the harm they caused to the survivor directly, it can also seek compensation from other responsible parties, such as a school district. Criminal courts can send a responsible individual to prison, but they cannot put an entire school district in a jail cell.

Even if the person who harmed you faces criminal charges, talk to an attorney about your civil lawsuit options. A lawsuit can hold all involved parties accountable and help you recover the compensation you need and deserve. 

Who is at Fault in a School Sexual Abuse Lawsuit?

Every case of sexual abuse is unique. Who is at fault in your case will depend on the facts of your situation. 

However, many school sexual abuse situations involve failures or misdeeds on the part of more than one party. Parties that have been named in past school sexual abuse cases include:

• The person who committed the abusive acts,
• The school or school district, if its leadership failed to take appropriate action to prevent or address the harm,
• A third-party employer of a contractor that works for the school, if their employee is the one who caused harm and the employer didn’t take steps to prevent or address abuse. 

Even if the person who harmed you is in prison, deceased, or unavailable, you may still have a case against a school district or another entity. To understand what happened in your case and who might be liable, talk to an experienced attorney today. 

Recovering Compensation in a School Sexual Abuse Claim

A school sexual abuse lawsuit seeks compensation for everything you’ve lost as a result of surviving abuse. Your losses may include medical or mental health expenses, pain and suffering, lost income, and other losses. 

For many survivors, a lawsuit also provides a sense of justice. You’ve stood up for yourself. You spoke out and fought to hold the perpetrators accountable for their actions. Your willingness to speak out for justice may help protect other students in the future. 

Speak to an Experienced Michigan School Sexual Abuse Attorney Today

All abusers follow a standard playbook: They try to convince their victims that the victim is alone and has no options. Neither statement is true. Surviving sexual abuse is hard, but you have more options – and more support – than you think. 

Michigan law gives survivors several options when they experience sexual harassment or abuse at school. An experienced Michigan child sexual abuse attorney can help you gather the support you need to protect your rights and fight back. 

To learn more, talk to the compassionate Michigan sexual abuse attorneys at Sommers Schwartz, P.C. We’re here to help you seek accountability. To learn more, contact us today to schedule a free, confidential case evaluation.