Schools, Boarding Schools, Colleges and University Lawsuits
If you or a loved one was harmed as a result of a school’s misconduct, you should know your rights and consult with attorneys with a proven track record in helping survivors. We have extensive experience representing students harmed as a result of misconduct at a school involving neglect, abuse, violations of Title IX, breach of contract, and claims of wrongful death of students by suicide.
Justice Law Collaborative advocates those who suffer harm as a result of a school’s misconduct. We fight for justice on your terms. At Justice Law Collaborative, our trauma-informed perspective to legal representation ensures you and your family are heard at every stage of a case and empowers you to regain your power. We have extensive experience representing students harmed as a result of misconduct at a school involving neglect, abuse, violations of Title IX, breach of contract, and claims of wrongful death of students by suicide.
The legal process is an effective and therapeutic tool to facilitate the healing process for many individuals and families that we represent. We present those harmed an opportunity to regain their power by holding the responsible parties accountable and through obtaining important change to protect others in the future. Justice Law Collaborative puts our clients’ well-being first and ensures that you have the support you need around you to fight for justice.
The lawyers at Justice Law Collaborative have extensive experience in obtaining substantial financial results that our clients deserve. But our lawyers do not stop there, we also have fought and obtained important changes in law that provide access to justice, and we also force these institutions to implement procedures and protocols that address their misconduct and prevent future harm.
If you have suffered abuse at a school, we are here for you.
Physical, sexual, and emotional abuse of students at educational institutions is a recognized and foreseeable risk from which schools have an obligation to proactively protect their students. Schools can be liable if they do not adequately screen candidates prior to hiring them or if they fail to adequately supervise them once they are hired. They can also be liable for their actions or inactions following allegations of abuse, as well as for failing to implement and enforce safeguards to prevent abuse by school employees, staff members, volunteers and student peers. Often times, school administrators will intentionally cover up incidents of abuse and harassment to protect their reputation, fostering a culture of abuse and allowing it to continue unchecked for decades.
Abuse at schools can take many forms:
Sexual Abuse and grooming by staff, teachers, coaches, administrators, or other students
Physical Abuse
Hazing, Bullying and Cyberbullying
Emotional Abuse
Unnecessary and Embarrassing Punishments
Failure by the School to Report Abuse, Mistreatment, and Serious Mental Health Issues
Retaliation for Reporting Abuse or Assault
Justice Law Collaborative is dedicated to changing these statistics:
Hazing rituals are also unfortunately common on college campuses. Hazing generally consists of activities intended to humiliate and degrade students, and often require students to drink excessive amounts of alcohol in the process. Hazing can result in student attrition, sexual assault, emotional harm, physical harm, and even death. If you were abused as part of a hazing ritual on a school campus or by a group affiliated with school, please contact us to discus your rights.
If your loved one experienced death on campus, by suicide or otherwise, we are here for you.
It is possible for schools to be held liable for death or serious injury resulting from the school’s negligent policies and procedures, the school’s misconduct in addressing issues involving students and the school’s patterns and practices of ignoring and mishandling issues involving the safety and well-being of its students. Unfortunately, this nightmare is all too common on college campuses today. In the last several years, numerous wrongful death lawsuits have been filed against some of the country’s largest, and most prestigious universities as a result of their failure to adequately protect the students in their care.
It is important that you are aware of your rights in the event that your child or loved one is seriously injured on campus. Many colleges and universities have large legal teams and substantial financial resources at their disposal to defend the institution against these claims. It is important that you contact an attorney early in the process to ensure that you and your loved one’s rights are protected, that all relevant documents and evidence are properly preserved and automatic destruction protocols are disengaged.
Justice Law Collaborative is currently involved in the fight for justice for families of lost loved ones and effectuating change nationwide that will ensure safety and protect of students in the future.
Justice for our Clients
The Justice Law Collaborative frequently partners with local counsel in other states and has experience representing clients against schools and Universities across the country. We have settled cases against prominent Universities in Oklahoma, New Hampshire, New York, and California, as well as against numerous grade schools in Massachusetts and around the country.
Kurn Hattin Homes For Children
The Justice Law Collaborative currently represents over forty-five survivors of horrific sexual and physical abuse at Kurn Hattin, a boarding school in Vermont. The survivors suffered varying degrees of sexual, physical, and verbal abuse, and neglect. JLC has been advocating for justice for these survivors for years, and have been working with the Vermont Agency of Education to assist with an independent investigation in to Kurn Hattin. These efforts have included not only seeking just compensation for the survivors, but also an arduous, and successful, push to change the law in Vermont. As a result of the hard work of our firm and the survivors we represent, children who experience childhood physical and sexual abuse in Vermont are able to seek justice at any age, as JLC was at the forefront of eliminating the law that placed an arbitrary timeframe on seeking justice for them and all children suffering such abuse.
Kim Dougherty, a founding partner of the Justice Law Collaborative was instrumental in the passing of this new legislation, testifying in front of law makers in her pursuit of justice for her clients, and all survivors of childhood abuse.
JLC is also working to create a support group for Kurn Hattin survivors with a commitment of funding from the legislature.
The Hyde Boarding Schools of Woodstock, CT and Bath, ME
JLC is currently representing a group of brave survivors who attended the Hyde School (both the Woodstock, CT location and the Bath, ME location). Since its founding in 1966, the school has been marketed as a behavioral modification program for teenagers (ages 14-18) with emotional or behavioral problems.
We at JLC understand that the fight for justice is never-ending, regardless of the verdict. If you or someone you know is in need of legal assistance regarding this case, please call our office at 508-230-2700 or email us at survivorsupport@justicelc.com
Michigan State University
JLC also represented survivors of serial child abuser Larry Nassar in their suits against MSU and USA Gymnastics. JLC founding partner, Kim Dougherty, was integrally involved in pushing for answers and accountability for our clients, as well as for all survivors of the horrific abuse. Ultimately not only did she obtain a substantial for her clients against MSU, she also was a part of reaching a settlement of $380million on behalf of the survivors. Attorney Dougherty is most proud of her work as a member of the Restorative Justice Task Force, where she and one other lawyer and survivors ensured that, in addition to monetary compensation, unprecedented commitment to non-monetary change were obtained to ensure protection of future athletes:
“‘It will be a framework moving forward we think in other cases, not just with athletes or gymnasts, but also other cases involving large institutions,’ said Frederick’s attorney Kim Dougherty, with the Justice Law Collaborative in South Easton.”
Windham Southeast Supervisory Union School District
We currently represent several students who attended schools in the WSESU School District, including Brattleboro Union High School, in Brattleboro, Vermont and are continuing to investigate allegations of abuse during their time as students. If you were a student in the WSESU School District and would like to speak with an attorney regarding your experience, please call our office at 508-230-2700 or email us at survivorsupport@justicelc.com.
3HO Community
JLC represents a number of survivors of abuse in the 3HO/ Siri Singh Sahib Corporation community. The abuse was wide spread within the community, with many second generation members (members who were born in to the cult) being sent to a boarding school in India that was owned and operated by 3HO/SSSC. The conditions at the school were horrendous and many students faced sexual, physical, and emotional torture during their time there. In addition to being subjected to this abuse, and brainwashing, many members of the organization were denied to opportunity to receive or further their education outside of the few years they were enrolled in one of the schools run by the community, resulting in lifelong struggles.
As a result of so many brave survivors coming forward to share their story, recently, an announcement was made that the organization will be opening a reparations program for survivors of abuse during their time in the community. If you attended Guru Nanek Fifth Centenary School (GNFC, Guru Ram Das Academy (GRD), 4S, or Miri Piri Academy (MPA) or were born in to the 3HO community and you are interested in participating in the program, we can assist you in obtaining and submitting the necessary documentation and personal statements. Please contact us at survivorsupport@justicelc.com if you would like to speak with us.
Sarah Lawrence College
The Sarah Lawrence College case unveiled a distressing narrative that shocked the public conscience, revealing a twisted web of manipulation and coercion within the corridors of higher education. The case revolved around allegations directed at a former student's father, entangled in a deeply troubling saga of psychological manipulation, financial exploitation, and coercive control over students enrolled at the esteemed institution.
Reports surfaced, alleging that the father, in a position of trust and influence, had orchestrated a chilling scheme, drawing vulnerable students into a coercive dynamic reminiscent of a cult-like environment. Within this distressing backdrop, students purportedly found themselves ensnared in a cycle of false confessions, forced labor, and financial extortion, plunging their academic aspirations and emotional well-being into turmoil.
This complex legal narrative served as a stark illumination of the intricacies surrounding power imbalances, ethical obligations of academic institutions, and the vulnerability of students under the guise of mentorship. The revelations prompted a critical reexamination of systemic weaknesses within educational settings, amplifying the urgent need for robust protective measures and vigilant oversight. We here at Justice Law Collaborative are dedicated to helping survivors of this unsettling situation.
As legal proceedings progressed, the case resonated as a sobering wake-up call, urging the fortification of educational environments against exploitative forces. It underscored the imperative to prioritize a culture of safety, transparency, and ethical guidance, emphasizing the paramount importance of shielding students from manipulative influences and safeguarding their well-being above all else. We are so grateful to be able to support the survivors sharing their stories and coming forward to speak to our team about the harrowing details of their experiences. If you or someone you know is interested in coming forward, please contact us at survivorsupport@justicelc.com if you would like to speak with us.
There are several pros and cons with filing a lawsuit for compensation. More importantly, there are strict time limitations in which to bring your claims. Contact the lawyers at Justice Law Collaborative for a free consultation and evaluation of your potential claim. Our discussions are completely confidential and all decisions are yours to make.