School Sexual Abuse Lawyers

Scranton School Sexual Abuse & Exploitation Lawyers

Students should be able to trust the teachers, coaches, administrators, school resource officers, counselors, activity leaders, and other adults placed in positions of authority over them. When someone uses that position of trust to sexually abuse or exploit a student, the consequences can last long after the abuse ends.

O'Donnell Law Offices represents survivors of sexual abuse and exploitation in Scranton and throughout Northeastern Pennsylvania, including cases involving abuse within schools and by people placed in positions of authority over students.

Our experience includes representing survivors of sexual abuse by a school employee and obtaining a multi-million-dollar settlement for four plaintiffs who were abused by a local school band director.

“For victims of sexual exploitation, in my view, the formula for justice is to bring the institution forward and to shine light on exactly what’s happened.”

— Attorney Neil O’Donnell

Can a School Be Held Responsible for Sexual Abuse of a Student?

Potentially, yes. When a student is sexually abused by a teacher, coach, resource officer, administrator, contractor, or another person connected to a school, a civil investigation may examine not only the conduct of the abuser but also whether the school or other responsible institution failed to protect the student.

Depending on the circumstances, important questions can include whether there were prior complaints or warning signs, whether staff followed mandatory reporting requirements, whether the individual was properly supervised, and whether actions or failures by the institution contributed to the abuse.

Liability is highly dependent on the facts, the identity of the responsible parties, and whether the school is a public or private institution. An attorney experienced with school sexual-abuse cases can investigate those issues and determine which individuals or institutions may potentially be held accountable.

Sexual Abuse by People in Positions of Authority at Scranton Schools

Abuse within a school setting can be particularly devastating because the person responsible may have been someone the student was specifically instructed to trust.

That person may be a teacher, coach, guidance counselor, administrator, band director, school resource officer, activity leader, contracted employee, volunteer, or another adult who has access to students through a school or school-related program.

Abuse and exploitation do not always begin with physical assault. Inappropriate behavior can involve grooming, sexual or romantic communications, requests for secrecy, inappropriate contact, sexual comments, attempts to establish a romantic relationship, or using a position of authority to create opportunities for further misconduct.

Pennsylvania's Department of Education specifically identifies conduct such as sexual or romantic invitations, dating or soliciting dates, sexualized dialogue, sexually suggestive comments, sexual exposure, and sexual or indecent contact as forms of sexual misconduct involving educators and students.

O'Donnell Law Offices Has Experience Representing Victims of Sexual Abuse in Pennsylvania Schools

School sexual-abuse cases require more than general personal-injury experience. They can involve years of conduct, institutional records, questions about what school officials knew, reporting obligations, supervision, criminal proceedings, governmental immunity issues, and the profound personal harm suffered by survivors.

O'Donnell Law Offices has successfully represented survivors in a significant Pennsylvania school sexual-abuse case.

In 2023, attorney Neil T. O'Donnell and O'Donnell Law Offices represented four plaintiffs who suffered sexual abuse at the hands of a local school band director.

The former band director was sentenced to more than a decade in prison. O'Donnell Law Offices' representation of the survivors ultimately resulted in a multi-million-dollar civil settlement.

That result reflects the firm's experience pursuing accountability not only for the person who committed the abuse, but also examining the responsibility of institutions connected to that abuse.

O'Donnell Law Offices School Sexual Abuse Case Result:
Four plaintiffs represented • Abuse by a school band director • Multi-million-dollar civil settlement • Perpetrator sentenced to more than a decade in prison

Learn more: Fighting for Justice for Victims of Sexual Abuse in Pennsylvania School Systems

Why Experience With School Sexual Abuse Cases Matters

Cases involving sexual abuse by people in authority can be legally and factually complex. School districts, government entities, insurance carriers, private institutions, and other defendants may have experienced attorneys working to limit their responsibility.

Survivors deserve representation from attorneys who understand how to investigate not simply the actions of the perpetrator, but the institutional decisions surrounding the abuse.

O'Donnell Law Offices' experience includes obtaining a multi-million-dollar settlement for four survivors abused by a school band director and advocating on legal issues concerning institutional responsibility for sexual abuse within Pennsylvania schools.

Learn more about our sexual abuse and exploitation practice .

Scranton School Sexual Abuse Lawyer FAQs

Below are answers to common questions about sexual abuse and exploitation involving teachers, coaches, school resource officers, administrators, and other people placed in positions of authority over students in Scranton and Northeastern Pennsylvania.

Who handles school sexual abuse cases in Scranton, Pennsylvania?

O'Donnell Law Offices represents survivors of sexual abuse and exploitation in Scranton and throughout Northeastern Pennsylvania. The firm's experience includes representing four plaintiffs abused by a local school band director and obtaining a multi-million-dollar settlement on their behalf.

Can I sue a teacher, resource officer or coach who sexually abused me in Scranton?

A survivor may have a civil claim against a teacher, coach, administrator, school employee, or other person who committed sexual abuse. Depending on the circumstances, additional claims may also be available against institutions whose actions or failures contributed to the abuse.

Can a school be responsible if a teacher sexually abused a student?

Potentially. A civil investigation may examine whether school officials had prior notice of concerning behavior, failed to properly supervise an employee, failed to follow reporting requirements, ignored complaints, or otherwise acted or failed to act in a way that contributed to the student's injuries.

Whether a school is legally responsible depends on the specific facts, the type of institution involved, and applicable Pennsylvania law.

Can a school resource officer be held responsible for sexually abusing a student?

Yes. A school resource officer who sexually abuses or exploits a student may face criminal consequences and potential civil liability.

Depending on the facts, attorneys may also investigate whether a school district, municipality, law-enforcement agency, or another institution bears legal responsibility for actions or failures connected to the abuse.

What if my child was groomed by a teacher but did not immediately report it?

A delayed report does not mean that the experience should be dismissed or that legal options necessarily disappear.

Sexual misconduct can involve grooming, secrecy, manipulation, inappropriate communications, and misuse of authority. An attorney can review the circumstances, available evidence, and applicable deadlines without assuming that a delayed disclosure prevents a claim.

Can I file a civil sexual abuse lawsuit even if the abuser was convicted criminally?

Yes. A criminal case and a civil sexual abuse lawsuit are separate legal proceedings.

A criminal prosecution is intended to determine criminal responsibility and punishment, while a civil claim can seek compensation and accountability for the harm suffered by the survivor.

Can I bring a sexual abuse claim if the abuse happened when I was a student years ago?

Possibly. Pennsylvania provides extended filing periods for certain civil claims arising from sexual abuse of minors, but older claims can involve complicated statute-of-limitations questions.

The date of the abuse, the survivor's age, the identity of the defendants, and other legal factors can affect whether a lawsuit remains available. A survivor should have the specific circumstances reviewed by an attorney rather than assuming too much time has passed.

What compensation may be available in a school sexual abuse lawsuit?

The compensation available depends on the facts of the individual case.

A civil sexual abuse claim may seek compensation for psychological and emotional harm, counseling and treatment expenses, lost income or earning capacity, and other losses caused by the abuse.

What should a parent do if their child says they were sexually abused by someone at school?

Protecting the child should be the immediate priority. If the child is in immediate danger, seek emergency assistance and take steps to prevent further contact with the alleged abuser.

Parents should also consider preserving messages, emails, school communications, photographs, names of witnesses, dates, and other information that may become important in an investigation.

What does a school sexual abuse lawyer investigate?

A school sexual abuse lawyer may investigate not only what the perpetrator did, but also how that person gained access to the student and whether others had information that could have prevented the abuse.

That investigation may include prior complaints, personnel records, emails, text messages, school policies, supervision practices, mandatory reporting records, potential witnesses, and evidence showing what school officials knew and when they knew it.

Why should I hire a lawyer with experience handling school sexual abuse cases?

School sexual abuse cases can involve institutional records, reporting requirements, governmental immunity, insurance issues, criminal proceedings, and questions about what school officials knew before or during the abuse.

O'Donnell Law Offices has experience pursuing justice for survivors of sexual abuse within Pennsylvania schools, including obtaining a multi-million-dollar settlement for four survivors abused by a school employee.

How much does it cost to speak with O'Donnell Law Offices about school sexual abuse?

Consultations with O'Donnell Law Offices are free, and there is no fee unless the firm recovers compensation for you.

Survivors and families in Scranton and throughout Northeastern Pennsylvania can speak with an attorney about what happened and learn whether a civil claim may be available.

Recent Articles on Sexual Abuse and Exploitation

Recent Scranton Case Shows Why Abuse by Trusted School Officials Must Be Taken Seriously

A recent criminal case in Scranton illustrates how devastating abuse can become when a person given authority over students allegedly uses that position to gain access to them.

On August 13, 2026, a Lackawanna County jury found former Scranton Police Resource Officer Stephen J. Carroll guilty on 29 of 30 charges related to the drugging and rape of students.

According to the Times Leader, investigators said the crimes occurred between September 2009 and November 2017 while Carroll worked at West Scranton High School. Testimony presented at trial included an incident of abuse alleged to have occurred inside the school while Carroll was wearing his police uniform.

The verdict underscores an important reality: students can be harmed by the very individuals entrusted with protecting, educating, supervising, or mentoring them.

This criminal prosecution is separate from O'Donnell Law Offices and is referenced here as a recent example of sexual abuse involving a person placed in a position of authority over Scranton students.

Source: Times Leader — “Former resource officer found guilty of drugging and raping students,” August 13, 2026

Talk to a Scranton School Sexual Abuse Attorney

If you or someone you love experienced sexual abuse or exploitation by a teacher, coach, school resource officer, administrator, counselor, activity leader, or another person placed in a position of authority, you may have legal options.

O'Donnell Law Offices has experience fighting for survivors of sexual abuse in Pennsylvania schools and has obtained a multi-million-dollar settlement for victims abused by a school employee.

We can investigate what happened, determine whether individuals or institutions may be responsible, and explain the legal options available to you.

Consultations are always free. Never a cost unless we win.

Call O'Donnell Law Offices at 570-821-5717 or schedule a free consultation with an attorney online.