Effective July 1, 2023, Fellerman & Ciarimboli Law P.C. acquired the Law Offices of Grieco & Petty, LLC.
School Sexual Abuse

Pennsylvania School Sexual Abuse Attorneys

Providing Compassionate & Dedicated Advocacy for Victims

When you place your child in school, you entrust them to a stranger for approximately eight hours a day, five days a week. You believe that this person will educate them, keep them safe, and make sure no harm comes to them. When that trust is broken in the most heinous of ways, you and your family are left shattered.

It is the job of our schools to protect our children and guide them to a bright future. But more and more, we hear stories of teachers and educators sexually abusing children. At Fellerman & Ciarimboli Law PC, we’re taking a stand against these predators and the institutions that turn a blind eye. For decades, our Pennsylvania school sexual abuse lawyers have been protecting the rights of sexual assault survivors. Our goal is to give you the voice you need to achieve justice while also fighting to stop this abuse once and for all.

Justice begins with a phone call to Fellerman & Ciarimboli Law PC. Call our office at (877) 989-4878 to schedule a free and confidential consultation with a member of our legal team.

Sexual Abuse in Schools by the Numbers

According to the Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network, an average of 321,500 Americans over the age of 12 are victims of rape and sexual assault each year in the U.S. That adds up to an American being sexually assaulted every 98 seconds. With 93 percent of the victims under the age of 18 knowing who their abuser is, the chances of a child or teen being sexually abused by a teacher or educator is frighteningly high.

Each year, we hear more and more about sexual abuse by teachers. According to the nonprofit organization Stop Educator Sexual Abuse Misconduct & Exploitation (SESAME), there were 361 published cases of school employee sexual misconduct in the U.S. in 2014. An estimated 1 in 10 students will experience some type of sexual abuse from a school employee by the time they graduate from high school. The majority of these victims (62 percent) were high school students with an average age of 15 years old. What’s even more disturbing is the number of victims an educator offender can have. SESAME states that the majority of these abusers have multiple victims; according to a 2010 Government Accountability Study, just one perpetrator can have as many as 73 victims.

What Happens to the Sexual Abusers?

Much like in clergy abuse cases, school districts have a tendency to hide the facts rather than fix the problem. According to the Government Accountability Office, a teacher accused of sexually abusing a student will be transferred to three different schools before being reported to the police. This practice—known as “pass the trash”—allows the accused teacher to get a new job at another school where the abuse can continue. All too often, the teacher is again dismissed instead of turned in, and the teacher can then find a new position and continue the cycle of abuse.

There are federal laws in place to prevent this abuse from occurring. Under Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, schools that receive federal funding are required to investigate any claim of sexual abuse by an educator. Schools are required to take action, stopping the behavior and preventing it from reoccurring again. In Pennsylvania, mandatory reporters—which can be a teacher, an administrator, or the school nurse—are required by state law to report any suspicion of child abuse to authorities, including abuse done by an educator.

However, the Department of Education does not monitor how schools comply with federal laws. In many cases, the cycle continues until someone finally speaks up.

What Legal Actions Are Available to School Sexual Abuse Victims?

As with any institutional sexual abuse claim, there are two types of claims that can be filed against these predators: a criminal charge and a civil claim. For a civil action, you can not only sue the perpetrator but, according to Pennsylvania law, the school districts can also be held liable for not reporting the abuse.

By speaking up you are stopping the cycle. You will stand up for your rights and protect the rights of future students. When you bring forward a sexual abuse suit against a school district, you are fighting for institutional corrections aimed at preventing this abuse from happening again.

However, it’s important to have the proper sexual assault lawyer by your side to assist you and your family during this time. Our Pennsylvania school sexual abuse injury attorneys have been fighting for the rights of minors and adults for decades. We are committed to helping those who were victimized by not only a sexual predator but by the educational institutions that could have—and should have—stopped the abuse from happening in the first place.

Request a Free, Confidential Consultation

We understand how difficult it is to discuss this topic, both for victims and their loved ones. But it is not your fault and it’s not right that you or your child has suffered abuse at the hands of a trusted teacher or educator. Your family deserves justice and compensation for the suffering you have endured.

At Fellerman & Ciarimboli Law PC, we make sure your voice is not silenced. We will fight for you and give you a voice inside the courtroom. Reach out to one of our offices in Philadelphia, Scranton, or Wilkes-Barre now for a free consultation.

Call (877) 989-4878 or fill out and submit an online case evaluation form to get started.

  • $795 Thousand Car Accident

    confidential settlement in a crash.

  • $1.3 Million Car Accident

    A settlement was obtained in this uninsured motorist case on behalf of a 21-year-old man who was ejected from an SUV and subsequently died. The driver of the SUV had been cut off by another vehicle. The settlement was obtained from Mr. Sperlazzo’s uninsured motorist carrier.

  • $1.1 Million Car Accident

    The verdict was obtained for Mr. Smith against the defendant who was high on heroin at the time of the crash. This verdict was the Number #1 Motor Vehicle Collision verdict in Luzerne County in 2012.

  • $900 Thousand Car Accident

    Our client was struck by a vehicle that was racing.

  • $750 Thousand Car Accident

    Our client sustained a significant injury, including, post-traumatic stress disorder.

  • $275 Thousand Car Accident

    The settlement was on an insurance policy of $15,000. The settlement was both for compensatory and bad faith damages.

    “I highly recommend Attorney Molly & the firm to anyone seeking reliable & compassionate assistance during challenging times.”

    I have a friend who sought help from Fellerman & Ciarimboli and said they were very nice and helpful. So when I needed assistance, they were the first ones I thought of, and gave them a call. I was connected to Attorney Molly Clark, who made a significant impact. Her comforting personality created a welcoming environment during our interactions, turning what could have been a somber experience into one filled with positivity. Our upbeat conversations, in contrast to the challenging situation, improved my well-being.

    What truly won me over was Molly's commitment to keeping me informed about the progress of my situation. Whenever I called her with questions, she promptly provided answers, ensuring I had the information I needed when I needed it. Working with Fellerman & Ciarimboli was a positive experience given the circumstances I was facing. I highly recommend Attorney Molly and the firm to anyone seeking reliable and compassionate assistance during challenging times.

    - Frank K.
    “You are like family to us & will always love you!”
    Molly thank you for everything you’ve done for Terry and me. You went above and beyond. You are like family to us and will always love you!
    - Arlene P.
    “I can't express how GREAT my first experience with an attorney has been!”
    I can't express how GREAT my first experience with an attorney has been! I'm not kidding when I say that both you and the entire firm are I think the best around. Once get things settled around here, I would like to make an appointment to come up to talk about some other issues, but I have been doing nothing, but singing the praises of you The entire organization to everyone that I speak with.
    - R.R.
    “The compassion shown to us by not only the three of you, but everyone to whom we encountered at Fellerman & Ciarimboli was off the charts and so sincere.”

    There are no adequate words to convey to you, Mike, and Ed how grateful our family is for all of your hard work in helping us through the most difficult time of our lives. Your commitment to justice is unlike anything we have ever witnessed. Our tragedy became your tragedy. The three of you have become part of our family.

    Harry, you explained everything necessary in terms which were comprehensible and helpful to us to better understand all that was presented. We are so grateful for that.

    The compassion shown to us by not only the three of you, but everyone to whom we encountered at Fellerman & Ciarimboli was off the charts and so sincere.

    We will grieve our profound loss for the rest of our lives, but all of you helped to make it a bit easier, and we thank you from the bottom of our hearts.

    God's Blessings to you and your family.

    - Client
    “Happy that I chose you to take my case. Your team is amazing, too!”
    Molly, Thank you so much! I can't tell you how much you mean to me, throughout this process, you have always been there and helped me through. I am glad it all came to a good ending and that it is over. But, I will miss you and you will always be referred to anyone that ever asks me for an amazing lawyer! Keep fighting for the people who need you! You are amazing at what you do, you're professional and genuine! I wish you all the best in your career and am happy that I chose you to take my case. Your team is amazing, too!
    - Nicole W.
    “I was in a bad accident and I had my daughter in the car with me. I highly recommend this firm.”
    I was in a bad accident and I had my daughter in the car with me. I highly recommend this firm. My attorney Myer Messinger was very compassionate and offered empathy with helping me and my daughter with the mental agony we experienced after the accident. Mr Messinger is very professional and knowledgeable. We sat for hours for the mediation and he fought to get me the best settlement
    - Enide Jerome
    “Very Informative & Helpful”
    “Corey Suda was our attorney as well as Ed Ciarimboli and they were both great, very informative, helpful, stayed in contact with us throughout our case. Very happy with the outcome of the case!!”
    - Debbie C.
    “Highly Recommend!”
    Called Greg Fellerman for a legal issue. He immediately took my call and helped me resolve the issue. Big thanks!
    - Brandon Z.

Contact Us Today

At Fellerman & Ciarimboli Law, PC, we're always ready to take your calls! Give us a call or fill out the form below to contact one of our team members.

  • Please enter your first name.
  • Please enter your last name.
  • Please enter your phone number.
    This isn't a valid phone number.
  • Please enter your email address.
    This isn't a valid email address.
  • Please make a selection.
  • Please enter a message.
  • By submitting, you agree to be contacted about your request & other information using automated technology. Message frequency varies. Msg & data rates may apply. Text STOP to cancel. Acceptable Use Policy
  • Our Clients Time is Valuable
    Every case is unique and we spend the time working hard on your case, so you can focus on everything else.
  • Experienced Trial Attorneys
    For 20 years our attorney's haven fought hard for clients and will not back away from a trial.
  • Ready and Available to Help You
    Schedule a free initial consultation with our team.
  • Our Results Make a Difference
    We've recovered hundreds of millions for our clients.