Boarding schools promise a structured, high-quality education—but many hide a darker truth. In New York, survivors have come forward with heartbreaking accounts of sexual abuse that occurred while they were students at prestigious boarding schools. Often, these stories involve staff members, administrators, or fellow students who took advantage of unsupervised access, dormitory control, or institutional indifference.
At Survivors of Abuse NY, we help former students file civil lawsuits against private boarding schools, religious academies, and elite institutions that failed to protect them. You may be entitled to compensation for the trauma you experienced—and your legal action may help protect future generations of students.
What Does Boarding School Sexual Abuse Look Like?
Sexual abuse in boarding schools in NY may involve:
Inappropriate or repeated physical contact by staff
Sexual grooming by authority figures such as coaches or priests
Abuse during overnight field trips or unsupervised dorm stays
Peer-on-peer abuse enabled by staff negligence
Retaliation or expulsion after reporting misconduct
Many survivors were silenced by shame, fear, or threats of discipline—allowing predators to stay in power for years or even decades.
Why Schools Are Often Responsible
Boarding schools can be held accountable if they:
Failed to report or investigate known complaints
Covered up abuse to protect the school’s image
Hired or retained staff with previous misconduct
Ignored or enabled student-on-student abuse
Created a culture of silence around misconduct
In New York, civil law allows you to pursue justice through a lawsuit—especially if your case qualifies under the Child Victims Act.
Who Can File a Claim?
Former students who experienced sexual abuse
Current students with legal representation
Adult survivors of childhood abuse in NY boarding schools
Those whose claims were once time-barred under old laws
Whether your abuse occurred in the 1970s or more recently, we will evaluate your eligibility and ensure your voice is heard in court.
Compensation in Civil Cases May Include:
Mental health treatment and therapy
Emotional and psychological suffering
Lost education or career opportunities
Punitive damages against institutions
Acknowledgment and accountability
Taking legal action can be a crucial part of reclaiming your life and exposing the truth.
