The Michigan School Sexual Abuse Lawsuit Is An Active Lawsuit

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Public and private schools in the State of Michigan are facing sexual abuse lawsuits after failing to protect students under their care. The victims allege that schools ignored or even covered up sexual abuse from faculty, staff, or other students. These lawsuits come in the wake of investigations of Michigan State University, local Boy Scouts of America troops, and Catholic Dioceses in Michigan. Such investigations revealed the institutions withheld thousands of documents from the state pertaining to sexual abuse complaints.

In response, Michigan’s government has extended the statute of limitations on some criminal charges related to sexual abuse. A bill that would also extend civil statutes of limitations has passed the state Senate, but has yet to clear the House. If the civil statute is extended, it would give survivors of childhood sexual abuse additional legal options in adulthood.

Michigan School Sexual Abuse Lawsuit Updates

October 1, 2025: Lawsuit Filed Against Huron Valley Schools Says District Failed to Protect Students from Abuse

More than 10 families have filed lawsuits against the Huron Valley School District. The lawsuits allege that the district did not do enough to protect young girls from being abused by a substitute teacher. Timothy Daugherty was a substitute teacher in Spring Mills Elementary School in Highland Township in Michigan. He is already serving a 10-plus-year sentence after his conviction on six counts of second-degree criminal sexual conduct. This conviction is related to inappropriate sexual conduct with 9- to 11-year-old girls in the district. Now, parents are filing civil lawsuits against the district for failing to protect their children from sexual abuse. Plaintiffs in the lawsuit say the school did not perform proper background screenings, did not take complaints seriously, and failed to meet mandatory reporting requirements.

July 2, 2025: Former Student Sues Farwell Area School District For 30-Year-Old Incident

A former student of Farwell High School files a complaint alleging that the school knew that she was being abused by a teacher when she was 14 and failed to intervene. The alleged abuse occurred in the 1990s. The complaint describes a school board meeting in 1996, where she was told to come alone and discuss the matter without parental or legal counsel. The plaintiff alleges she was coerced into denying the relationship existed.

June 24, 2025: Lawsuit Accuses Bedford Public Schools Of Covering Up Sexual Abuse

A complaint filed with Michigan courts alleges that Bedford Public Schools in Monroe County covered up sexual abuse involving former teacher Christopher Wilhelm and a 17-year-old female student in 2022. Wilhelm was later charged with third and fourth-degree criminal sexual conduct. The lawsuit claims the school did not conduct an adequate investigation when the issue was brought to the administration’s attention. The plaintiff seeks $25,000 in damages.

May 10, 2025: Michigan State Senate Passes ‘Justice for Survivors’ Package, Awaits House Approval

Michigan passes state Senate bills 257-261, collectively dubbed the “Justice for Survivors” package. This bill would expand the statute of limitations for civil sexual abuse lawsuits. It would give victims of childhood sexual abuse until age 42 to file a case and eliminate it entirely in instances when the abuse resulted in a criminal conviction. The package also opens a one-year revival window for victims whose claims are currently beyond the statute of limitations. It would also make it easier to sue state institutions that conceal sexual abuse. The bill would need to pass the House before being signed into law.

January 28, 2025: New Law Extends Statute Of Limitations For Criminal Sexual Abuse Charges

Enrolled House Bill (HB) 4458 (later Public Act 268) was signed into law. The law extends the statute of limitations for filing charges for criminal sexual conduct in the second or third degree, increasing it to 10 years or until the victim turns 42, whichever is later. Criminal sexual conduct in the second degree is defined in Michigan as: 1) sexual contact with someone 13 or younger; or 2) between 13 and 16 if it involves a “power imbalanced” relationship. A power-imbalanced relationship could be a teacher-student or medical professional-patient relationship.

December 24, 2024: Appellate Court Rules Schools Can Be Held Responsible For Student-Perpetrated Sexual Abuse

The Michigan Court of Appeals rules that schools do have some control over student behavior and the environment created by those students at the school. Therefore, they can be held liable for that behavior. The court, however, did not overturn the decision of the lower court. An appeal was sought on the grounds that the plaintiff failed to provide adequate evidence of the Alpena School District’s negligence. Alpena School District was accused of failing to protect a female student from the hostile environment created by a male student’s sexual harassment.

December 16, 2024: Attorney General Releases Report Of Alleged Abuse At Diocese of Lansing and Catholic Schools

Attorney General Dana Nessel releases a report compiling information related to sexual abuse allegations at the Diocese of Lansing going back to 1950. The report lists allegations against 56 clergy members, most of whom are now deceased.

September 11, 2024: Attorney General Claims MSU Wrongfully Held Back Documents

Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel announces the closure of the investigation into the Michigan State University (MSU) sexual abuse scandal, noting that the university inappropriately held back thousands of documents under attorney-client privilege. Nessel is quoted as saying that “the withheld documents provided victims with a sense of false hope, for no justifiable reason.”

January 19, 2022: University of Michigan Reaches $490 Million Settlement With Over 1,000 Victims

The University of Michigan agrees to a settlement to resolve multiple lawsuits from victims who claimed they were sexually assaulted by former sports doctor Robert Anderson. The mostly male victims say they were sexually assaulted during routine medical examinations. Anderson worked at the university for 37 years, retiring in 2003.

June 12, 2018: Michigan Passes “Nassar Amendments,” Extending Statute Of Limitations On Sexual Abuse Cases

Inspired by the high-profile sexual abuse case at Michigan State University, Michigan passed statute of limitation reforms. These reforms extend the statute of limitations for second and third degree criminal sexual conduct to a childhood victim’s 28th birthday and to 10 years for adult victims.

May 16, 2018: Michigan State University Pays Out $500 Million To Victims Of Larry Nassar

Michigan State University agreed to pay out $500 million to victims of a sexual predator once employed by the school. Sports physician and Michigan State University employee Larry Nassar was sentenced several to 40 to 175 years in prison. More than 150 women and girls testified that he had sexually abused them. The claims span two decades. Nassar was fired in 2016.

About the Michigan School Sexual Abuse Lawsuit:

About the Michigan School Sexual Abuse Crisis

The sexual abuse crisis in Michigan private and public schools is about institutional failures that led to sexual assaults against minors. Sexual abuse in schools can be peer-to-peer or between a faculty/staff member and a student. When faced with reports of sexual misconduct on campus, some schools chose to protect the school’s reputation over the safety of its students.

Schools in Michigan have been accused of:

• Ignoring reports of sexual abuse or failing to intervene
• Covering up sexual abuse
• Transferring or firing accused faculty or staff, rather than reporting the issue to law enforcement
• Allowing students credibly accused of sexual abuse to remain on campus

Many people who were sexually abused as children do not disclose their abuse for decades, if at all. The average age someone discloses sexual abuse is 52. Michigan’s statute of limitations (legal deadline) to file child sexual abuse cases does not give most victims adequate time to file. To close that gap, Michigan legislators have proposed pending reforms to Michigan law (such as Senate bills 257-261) may provide the opportunity for more victims to seek civil justice for their abuse.

Michigan Schools Implicated in Sexual Abuse Cases

The recent changes to Michigan law regarding sexual abuse have been driven by scandals on college campuses like the University of Michigan and Michigan State University. However, children in K-12 schools in Michigan are particularly vulnerable to school-based sexual predation.

Multiple private and public schools in Michigan have been implicated in sexual abuse complaints. Here are just a few of the schools in Michigan where childhood sexual assault cases have been filed.

Bedford Public Schools Located in Temperance, MI

A school in Michigan that is part of Bedford Public Schools has been named in a lawsuit. The lawsuit was filed on behalf of a 17-year-old student diagnosed with ADHD, depression, and anxiety. Also named were district administrators and the alleged perpetrator, former teacher Christopher Wilhelm. The complaint alleges that the district failed to file a report in compliance with Michigan’s Child Protection Law and to adequately train staff to identify and respond to “red-flag behaviors.”

Fraser Public Schools Located in Fraser, MI

A lawsuit filed against Fraser Public Schools in Macomb County alleges the school turned a blind eye toward inappropriate behavior on the part of former auditorium manager Robert William Lindsay II. Lindsay, who was contracted through staffing agency EduStaff, was sentenced to 6-50 years for criminal sexual conduct with a 15-year-old girl in February 2025. The civil suit alleges that the school’s principal and choir director failed to report Lindsay’s behavior to the girl’s parents or authorities, or remove him from his position.

St. Mary’s Prep in Orchard Lake, MI

St. Mary’s Preparatory High School in Orchard has been sued by a father and son who claim the private school knew of sexualized games played by boys on campus but did nothing to stop them. The complaint claims that the boy was attacked by other students when he refused to play. The father, who was employed by the school at the time, claims the school retaliated against him when he complained, firing him from his job. This lawsuit is similar to the thousands of lawsuits filed against the Catholic Church.

The Potter’s House in Grand Rapids, MI

A private Christian school in Grand Rapids has been sued by a former female student who claims The Potter’s House neglected its Title-IX duties and failed to protect her from sexual abuse by both an art teacher and an older student. The teacher, James Treadwell, had been charged with two felony counts of sexual assault. He was sentenced in 2022 to 14 days in jail and 18 months of probation on a lesser conviction of attempted sexual contact.

Other School Sexual Abuse Cases in Michigan

Other educational institutions have also been named in lawsuits related to sexual abuse. For example, Hillsdale College, a Christian school, was sued by two former students who claim the institution failed to help them in the aftermath of their rapes.

How Michigan Schools Failed to Protect Students

Accusations against Michigan Schools are premised on the idea that schools have a duty to protect students while they are on campus or engaged in school-related activities. School sexual harassment policies need to be compliant with both state laws like the Elliott-Larsen Civil Rights Act and federal laws like Title-IX. Schools, whether through inaction or inappropriate action, can increase the dangers that students who are being sexually harassed may face on campus. Schools may be liable in the following ways.

Failure to Screen and Supervise Faculty and Staff

Schools can be held liable for adequately performing background checks on prospective hires. In some cases, a third-party contractor, like a staffing agency, may be negligent in screening personnel. Failing to supervise faculty and staff, particularly when a relationship has been flagged, can also leave a school liable to a lawsuit.

Ignoring and Dismissing Student Complaints

One of the more common complaints against schools and school administrators in sexual abuse cases is that the schools failed to follow up on or investigate complaints made by students or parents. In some cases, the complaints weren’t fully ignored, but the schools delayed taking action. In some of the more egregious instances, the schools even retaliated against the victims or whistleblowers.

Cover-Ups and Reassignments of Abusers

In the interest of preserving their school’s reputation, some administrators have chosen to cover up sex scandals at their schools. These cover-ups can take the form of dismissing complaints, minimizing incidents, or retaliating against victims. In some cases, the perpetrator has been quietly dismissed or reassigned rather than reported, a practice called “passing the trash.” These actions may allow an abuser to operate for years or even decades without being caught.

Lack of Mandatory Reporting to Michigan Authorities

Schools have mandated reporting duties under both Michigan’s Child Protection Law and federal Title-IX guidelines. Schools are required to have a Title-IX coordinator and a clear process for reporting credible complaints. Schools that fail to report these cases may be liable. The Michigan Department of Health & Human Services clearly says that sexual abuse and sexual exploitation by a teacher or school official is considered abuse and should be reported.

Failing to Protect Vulnerable Students

Sexual predators, whether staff or other students, often target victims with mental and/or physical disabilities, students with troubled home lives, or students with limited parental supervision, such as children of single parents. Failing to adequately respond to sexual abuse complaints involving these students may leave a school liable to a lawsuit.

Prioritizing the School’s Reputation Over Student Safety

In many sexual abuse cases, school administrators have prioritized the reputation of the school over the safety of their students, fearing that the negative press would lead to lower enrollment or intervention by government authorities. These perverse incentives can lead to cover-ups or retaliation against the victim.

What Constitutes Sexual Abuse in Michigan’s Schools?

While the terms “sexual abuse” and sexual harassment are often associated with inappropriate physical contact, such as intercourse or forced sexual touching, they can also include a variety of other tangential verbal and social behaviors. These include:

• Exposing children to sexual images
• Sending children sexually suggestive messages
• Sending romantic messages to children
• Making sexual jokes or comments targeted at a child
• Pressuring a child to take or send sexual media

Michigan law considers any “teacher, substitute teacher, or administrator of the public school, nonpublic school, school district, or intermediate school district in which that other person is enrolled” to be guilty of a criminal offense if they engage in sexual penetration with that person.

If you experienced abuse and need support, you can call the Michigan Department of Health & Human Services CPS at 855-444-3911 or the Michigan Sexual Assault Hotline: 855-VOICES4 (864-2374).

Who Can File a Michigan School Sexual Abuse Lawsuit?

Victims of sexual abuse in Michigan schools, or their legal guardians, may be eligible to file a lawsuit against the school district if the school failed to take reasonable measures to protect them. Criteria for qualifying for such a lawsuit are as follows:

• Unwanted sexual assault or harassment from another student
• Any sexual engagement with an adult staff member, including messages, pictures, conversations, or in-person encounters

Can Parents File Sex Abuse Lawsuits on Behalf of a Minor Child in Michigan?

Parents can file sex abuse lawsuits on behalf of their minor-aged child in Michigan. In these instances, the parents may sue for compensation on behalf of their child and for any financial and emotional harm the family has suffered as a result of the abuse.

What Can Parents Do if Their Child Was Abused at a Michigan School?

Learning that your child may be suffering from sexual abuse at school can be a devastating and disorienting revelation. Taking careful steps in the aftermath can help protect your child from further abuse and provide evidence should you pursue legal remedies. These steps may include some or all of the following:

• Be on the lookout for physical and behavioral symptoms of sexual abuse.
• Seek medical advice for your child’s physical and mental health.
• Reassure your child and let them know the abuse was not their fault.
• Report the situation to law enforcement.
• Report the abuse to Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) Children’s Protective Services (CPS) hotline at 855-444-3911.
• Preserve all communication with school officials.
• Document any details, including times, dates, and names your child is able to give you.
• Find out if there were witnesses.
• Consult with an attorney.

Compensation Available to Michigan School Sexual Abuse Victims

Michigan school sexual abuse victims may be entitled to compensation, whether or not the perpetrator has been criminally charged. Depending on the circumstances of your case, you may be awarded damages for:

• Medical expenses
• Therapy expenses
• Lost wages or educational opportunities
• Pain and suffering
• Harm to personal relationships

In severe cases, you may also be awarded punitive damages. These damages are intended to punish the entity for egregious acts. Our team can help you understand what compensation is available for school abuse survivors.

How to File a Michigan School Sexual Abuse Lawsuit

Filing a sexual abuse lawsuit in Michigan is a time-consuming process, and may be a difficult one to undertake while you are dealing with trauma. Experienced advocacy offered by firms like King Law can help you through every step of the process.

The steps to filing a lawsuit in Michigan are:

1. Consult an attorney for a free evaluation. This consultation can help evaluate the strength of your case and what to expect as you move forward.
2. Hire an attorney experienced in sexual abuse litigation. If you decide to move forward with your case, it is advisable to work with an experienced attorney.
3. Begin investigation and collect evidence. This is where you’ll build your case, collecting evidence and depositions.
4. File the lawsuit. Your attorney will help you draft the formal paperwork to file your case, framing it in legal arguments.
5. Proceed through litigation, settlement, or trial. This part of the process includes pre-trial proceedings, negotiating with the defense, and, if necessary, taking the case to trial to be decided by a judge or jury.

What Is the Deadline to File a Michigan School Sexual Abuse Lawsuit?

Michigan has recently extended the statute of limitations on criminal sexual abuse cases.

• For criminal sexual conduct in the second or third degree, suspects may be indicted up to 15 years after the crime is committed or the victim turns 42, whichever is longer.
• In cases where DNA from an unidentified suspect has been recovered, there is no statute of limitations until such time as the suspect is identified. In that case, the statute of limitations is 15 years from the time of identification.
• There is no statute of limitations for criminal sexual conduct in the first degree, which involves aggravating factors such as a sexually penetrated victim under 13, severe injuries, or use of a weapon.

While extensions to civil statute for sexual abuse lawsuits have been proposed, they have not yet been signed into law. Currently:

• Childhood victims of sexual abuse have until their 28th birthday. A discovery window–meaning that the statute of limitations begins on discovery of an injury, not the date on which it was inflicted–may apply. In such cases, the statute of limitations would be until the victim’s 28th birthday or three years, whichever is longer.
• For adult victims, the statute of limitations for filing a civil suit is 10 years.

Survivor Look-Back Window in Michigan

A look-back window is a period of time in which individuals whose cases have expired under a previous statute of limitations can sue. Typically, these windows last for a year or two. While Michigan does not currently have a general look-back window, a one-year window has been proposed in the “Justice for Survivors” legislation. The legislative package, which passed in the state Senate, awaits a hearing in the House.

Michigan previously had a 90-day look-back window specifically for victims of convicted physicians who sexually abused them under the guise of providing medical care, but it has long since expired.

Can a Child Sex Abuse Survivor File a Lawsuit as an Adult?

If you are an adult who was sexually abused as a child, you may be able to sue for damages. Under current Michigan law, such victims have until their 28th birthday to file a lawsuit. However, if you only recently became aware that an incident you suffered during childhood was sexual abuse, the discovery rule may apply to your case. In these instances, you would have three years or until your 28th birthday to file a claim, whichever is longer.

Because the discovery rule can be a point of legal contention, it is best to consult with an attorney soon after you’ve become aware of your abuse.

Estimated Settlement Amounts in the Michigan School Sexual Abuse Lawsuit

Each sexual abuse lawsuit against a school is unique, and payouts can vary greatly from one case to another. King Law estimates that a typical case that reaches a settlement will payout between $100,000 to $1,000,000 per survivor. Cases that involve more severe abuse, longer durations of abuse, and more egregious institutional negligence will tend to result in larger settlements, as will cases with more compelling evidence.

King Law Is Accepting Michigan School Sexual Abuse Claims

King Law is actively reviewing school abuse claims in Michigan. We can help you file a child sexual abuse lawsuit in Michigan. Our firm has decades of experience holding institutions accountable for misconduct and negligence, and helping survivors get compensation and closure. Our partners work on contingency, meaning they do not get paid unless you do.

Contact a Michigan School Sexual Abuse Lawyer Today

Working with an attorney who understands both the traumatic nature and legal complexities of sexual abuse cases can help you through every step of the lawsuit process. Contact the partners at King Law at (585) 496-2648 for a free, no-obligation consultation.

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