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National Institutional Sexual Abuse Lawyers

Holding Schools, Churches, and Organizations Accountable for Failing to Protect Survivors

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When Institutions Fail to Protect You, We Hold Them Accountable

Sexual abuse by someone in a position of authority — a teacher, priest, coach, counselor, or youth group leader — is a profound betrayal. When that abuse occurs within an institution, the harm is compounded by the organization’s failure to screen, supervise, and protect those in its care.

At Phillips & Associates, we represent survivors of institutional sexual abuse throughout the United States. We hold schools, churches, dioceses, sports organizations, nonprofits, and government agencies accountable for the abuse that occurred under their watch. Our attorneys have extensive experience navigating the complex legal landscape of institutional liability, including state lookback window laws across the country.

You are not alone. We are here to help you seek justice and compensation — at no cost unless we win.

Institutions We Hold Accountable

Catholic Dioceses & Churches

Clergy abuse, cover-ups, and failure to remove known abusers from ministry.

Public & Private Schools

Teacher, coach, and counselor abuse. Negligent hiring and failure to report.

Youth Organizations

Boy Scouts, YMCA, Big Brothers Big Sisters, sports clubs, and camps.

Foster Care & Group Homes

Abuse by foster parents, group home staff, or other residents.

Juvenile Detention Facilities

Abuse by staff or other detainees in state or county facilities.

Government Entities

Abuse by government employees or in government-run facilities.

Lookback Window Laws: Extended Rights for Survivors

Many states have enacted lookback window laws that dramatically expanded the rights of childhood sexual abuse survivors to seek civil justice. Key provisions include:

  • Extended deadline: Survivors can file a civil lawsuit until age 40, or within 5 years of discovering the psychological injury caused by the abuse — whichever is later.
  • Treble damages: If an institution engaged in a cover-up of the abuse, courts may award triple the actual damages.
  • Retroactive window: lookback window laws opened a three-year window (2020–2023) for claims that had previously expired under the old statute of limitations.
  • Broad definition: The law covers a wide range of sexual abuse and assault, not just penetration.

If you were abused as a child by someone in an institutional setting, you may still have a valid claim even if the abuse occurred decades ago. Contact us today for a free, confidential evaluation.

Frequently Asked Questions

Institutional sexual abuse occurs when a person in a position of authority within an organization — such as a school, church, sports program, youth group, or foster care system — uses that position to sexually abuse a child or vulnerable adult. The institution may be liable if it knew or should have known about the abuse and failed to act.
state law allows survivors to sue a wide range of institutions including Catholic dioceses and other religious organizations, public and private schools and school districts, youth-serving nonprofits (Boy Scouts, YMCA, Big Brothers Big Sisters), foster care agencies, juvenile detention facilities, sports clubs and camps, and government entities.
lookback window laws, signed into law in 2019, extended the statute of limitations for childhood sexual abuse civil claims nationwide. It allows survivors to file a lawsuit until age 40 (or within 5 years of discovering the connection between the abuse and their injuries). It also opened a three-year window for claims that had previously expired, and allows treble (triple) damages against institutions that covered up abuse.
Under lookback window laws, survivors of childhood sexual abuse can file a civil lawsuit until age 40, or within 5 years of discovering the psychological injury caused by the abuse — whichever is later. For adult survivors, the standard statute of limitations applies. We strongly recommend contacting an attorney as soon as possible to evaluate your specific situation.
Yes. Courts across the country have allowed survivors to sue Catholic dioceses, individual parishes, and other religious organizations for clergy sexual abuse. The institution can be held liable for negligent hiring, supervision, or retention of the abuser, and for failing to report known abuse. Dioceses and religious organizations across the country have paid significant settlements to survivors.
Yes. Both public and private school districts can be held liable for sexual abuse by teachers, coaches, counselors, or other staff. state law requires schools to conduct background checks and report suspected abuse. When schools fail these obligations and a student is harmed, the district may be held liable for damages.
Survivors may be entitled to compensation for medical and psychological treatment costs, pain and suffering, lost wages and earning capacity, emotional distress, and loss of enjoyment of life. In cases where an institution engaged in a cover-up, lookback window laws in many states allow courts to award treble (triple) damages.
The timeline varies depending on the complexity of the case, the number of defendants, and whether the case settles or goes to trial. Many cases resolve within 1–3 years. Our attorneys work efficiently to move your case forward while ensuring you receive the full compensation you deserve.
Most institutional sexual abuse cases settle before trial, meaning you may never have to testify in open court. If your case does go to trial, our attorneys will prepare you thoroughly and advocate for your privacy at every step. Courts in many states also have procedures to protect survivors’ identities in certain cases.
We handle all institutional sexual abuse cases on a contingency fee basis — you pay nothing unless we win. There are no upfront costs, no hourly fees, and no out-of-pocket expenses. Our fee is a percentage of the recovery, so we only get paid when you do.

Resources for Institutional Abuse Survivors nationwide

SNAP — Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests

The largest and oldest support group for survivors of clergy abuse. Offers peer support, resources, and advocacy. National Resource

Office for Victims of Crime (OVC) — Find Help

A federal resource connecting survivors with local victim services, compensation programs, and legal assistance across all 50 states. National Resource

Childhelp National Child Abuse Hotline

24/7 crisis intervention, information, and referrals. Call or text 1-800-422-4453. National Resource

Child Welfare Information Gateway — Civil Statutes of Limitations

A state-by-state guide to civil statutes of limitations for childhood sexual abuse claims, maintained by the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services. National Resource

RAINN — National Sexual Assault Hotline

Call 1-800-656-HOPE (4673) or chat online at rainn.org. Free, confidential support 24/7. National Resource

Phillips & Associates is not affiliated with any of the organizations listed above. These resources are provided for informational purposes only.

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