Horace Mann, an elite private school in the Bronx, was rocked by multiple reports of child sexual abuse and a coverup after an article was published in the New York Times Magazine. The abuse spanned decades beginning in the 1960s. It was found that a number of serial sexual abusers had been employed by the school and that the school failed to address reports of the abuse properly. It was reported that at least 60 students were abused by 22 school employees.
No charges were ever filed as a result of these abuse allegations because the cases fell outside of the statute of limitations for pursuing criminal or civil damages. The Child Victims Act may give these survivors a second chance at justice. The Act contains a one-year look-back provision that allows adult survivors of childhood sexual abuse to seek compensation from abusers and institutions that protected them. This means that even if survivors were abused decades ago, they might now have the opportunity to hold institutions like Horace Mann accountable.
Other Institutions
Thousands of children attend a number of private schools in New York, and unfortunately, hundreds have been exposed to sexual abuse in these institutions over the decades. Other institutions where child sexual abuse has been reported include:
- Brooklyn Poly Prep—school officials covered up reports that football coach Phil Foglietta abused hundreds of boys during his 25 years at the school.
- Brearley School—4 teachers at this all-girls private school in Manhattan were found to have engaged in sexual misconduct with students from the 1950s to the 1990s
- Archdiocese of New York—numerous Jesuits and teachers at elite Catholic schools such as Xavier, Regis, Brooklyn Prep, and Fordham Prep were identified as having a history of serious sexual abuse.
Until recently, private schools were not required to report sexual abuse to authorities the way public schools have been. Therefore, it is possible that there are victims at other private schools that have yet to come forward.
Contact a Trusted Attorney
If you have been the victim of childhood sexual abuse at a private school or other institution, it is important that you consult with an experienced and trusted attorney as soon as possible. At Bonina & Bonina, P.C., we have over 50 years of experience helping injured New Yorkers, and we want to help you. Contact us online or call us at 1-888-MEDLAW1 to schedule your free consultation. Se habla español.