Survivors of McDonogh School Sexual Abuse File Lawsuit
For decades, McDonogh School in Owings Mills, Maryland, was entrusted with the safety and education of young students. However, a newly filed lawsuit reveals a troubling history of child sexual abuse at the elite private school.
Lawsuit Alleges Decades of Abuse at McDonogh School
A group of former students has come forward to file a lawsuit against McDonogh School, alleging that multiple faculty members sexually abused students from the 1960s through the 1980s. The lawsuit, filed under Maryland’s Child Victims Act (CVA), claims that school officials not only failed to protect students but also ignored red flags and prior reports of abuse.
The lawsuit details allegations against former faculty members Alvin Levy, Robert Creed, Bart Harrison, and Josette McMillan, who allegedly used their positions of authority to groom and abuse young students. Some of these perpetrators faced criminal charges decades later, but by then, the damage had already been done.
McDonogh’s Own Investigation Confirmed Abuse
In 2019, McDonogh School publicly acknowledged past allegations of sexual abuse after an independent investigation found that former teachers abused at least 19 students. However, this new lawsuit alleges that the true number of victims is significantly higher. Additionally, faculty members engaged in sexual misconduct.
What happened at The McDonogh School?
The McDonogh School’s 2019 investigation revealed that several teachers had sexually abused students. Two teachers, Alvin Levy and Robert Creed, sexually abused 19 male students from the 1940s until the 1980s.
The investigation also found three other male faculty members sexually abused five female students in the 1970s and 1980s.T&M Protection Resources, the investigating firm, found that school officials had been made aware of the sexual abuse and failed to act.
These egregious acts by the school administration at the time altered dozens of children’s lives.
If a McDonogh School employee has impacted you or your child, you are not alone.
Andreozzi + Foote lawyers offer experience and a trauma-informed approach when seeking justice for our clients.
How Can A Civil Lawsuit Help Victims Seek Justice For The Trauma They May Have Experienced at The McDonogh School?
There are many misunderstandings about why a survivor of sexual abuse would choose to file a civil lawsuit. Child sexual abuse takes away so much from the survivors and families impacted. Our society still struggles to find ways to repair the harm done by individual perpetrators and institutions that have covered up child sexual abuse.
Filing a civil case can be an essential step for survivors and their families in their journey to slowly rebuild their lives and create pathways to healing. Motivation for filing a civil suit is often questioned and unfairly stereotyped as “all about money.” Filing a civil lawsuit can cast survivors as “money hungry” and is weaponized to shame and blame them even more. This couldn’t be further from the truth for survivors of child sexual abuse. The civil justice system offers victims more than just monetary benefits. It gives survivors access to justice, validation, exposure, confrontation, and resolution. The resolution allows survivors of sexual abuse to understand and process what happened and create a new path forward without confusion, questions, and fear.
Can I File A Lawsuit Against the School?
Yes. You might have rights if you were a victim of a McDonogh School school employee.
Andreozzi + Foote is a leading sexual abuse law firm in Maryland. Please get in touch with us today to discuss your possible legal rights.
We know it can be hard to talk about these experiences. Our compassionate sexual abuse lawyers are here to listen and provide knowledgeable legal guidance. We provide free, confidential case evaluations where you can learn more about your rights and options under your state’s laws.
Contact us 24 Hours A Day, 7 Days a week.
