New Jersey School Sexual Abuse Lawyers

Teacher Sexual Assault Attorneys in Red Bank, NJ Offering Compassionate Legal Representation For Victims of School Employee Abuse in Essex County, Union County, Middlesex County, and Throughout New Jersey

School should be a safe place for your child, not a place where they’re subjected to harassment or abuse—especially from teachers. Educators and other adult staff have not only a responsibility to know better but also a duty to provide a safe learning environment. After receiving troubling reports of harassment of preteen victims, the New Jersey school sexual abuse lawyers at Drazin & Warshaw have turned our attention to fighting for children who have been victimized by the school staff entrusted with their care and education. 

For children who report sexual harassment or abuse at school and parents who aren’t sure where to turn for help, our firm provides dedicated support throughout the legal process. We hold schools accountable for staff misconduct and pursue maximum compensation that fully addresses the harm harassment can cause, particularly for young and impressionable children. 

Our team is ready to guide your family’s next steps, starting with a free consultation. We’ll explain the legal process, your child’s rights, and how we can secure justice and accountability while protecting your child’s privacy. Contact us today for help exploring your child’s options. 

Steps to Take When Parents Believe Their Child Is Being Harassed at School

Parents first become aware of sexual harassment or abuse at school in different ways. Perhaps your child reported their teacher’s inappropriate conduct to you directly. Maybe you overheard concerning conversations with their friends. In some instances, you might have glimpsed emails that made you question the behavior of your child’s teacher. The first sign of trouble may have been changes in your child’s mood or behavior. 

Regardless of how your suspicions developed, you know that you need to take action. You need to protect your child from further—and potentially escalating—harm. 

The first thing parents should do when they suspect abuse or harassment by a teacher is gather all of the information and potential evidence they have. Talk to your child, reassuring them that whatever happened isn’t their fault. Maintain copies of any emails or written communications that you find concerning. 

If any sort of physical sexual contact or assault occurred, you need to seek appropriate medical care for your child right away. Even if the harassment or abuse never turned physical, the consequences on your child’s mental well-being can be significant. You should discuss the situation with trusted care providers and determine what kind of support, such as counseling by a licensed mental health professional, may be appropriate. 

Instances of sexual abuse or harassment by school staff are often legally complex. They may involve criminal charges against the perpetrator, disciplinary action by the school or district, and claims against the school in civil court. If you or your child already tried dealing with the teacher or school directly, such as by notifying an official or school employee who is a mandatory reporter, additional parties may be culpable for enabling ongoing abuse. 

The exact next steps differ depending on your specific circumstances, but a good place to start is consulting our knowledgeable, compassionate teacher sexual assault attorneys in Red Bank, NJ. We’re ready to assess your situation at no cost, help you determine your next move, and fight relentlessly for justice for your child. 

Sexual Harassment and Abuse in New Jersey Schools

Sexual harassment or abuse of schoolchildren is unacceptable, yet we’ve uncovered documented harassment by teachers—even in elementary schools, where the youngest and most impressionable victims may spend most of the day stuck in a classroom with the adult who is mistreating them. 

In some instances, this abuse and harassment went on for years. Although colleagues and administration knew of the mistreatment that was occurring, they ignored it, leaving innocent children to fend for themselves against the ongoing misconduct of authority figures. All the while, the children suffered emotionally and psychologically, and their parents felt helpless to put an end to the mistreatment. 

This doesn’t have to happen anymore. Families that have been affected by sexual harassment and abuse in schools can turn to Drazin & Warshaw for unwavering legal advocacy. We pursue full accountability against all parties, securing justice for children whose childhoods have been disrupted by sexual harassment and making an example of predators in teaching positions and the negligent schools and districts that hire them or enable patterns of abuse. 

Types of School Sexual Abuse and Harassment Claims Our Attorneys Handle

No child should be subjected to harassment or abuse, but when such conduct occurs at the hands of teachers and other school employees, it’s a particularly heinous betrayal of students’ and their families’ trust. At Drazin & Warshaw, our New Jersey school sexual abuse lawyers stand up for all children who have been victimized by teachers, administrators, bus drivers, and other adults who are supposed to protect and educate them. 

Our attorneys are actively investigating cases on behalf of students and their families that involve any of the following: 

• School sexual harassment by teachers and school employees: Lewd or sexual comments, including sexual or romantic advances, requests or demands for sexual favors, and comments about the student’s body, appearance, sexual history, or sexual orientation
• Sexual abuse by teachers and school employees in NJ schools: Patterns of sexual misconduct perpetrated against a student, including verbal comments and physical contact
• Sexual assault by teachers and school employees: Physical sexual contact, including but not limited to intercourse or penetration, between the teacher or school employee and the student, particularly when the victim is a minor (under age 18)

Our attorneys hold teachers and other adult staff at both public and private schools at all grade levels accountable for engaging in patterns of harassment or committing devastating sexual assaults. We know how to address complex and challenging claims, including situations that involve cover-ups by school employees and administrators. 

The Responsibilities of School Employees

School employees and districts owe certain duties to children in their care. While the teacher or staff member who sexually harassed or abused your child clearly deviated from their duties, additional parties may bear liability, including school employees who failed to report known or suspected harassment and schools or districts that neglected to follow proper procedures established by sexual harassment policies.

Appropriate Conduct

School employees are expected to conduct themselves appropriately, a responsibility that includes—but goes well beyond—not engaging in physical sexual contact with students. School employees should refrain from making lewd or sexual comments about students’ appearances, bodies, or sexual orientations. Verbal, written, or physical romantic or sexual advances of any kind, including requests for physical contact or sexual favors, can constitute harassment. 

State-Mandated Sexual Harassment Policies

Under New Jersey law, school districts must implement and publicize sexual harassment policies, including a formal complaint process. Further, all school employees should be informed of how the complaint process works, and administrators and others in supervisory positions must be trained to respond to harassment complaints. 

These policies and school employees’ obligations under them are often applied to matters of student-on-student harassment, in which efforts to hold the school liable typically revolve around arguments that the school district failed to take reasonable measures to put an end to the harassment. However, school sexual harassment policies also apply when the perpetrator is a teacher or another staff member. 

Numerous rulings, some dating back decades, have established that New Jersey school districts have a duty to maintain the safety of the child and their learning environment, and that these institutions could potentially be held liable for harm that results from teacher-to-student sexual harassment—particularly in situations in which the schools is deliberately indifferent to reports of harassment. 

Mandatory Reporting 

All school employees—including teachers, aides, administrators, and other staff—are mandatory reporters of any known or suspected abuse under New Jersey Law. Per the NJEA, this means that New Jersey school employees have an obligation to notify the Institutional Abuse Investigation Unit (IAIU), part of New Jersey’s Department of Children and Families (DCF), of suspected abuse immediately. 

Failing to report suspected abuse is a serious error, potentially punishable by criminal penalties. Despite the consequences, our firm has seen firsthand how defendants’ colleagues, school officials, and educational leaders have failed to uphold this duty in cases of ongoing patterns of abuse in which the school system was well aware of the misconduct. 

Our Dedicated Teacher Sexual Assault Attorneys in Red Bank, NJ, Hold Schools and Educators Accountable

When teachers deny misconduct or school administrators try to blame the victim instead of addressing their own employees’ harassment, we know how to uncover the truth. We conduct a thorough investigation to identify all possible liable parties. Our New Jersey school sexual abuse lawyers are skilled at gathering evidence to support our clients’ claims, including emails and other correspondence between the teacher and the student, witness accounts of inappropriate conduct, and records of school administrators. 

As a family of trial attorneys and parents ourselves, the team at Drazin & Warshaw recognizes how devastating this situation is for children victimized in schools and their families. We represent our clients with compassion, a focus on justice and accountability, and a commitment to protecting our clients’ privacy. 

How Drazin & Warshaw Can Help

Families turn to our New Jersey school sexual abuse lawyers for comprehensive support through the legal system. You need to focus on your child’s recovery from this terrible mistreatment, not the demands of the legal process. Our firm handles every part of your fight for justice, including: 

• Managing interactions with all defendants and insurers
• Conducting a thorough investigation 
• Gathering evidence to support a school sexual abuse or harassment claim
• Preparing all paperwork and legal filings
• Keeping track of deadlines and procedural requirements
• Representing your child and your family in legal proceedings and settlement negotiations
• Advocating relentlessly for an outcome that provides justice, accountability, and the resources children harmed by teacher abuse and assault need to heal and move forward 

We represent clients throughout New Jersey, and we’re committed to combating sexual harassment, abuse, and assault at public and private schools at every grade level across the state. 

Why Choose Drazin & Warshaw as Your New Jersey School Sexual Abuse Lawyers?

When families need attorneys with the compassion to represent the children who have been abused or harassed, as well as a commitment to fighting for justice no matter what, they turn to the team at Drazin & Warshaw for dedicated, affordable legal services. 

Compassionate, Personal Representation for Your Family

We recognize that sexual harassment and abuse cases, particularly those involving child victims, require the utmost care and compassion. As a family of trial lawyers serving as a voice for victims throughout the state for three generations, we’re here to ensure your child is protected and represent them with respect for their privacy and understanding of what they’ve been through. Our firm is committed to developing personal relationships with the families we serve to provide the client experience you deserve and inform the outcome of your case. 

Dedication to Fighting for Justice and Accountability

At Drazin & Warshaw, we never back down from the fight for justice, especially when cases involve situations as serious as sexual harassment and abuse of minors. From the first moment you retain our services, we’re prepared to dedicate our extensive resources and considerable legal skill to securing an outcome that addresses your losses as fully as possible. We’ve been serving clients and winning cases since 1947, and we continue to recover results for our clients through hard work and commitment. 

Risk-Free Legal Representation at No Upfront Cost

We know how many obstacles stand in the way of victims of sexual harassment and abuse receiving the legal help they need. That’s why we’re committed to removing the barriers by offering free consultations and representing victims of abuse at no upfront cost. You owe us nothing unless we succeed in collecting compensation for you, so your family doesn’t have to worry about taking on the financial burden of commencing legal proceedings. 

Contact the New Jersey School Sexual Abuse Lawyers at Drazin & Warshaw Today for a Free Case Review

For too long, your child has been harassed or abused. They have likely been silenced and potentially even made to feel afraid of their abuser or ashamed of the misconduct that was perpetrated against them. Taking legal action now can protect your child from further harm and mistreatment. 

For help from experienced teacher sexual assault attorneys in Red Bank, NJ, contact Drazin & Warshaw online or call 732-333-8141 today. 

Frequently Asked Questions About School Sexual Abuse Lawsuits in New Jersey