Sexual Abuse at St. George’s School? Tell Us About Your Claim; You Deserve Justice!
St. George’s School in Middletown, Rhode Island, has faced decades of sexual abuse allegations involving former faculty, staff, and students. Investigations documented more than 60 alleged incidents, and former students who experienced sexual abuse at the school may have legal options to pursue compensation and hold responsible parties accountable.
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St. George's School Sexual Abuse Lawsuit
St. George's School in Middletown, Rhode Island, has faced decades of sexual abuse allegations involving former faculty, staff, and students. Investigations documented more than 60 alleged incidents, and former students who experienced sexual abuse at the school may have legal options to pursue compensation and hold responsible parties accountable.
St. George’s School, a private boarding school in Middletown, Rhode Island, has faced allegations that students were sexually abused by faculty, staff, and other students over several decades. Investigations commissioned by the school documented numerous reports of alleged sexual misconduct dating back to the 1970s. The allegations involved multiple former employees and included claims of inappropriate touching, sexual assault, and other misconduct. Former students also reported incidents of student-on-student sexual abuse. The allegations have resulted in investigations, civil claims, a settlement with former students, and major questions about how St. George’s School responded to reports of misconduct.
Former students who allegedly experienced sexual abuse at St. George’s School may have legal options. Depending on the circumstances, survivors may be able to pursue compensation from an alleged abuser, the school, or other responsible parties. If you or someone you love experienced alleged sexual abuse while attending St. George’s School, you can speak with an attorney about your rights. Call our consumer advocates today or fill out the form on this page for help.
Background of Alleged Sexual Misconduct at St. George's School
St. George’s School is a private boarding school in Middletown, Rhode Island, that serves students in grades nine through twelve. Allegations of sexual misconduct at the school date back to the 1970s and involve multiple former employees. The allegations received greater public attention in 2015, when St. George’s began investigating reports from former students. The school’s first investigation identified 26 credible accounts of misconduct involving six former employees.
Some survivors and their attorneys criticized that investigation as too limited. In response, St. George’s commissioned a broader independent investigation. Completed in 2016, the follow-up investigation included interviews with more than 150 witnesses and a review of thousands of school records. It examined allegations of misconduct at the boarding school between 1970 and 2015. This investigation, conducted by the law firm Foley Hoag LLP, documented more than 60 alleged incidents involving 10 identified perpetrators, including athletic trainer Al Gibbs.
What Did the St. George's School Investigation Find?
One of the major issues examined by investigators was not simply whether sexual misconduct occurred at St. George’s School, but how school officials responded when concerns about employees were raised. According to the independent investigation, St. George’s allegedly failed on multiple occasions to report suspected abuse to authorities. Investigators also examined situations in which employees accused of misconduct were allowed to leave the school without the circumstances surrounding their departures being publicly disclosed.
The report further documented allegations that former employees received favorable recommendations or continued financial support after leaving St. George’s. Investigators concluded that past institutional decisions sometimes placed the school’s reputation ahead of student safety. These findings are significant because sexual abuse lawsuits against schools can involve more than the actions of an individual alleged abuser. A school’s own conduct may become an important part of a civil claim.
Allegations Against St. George's School Faculty and Staff
The allegations of sexual abuse at St. George’s School involved several former faculty and staff members across different periods in the school’s history. Some of the most troubling allegations concerned an athletic trainer, Alphonse “Al” Gibbs, who started working at St. George’s as a part-time employee in 1965, when it was an all-boys’ school. He was hired as a full-time employee in 1973, when the school first began admitting girls. According to the 2016 report, “Gibbs began sexually abusing female St. George’s students nearly as soon as they arrived on campus. He engaged in sexual misconduct with girls in every class from the Class of 1976 (who were freshmen when he started) to the Class of 1982.” He was ultimately fired by the headmaster for sexual misconduct, and has since been named in first-hand reports by 31 women.
Other allegations of sexual abuse at St. George’s School involved former music instructor and choirmaster, Franklin Coleman. He taught at the school until May 1988, when he was terminated for inappropriate sexual conduct with a male student. “Coleman, like Gibbs, sexually abused at least one student in each year of his tenure at the school,” the report states. “Ten St. George’s alumni made first-hand reports of abuse by Coleman.”
A part-time nurse at St. George’s, Susan Goddard, was also named in the sexual abuse report. She worked at the school from 1976 through 1998. According to the investigation, Goddard engaged in sexual misconduct with a male student in 1979 and 1980, when the student was a junior and senior and she was in her late 30s.
Student-on-Student Sexual Abuse Allegations at St. George’s
The investigations into sexual abuse allegations at St. George’s were not limited to faculty and staff. Former students also reported sexual misconduct and assaults involving other students, including unwanted sexual contact, nighttime intrusions into dorm rooms, and other forms of alleged sexual violence.
According to the report, St. George’s disciplinary response varied depending on the incident. Some students accused of misconduct were expelled. However, investigators also examined whether inadequate adult supervision and aspects of the school’s culture created opportunities for misconduct to occur.
Schools like St. George’s have a responsibility to take reasonable measures to protect students from harm. Depending on the facts, allegations involving abuse by another student can therefore raise questions about supervision, prior warning signs, reporting practices, and the response of school officials.
Legal Proceedings Involving St. George's School
Legal claims involving alleged sexual abuse at St. George’s date back decades and detail allegations of misconduct, institutional failures, and harm suffered by former students.
In 1988, a former student filed a lawsuit alleging that the school’s athletic trainer repeatedly raped her while she was a student from 1977 to 1979. St. George’s sought to have the lawsuit dismissed based on the statute of limitations. The former student eventually withdrew her claim under an agreement that included confidentiality provisions.
The school’s approach changed considerably after the later investigations brought additional sexual misconduct allegations to public attention. In 2016, St. George’s entered settlement negotiations involving approximately 30 former students who alleged that they had experienced sexual abuse while attending the school. A settlement was reached in August 2016, the specific financial terms of which were not publicly disclosed.
Were Criminal Charges Filed Against the Alleged Perpetrators?
Rhode Island State Police investigated allegations of sexual abuse at St. George’s School after they became public in 2015. Investigators reviewed evidence, interviewed witnesses, and considered whether criminal charges could be brought against the alleged perpetrators. Ultimately, no criminal charges were filed.
Several factors reportedly made criminal prosecution difficult. Some of the alleged abuse occurred decades earlier and fell outside the applicable criminal statutes of limitations. Several accused individuals had also died before the investigation began. In addition, the passage of time created challenges related to witnesses, memories, and the availability of evidence.
However, the lack of criminal charges does not necessarily prevent a survivor from pursuing a civil claim. Civil lawsuits are separate from criminal cases and are subject to different legal standards and filing requirements.
Can St. George's School Sexual Abuse Survivors File a Lawsuit?
Former students who allegedly experienced sexual abuse at St. George’s may have the right to pursue a civil claim, depending on their individual circumstances and applicable Rhode Island law. A sexual abuse lawsuit can potentially seek to hold an individual perpetrator responsible. It may also seek to hold a school or other institution accountable for its own actions or failures.
Depending on the evidence, legal claims involving institutional abuse may include allegations that the educational institution:
- Failed to adequately supervise employees or students
- Ignored warning signs or complaints
- Kept an employee in a position involving children despite concerning behavior
- Failed to properly investigate allegations
- Failed to report suspected abuse to authorities
- Did not take reasonable measures to protect students
The specific claims available depend on what happened, when the alleged abuse occurred, what school officials knew or should have known, and other facts unique to the survivor’s experience. An experienced attorney can investigate those circumstances and determine which parties may potentially be held responsible.
What Compensation May Be Available in a Sexual Abuse Lawsuit?
No amount of compensation can reverse what happened to a sexual abuse survivor. A civil lawsuit can, however, provide financial recovery for losses associated with the alleged abuse and its long-term effects. Depending on the circumstances, compensation may be available for:
- Emotional distress and psychological harm
- Counseling, therapy, and other treatment
- Future mental health care
- Lost income or reduced earning ability
- Effects on education and career opportunities
- Pain and suffering
- Loss of enjoyment of life
How Long Do St. George's School Abuse Survivors Have to File a Lawsuit?
Rhode Island has changed its statute of limitations for certain childhood sexual abuse claims, which may give some survivors more time to pursue a civil lawsuit. However, the deadline to file depends on the circumstances of each claim, including when the alleged abuse occurred and who may be legally responsible. Survivors should not assume they are unable to file a sexual abuse lawsuit simply because the alleged abuse happened many years or even decades ago. An attorney experienced in childhood sexual abuse claims can review the circumstances and determine whether a survivor may still have time to pursue a lawsuit.
How Has St. George's School Responded to the Abuse Allegations?
Following the investigations into allegations of sexual abuse, St. George’s School announced several changes aimed at improving student safety. These measures included stronger employee background and reference checks, updated procedures for reporting suspected abuse, and additional training for faculty, staff, and trustees. The school also brought in outside experts to review its abuse-prevention policies, established resources for survivors, including counseling support, and made changes related to school leadership and oversight.
While these changes address student safety going forward, they do not determine whether the school may be legally responsible for alleged abuse or institutional failures that occurred in the past. Former students who experienced alleged sexual abuse at St. George’s may still have legal options depending on the circumstances of their claim.
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What should you do? If you were the victim of sexual abuse by faculty, staff, or any other person at St. George’s School, you should contact a lawyer as soon as possible to discuss filing a sex abuse lawsuit.
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If you or a loved one experienced alleged sexual abuse at St. George’s School in Middletown, Rhode Island, you may be entitled to pursue a civil claim. An experienced sexual abuse attorney can review your claim, investigate the circumstances surrounding the alleged abuse, determine which parties may be responsible, and explain the filing deadlines that apply to your situation. Call our consumer advocates today or fill out the form on this page to explore your legal options.
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