Standing With Survivors. Pursuing Accountability.
Survivors of sexual abuse deserve to be heard, believed, and protected. At Sauder Schelkopf, we represent individuals who have suffered sexual abuse and assault in a wide range of settings. Our firm is committed to holding individuals and institutions accountable when they fail to prevent abuse or respond appropriately to reports of misconduct.
If you or a loved one experienced sexual abuse, you are not alone—and you may have legal rights.
How We Help Survivors
Sexual abuse cases are complex and deeply personal. Our role is to guide survivors through the civil justice system with care, discretion, and strength.
We investigate claims involving:
- Institutional sexual abuse
- Abuse in schools, universities, and youth organizations
- Medical provider misconduct
- Abuse in residential treatment centers and foster care settings
- Workplace sexual exploitation or coercion
- Sexual abuse involving minors or vulnerable individuals
Our firm focuses on civil litigation, which is separate from criminal proceedings and allows survivors to pursue financial compensation and institutional accountability.
A Record of Taking on Institutions
Sauder Schelkopf has experience handling large-scale, high-impact cases involving allegations of systemic abuse and institutional failure.
University of Southern California (USC)
We served as part of the legal team that secured a $215 million settlement on behalf of patients of a former university physician accused of decades of misconduct. The resolution included meaningful institutional reforms aimed at improving reporting and oversight.
Ohio State University (OSU)
We represent former students and athletes in litigation involving a former university doctor. After the U.S. Supreme Court declined review, these cases have continued to move forward. To date, the university has paid tens of millions of dollars to resolve claims, with additional cases pending.
University of Michigan
Our firm achieved a class action settlement that led to significant policy and structural reforms addressing sexual misconduct on campus.
Devereux Advanced Behavioral Health
We filed litigation alleging sexual, physical, and emotional abuse of children in institutional care, seeking accountability and damages for survivors.
Glen Mills Schools
We represent former students of this now-closed facility in litigation involving allegations of systemic abuse, including sexual misconduct and neglect.
Why Survivors Come Forward
Many survivors delay reporting abuse—sometimes for years or decades. This is common and understandable.
You may still have a case even if:
- The abuse occurred years ago
- You did not report it at the time
- The person responsible is no longer in a position of authority
- The institution has since closed or changed
Laws in many states have evolved to allow survivors additional time to pursue civil claims.
What Compensation May Include
Civil cases may allow survivors to recover damages for:
- Emotional distress and trauma
- Medical and psychological treatment
- Loss of educational or career opportunities
- Pain and suffering
- Other long-term impacts of abuse
In some cases, litigation can also lead to institutional reforms that help protect others.
Our Approach
We understand how difficult it can be to come forward. Our team prioritizes:
- Confidentiality and discretion
- Respectful, survivor-centered communication
- Thorough investigation of institutional responsibility
- Strategic litigation against well-funded organizations
There is no obligation to move forward after speaking with us. Initial consultations are free.
Contact Sauder Schelkopf
If you or someone you love experienced sexual abuse, we encourage you to reach out. Speaking with an attorney can help you understand your options.
Experience Matters
Sauder Schelkopf has a nationally recognized litigation practice. The firm currently serves as court-appointed lead counsel in courts across the country. The attorneys at Sauder Schelkopf have recovered over $1 billion on behalf of their clients and class members. Our firm was recognized by the Legal Intelligencer’s 2022 Professional Excellence Awards. The Legal Intelligencer’s Professional Excellence Awards honor Pennsylvania law firms and attorneys who have made a significant, positive impact on the legal profession. Our firm was named in the Litigation Departments of the Year (Specialty Area category; runner-up), an award that honors the best litigation practice in a small or mid-sized firm in Pennsylvania. This recognition was based on the firm’s 2021 litigation work and its important ongoing cases. LawDragon has recognized our attorneys in its list of the “500 Leading Plaintiff Consumer Lawyers” for 2022. This list notes: “From the opioid epidemic to toxic substances and defective products, truck accidents to wildfires and sexual abuse, these are the lawyers who stand on the front line in individual lawsuits and class actions seeking justice.” Mr. Schelkopf was named to Pennsylvania’s Best Lawyers® 2022 for Class Actions/Mass Tort Litigation. The American Lawyer named Mr. Sauder to its 2021 Northeast Trailblazers. The honor recognizes 60 lawyers who are “truly agents of change.” It “recognizes professionals in the Northeast who have moved the needle in the legal industry.” The Legal Intelligencer named Mr. Sauder and Mr. Schelkopf in its 2020 Pennsylvania Trailblazers list recognizing 31 lawyers who “have taken extra measures to contribute to positive outcomes . . . and who are truly agents of change.” The Legal highlighted the firm’s innovative work on advocacy as class counsel in large institutional sex abuse cover-ups, women’s, and children’s rights. Our attorneys have also consistently been recognized by their peers being named to Pennsylvania SuperLawyer, a distinction held by the top 5% of attorneys in Pennsylvania. The National Trial Lawyers Association has also selected our attorneys as the Top 100 Trial Lawyers in Pennsylvania.
We Want to Hear from You
If you or someone you love experienced sexual abuse, we encourage you to reach out. Speaking with an attorney can help you understand your options.