If you experienced misconduct in a school, medical, or youth program setting, you may have legal rights. Our firm represents individuals in civil cases involving institutional failures to prevent or respond to misconduct.
You May Wish to Speak With an Attorney If:
- You were examined or treated in a way that felt inappropriate
- A coach, teacher, or staff member crossed boundaries
- You reported concerns that were ignored
- You are only now realizing past conduct may not have been appropriate
- You have questions about whether legal options still exist
You Are Not Alone
Many individuals do not come forward immediately. It is common for people to process these experiences over time, sometimes years later. Speaking with an attorney does not require you to take any action—it is simply an opportunity to understand your options.
Situations We Investigate
We review matters involving:
- Schools and universities
- Medical providers and healthcare systems
- Youth programs and residential treatment facilities
- Religious or community organizations
- Other institutions where misconduct may have occurred
These cases often involve situations where organizations failed to properly supervise, investigate, or respond to reports of inappropriate conduct.
You May Wish to Speak With an Attorney If
- You experienced inappropriate conduct in an institutional setting
- You reported concerns that were ignored or dismissed
- You are only now recognizing past conduct may have been improper
- You have questions about whether legal options are still available
Legal Rights May Still Exist
In many cases, individuals are able to pursue civil claims even if the events occurred years ago. Laws vary by state, and recent changes in the law may allow claims that were previously time-barred.
Why Sauder Schelkopf
Our firm has been involved in national litigation concerning institutional misconduct, including cases involving universities, medical providers, and youth organizations.
We approach these matters with discretion, care, and a focus on accountability.
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 a loved one experienced sexual abuse, you may contact the attorneys at Sauder Schelkopf for a confidential consultation by completing the form on this page.