Trusted student protection lawyers serving clients across St. Louis with over 80 years of combined experience.
If your child was sexually assaulted at school and the institution failed to respond, or retaliated against your family for reporting it, you have legal options worth understanding. Our St. Louis, MO student sexual assault lawyer at TGH Litigation represents students and families in exactly these situations across St. Louis and Missouri. We offer free initial consultations to help you assess your rights.
Student Sexual Assault Lawyer St. Louis, MO
A student sexual assault attorney represents students and families when a school or university fails to protect a student from sexual violence or mishandles a report of assault. These cases sit at the intersection of Title IX federal law and state tort claims. The school may have violated federal civil rights law, or individual employees may have acted negligently or with deliberate disregard for a student’s safety.
In St. Louis, MO, these cases arise in K-12 schools, colleges, and universities alike. They often involve failures to investigate, inadequate supervision, unsafe facilities, or retaliation against the student or family after a complaint was made. We help families understand which legal claims apply, what evidence is needed, and how to pursue accountability through litigation or federal administrative channels.
It’s worth understanding that Title IX and state tort law can operate simultaneously. A school may face federal liability for its deliberate indifference to known misconduct while individual employees face separate civil claims for negligence or intentional wrongdoing. Pursuing both tracks often puts more pressure on institutions to respond seriously. The right legal strategy depends heavily on the facts: who knew what about a situation, when they knew it, and what they did or failed to do in response.
Types of Student Sexual Assault Cases We Handle in St. Louis
TGH Litigation represents students and families across a range of situations where a school failed to fulfill its obligation to protect. The cases are fact-specific, but the core failures tend to fall into recognizable patterns.
- Title IX. When a school has notice of sexual harassment or assault and responds with deliberate indifference, it can be held liable under Title IX. We’ve pursued these claims at both the K-12 and university level.
- School harassment. Sexual harassment by peers, staff, or administrators that goes unaddressed by the school is a distinct problem. We handle cases where the harassment itself was the central harm.
- Failure to investigate. Schools are required to conduct prompt, equitable investigations when they receive a report of sexual misconduct. Failure to do so, or conducting a process that is inadequate on its face, can be the basis of a legal claim.
- Inadequate supervision and unsafe conditions. When sexual assault occurs because a school failed to provide adequate supervision or maintain safe facilities, negligence claims may apply alongside federal civil rights claims.
- Employee-on-student assault. Cases involving abuse by a teacher, coach, administrator, or other school employee carry additional legal weight. The institution may bear direct liability.
- Retaliation following a complaint. Families who report an assault and then face retaliation, including academic consequences for the student, adverse treatment, or pressure to stay quiet, have a separate actionable claim. We take these cases seriously.
- School discrimination. At the university level, sexual assault allegations result in formal grievance processes with significant consequences for both the complainant and the respondent. We represent both sides.
- Institutional cover-ups. When a school’s failure involves active concealment of misconduct by officials, the legal exposure for the institution is substantially greater than simple neglect.
Why Choose TGH Litigation as My Student Sexual Assault Lawyer in St. Louis, Missouri?
A Firm That Has Actually Done This Work
Joanna Trachtenberg has represented students and families in Title IX investigations, civil rights proceedings, and school administrative matters across Missouri throughout her career. She holds an M.A. in Women’s Studies from the University of Limerick with First Class Honors and a J.D. cum laude from New York University School of Law. That background gives her a distinct perspective on cases involving gender-based violence and institutional responsibility.
J. Andrew Hirth has worked on civil rights matters at every level of the federal court system. Admitted to practice before the U.S. Supreme Court, four federal circuit courts, and multiple district courts, he has the appellate background to pursue student sexual assault cases.
Julianne Germinder is a Washington University School of Law graduate whose civil rights practice earned her the Women’s Justice Award from Missouri Lawyers Media. She brings a strategic approach to every matter she handles.
The firm’s record in cases involving sex discrimination and retaliation at St. Louis schools reflects what’s possible when the right attorneys are involved. TGH Litigation has helped clients recover millions of dollars in cases against St. Louis Public Schools and other institutional defendants, including results that required taking cases to trial against well-funded opponents.
What Is Important To Understand About Student Sexual Assault Cases?
Liability, Damages, and Legal Theories in Student Sexual Assault Cases
Student sexual assault cases can involve multiple legal theories running in parallel. Here’s a basic overview of the concepts that matter most:
- Title IX liability: Requires showing the school received federal funds, had actual notice of the misconduct, and responded with deliberate indifference.
- Negligence: A school or its employees may be directly liable if they failed to exercise reasonable care in supervision or reporting.
- Respondeat superior: In cases involving employee misconduct, the institution may be liable for acts that occurred within the scope of employment.
- Negligent hiring or retention: If a school hired or kept an employee despite known risks, that decision itself may be actionable.
- Compensatory damages: Available in both Title IX and tort claims, including emotional distress and loss of educational opportunity.
- Punitive damages: Available in some circumstances under state tort law when conduct is outrageous or willful.
What Are Important Aspects of a Student Sexual Assault Case?
Beyond the assault itself, the school’s conduct after the fact is often where the legal case is built or lost. Key factors include:
- Whether the school had prior complaints about the offender
- How quickly it responded to the report
- If the student was separated from the alleged perpetrator during any investigation
- Whether there is any record of the school discouraging the family from contacting law enforcement
- Disciplinary records, investigation files, and internal school communications all matter significantly
What Is the Student Sexual Assault Case Timeline?
At your initial consultation, We review what happened, who knew about the assault, and what the school did or failed to do in response. The timeline of these cases generally goes as follows:
- Evidence preservation. This begins immediately. School records and personnel files may be subject to spoliation if not requested promptly.
- Administrative or legal filing. Depending on the facts, we may file with the Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights, initiate litigation, or both.
- Discovery. School records, internal communications, and witness depositions are central to building the case.
- Resolution. Some cases settle, others require trial. We prepare for both from the start.
What Should You Bring to Your Consultation?
Timing matters, and some deadlines cannot be extended. For this reasons, we always suggest visiting our office as soon as possible so we can advise further on your situation. If you have them, take these items with you to your appointment with us:
- Communications with the school about the incident
- Records of any investigation the school conducted
- Medical or counseling records if relevant
- A written account of what your child experienced and how the school responded
- Any records of adverse treatment or retaliation that followed the report
Missouri Legal Resources for Student Sexual Assault Cases
Student sexual assault cases in Missouri can be pursued through federal administrative channels, state court, or both. Here are the primary resources for understanding your options:
- The U.S. Department of Education Office for Civil Rights handles Title IX complaints against schools and universities that receive federal funding.
- The Missouri Coalition Against Violence provides statewide resources for survivors of sexual violence.
- The Missouri Crime Victims’ Compensation program can help cover medical costs, counseling, and lost wages for victims of violent crime, including sexual assault.
- The Missouri Department of Education sets standards for how Missouri schools must handle reports of abuse and misconduct.
Reach Out to TGH Litigation to Schedule a Consultation
TGH Litigation offers free initial consultations for student sexual assault cases in St. Louis and throughout Missouri. We’ll listen to what happened, assess the legal claims, and give you a clear picture of your options and the path forward. Contact us to schedule your consultation.