WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. NOVEMBER 29, 2021 On September 29th, Lanier Law Group along with co-counsel Gloria Allred filed a lawsuit on behalf of seven former students of the University of North Carolina School of the Arts. All seven of those students attended the school in the 1980s and were victims of sexual abuse and exploitation.
The news coverage that followed the filing of that lawsuit resulted in our offices being inundated with calls and emails from other former North Carolina School of the Arts students who were victims of sexual abuse and exploitation and from other former students who witnessed the culture of abuse and neglect.
The bravery of these additional victims coming forward has resulted in our filing of a second lawsuit today that names thirty-nine former UNCSA high school students as plaintiffs who were victims of sexual abuse and exploitation while attending the school. The lawsuit also names twenty-five former administrators and faculty members who either participated in or condoned the culture of systemic abuse and neglect. The sexual abuse of these thirty-nine former students took place from 1969 until 2012. The complaint alleges that the institutional betrayal of its students by UNCSA was schoolwide, and it existed in the music department, the dance department, the visual arts department, the drama department and even among the residence hall and security staff.
We believe that there are many more victims out there who have not yet had the courage to come forward. The Safe Child Act deadline is 12/31/21. We encourage anyone who was victimized while a student at UNCSA to take action immediately, before time runs out. We want you to know that we along with this growing group of survivors is here for you. We also ask that you please contact us at (800) 814-1114 if you would like to join the numerous other witnesses who have come forward to corroborate and support these victims.
View a copy of the lawsuit here.