Santa Fe School Sexual Abuse Lawyer

Santa Fe School Sexual Abuse Attorney

Santa Fe schools should be safe spaces where children can learn and grow without fear. When a teacher, staff member, or fellow student violates that trust, the impact can be devastating and long-lasting. A Santa Fe school sexual abuse lawyer can help victims and their families pursue answers and accountability. With strong legal representation, justice can come in the form of financial compensation.

Legal Representation When It Matters Most

Following the ultimate betrayal, knowing where to turn and whom to trust can be challenging. The career injury lawyers at Egolf + Ferlic + Martinez + Cox, LLC view our work in the courtroom as more than a job. Skillful litigation that helps our clients receive justice is our calling. We take a client-focused approach and work collectively as a team to ensure that sexual predators are held accountable in court.

Sexual abuse cases must be handled with compassion, discretion, and care. You can count on our lawyers to provide exceptional legal services that deliver results when you need them most. By partnering with our firm, you gain the legal services of a respected law firm that has a proven track record of seeing clients through challenging cases to favorable outcomes.

Sexual Abuse at Santa Fe High School

In 2021, we filed a case on behalf of a Santa Fe High School student who was drugged and sexually assaulted by a classmate with a known violent history. We worked with the student and her family to file the lawsuit, claiming that school officials and security personnel failed to enforce adequate safety measures despite prior warnings. We recently secured a favorable settlement with Santa Fe Public Schools and continue to pursue claims against the private security firm that was supposed to keep Santa Fe High School students safe on campus.

Establishing Liability Following Sexual Abuse

Following sexual abuse at a public or private school, there may be more than one party responsible for the harm caused to a student. Beyond the perpetrator, school leadership may also be held accountable for failing to prevent the incident or allowing it to happen. In some cases, school leaders may even be held liable for covering up acts of sexual misconduct.

Establishing liability may involve uncovering records that show previous complaints about a teacher, coach, or staff member at schools such as Santa Fe High School, Capital High School, or Milagro Middle School.

Liability can extend to administrators who failed to act, school districts that ignored patterns of abuse, or contracted security companies that neglected their duties. In many cases, survivors or their families were not informed of prior incidents or were discouraged from reporting concerns.

The attorney who represents a victim must conduct a thorough investigation that could involve reviewing emails and personnel records, along with prior student reports, to build their case. Working with an experienced attorney can ensure that all potentially responsible parties are held accountable.

Compensation You May Be Owed

Survivors of sexual abuse in Santa Fe schools may be entitled to compensation for both economic and emotional harm. This can include coverage for therapy, medication, and long-term psychological care, particularly if the abuse occurred during formative years at schools like Capital High School or Ortiz Middle School.

Victims may also recover damages for pain and suffering, emotional distress, and impacts on education and future employment. If a parent missed work or incurred financial burdens while caring for an affected child, or if the relationship between the child and the parent was damaged by the abuse, those losses may be recoverable as well. If the case goes to trial, punitive damages may be awarded by the court if school officials knowingly failed to act on previous complaints.

New Mexico’s Statute of Limitations for Sexual Abuse Claims

Survivors of sexual abuse in New Mexico have limited time to file a civil claim, depending on their age at the time of the abuse and when they disclosed it. For adults, N.M. Stat. Ann. § 37-1-8 generally allows three years from the date of the abuse or from when the harm was reasonably discovered.

For childhood sexual abuse, N.M. Stat. Ann. § 37-1-30 provides a longer window. Survivors may file a lawsuit by the later of their 24^th birthday or three years from the date they first disclosed the abuse to a licensed medical or mental health care provider in the context of receiving health care from that provider.

Why Legal Representation Matters

Sexual abuse cases are highly emotional and require steadfast and consistent guidance from an attorney who has guided clients to favorable outcomes in court. Having legal representation equips you with essential support. Your lawyer can let you know the potential outcomes of any decisions you make, and when accepting a settlement may be the right choice.

Legal representation can also provide important emotional support and encouragement. Sexual abuse lawyers have helped clients navigate similar situations before, and it can be encouraging during a difficult time in your life to be reminded that there is a brighter future at the end of the journey.

Schedule Your Santa Fe School Sexual Abuse Consultation Today

Sexual abuse committed by a school employee or volunteer, or suffered at school, represents the deepest violation of trust a student can experience. If you or your child has experienced sexual abuse in a school setting, you deserve answers, support, and accountability. At Egolf + Ferlic + Martinez + Cox, LLC, we handle these sensitive cases with compassion and competence.

When you partner with our firm, you gain an advocate who understands what is at stake for your well-being and your future. We are prepared to fight for the justice and accountability you are owed. Contact our office today to schedule a confidential consultation and learn how we can help you pursue justice and begin to move forward.